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Leviticus 19 · a question people ask

Why does the law say not to favor the poor?

In the text

The same chapter that leaves the gleanings "for the poor" (19:10) says of the courts, "You shall not be partial to the poor, nor show favoritism to the great; but you shall judge your neighbor in righteousness" (19:15). The field and the court ask for different things. At harvest the owner is to leave something behind for the poor (19:9-10). In judgment the case is to be decided "in righteousness" (19:15), not by who is poor or who is great. Exodus says both halves: "You shall not favor a poor man in his cause" (Exodus 23:3), and "You shall not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits" (Exodus 23:6).

The verses

““‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, neither shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. You shall not glean your vineyard, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the foreigner. I am the LORD your God.”
Leviticus 19:9-10 · World English Bible
““‘You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor show favoritism to the great; but you shall judge your neighbor in righteousness.”
Leviticus 19:15 · World English Bible
“You shall not favor a poor man in his cause.”
Exodus 23:3 · World English Bible
““You shall not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits.”
Exodus 23:6 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Leviticus 19

Leviticus 19: Love your neighbor as yourself

"You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (19:18) is from Leviticus, in a chapter that makes holy practical: field corners left for the poor, wages paid before morning, fair courts, honest weights. The same "as yourself" is said of the stranger (19:34), and Jesus called 19:18 the second great commandment (Matthew 22:39).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions