The Meaning of Deuteronomy 1:16 Explained

Deuteronomy 1:16

KJV: And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him.

YLT: And I command your judges at that time, saying, Hearkening between your brethren -- then ye have judged righteousness between a man, and his brother, and his sojourner;

Darby: And I commanded your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother, and him also that sojourneth with him.

ASV: And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother, and the sojourner that is with him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And I charged  your judges  at that time,  saying,  Hear  [the causes] between your brethren,  and judge  righteously  between [every] man  and his brother,  and the stranger  [that is] with him. 

What does Deuteronomy 1:16 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 1:1-18 - Moses Recalls The Start From Horeb
To this new generation Moses spake the holy law of God, since they had not heard it at Sinai. In view of the great Lawgiver's approaching decease, it was necessary to re-edit it. The name of this book means the second giving of the Law.
The Red Sea in Deuteronomy 1:1, a.v., must be replaced by Suph, r.v. Evidently it was somewhere in the neighborhood of Pisgah. It is meet for us on a birthday, or some such anniversary, to review the way that the Lord our God has conducted us. He is the God of our fathers, and of the Covenant. Before us is set the land of our inheritance. God calls us to go in and possess it. He hath "blessed us with all spiritual blessings"¦ in Christ," but we must appropriate and possess by faith. And the faith that claims depends on the obedience that conforms to the divine Law, Ephesians 1:3; 2 Peter 1:3. [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 1

1  Moses' speech in the end of the fortieth year
6  briefly rehearsing the history of God's sending them from Horeb
14  of giving them officers
19  of sending the spies to search the land
34  of his anger for their incredulity
41  and disobedience

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 1:16 mean?

And I commanded - your judges at time that saying Hear [the cases] between your brothers and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the stranger who is with him
וָאֲצַוֶּה֙ אֶת־ שֹׁ֣פְטֵיכֶ֔ם בָּעֵ֥ת הַהִ֖וא לֵאמֹ֑ר שָׁמֹ֤עַ בֵּין־ אֲחֵיכֶם֙ וּשְׁפַטְתֶּ֣ם צֶ֔דֶק בֵּֽין־ אִ֥ישׁ וּבֵין־ אָחִ֖יו וּבֵ֥ין גֵּרֽוֹ

וָאֲצַוֶּה֙  And  I  commanded 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
שֹׁ֣פְטֵיכֶ֔ם  your  judges 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: שָׁפַט  
Sense: to judge, govern, vindicate, punish.
בָּעֵ֥ת  at  time 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, common singular
Root: עֵת  
Sense: time.
הַהִ֖וא  that 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, third person feminine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
לֵאמֹ֑ר  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
שָׁמֹ֤עַ  Hear  [the  cases] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
בֵּין־  between 
Parse: Preposition
Root: בַּיִן 
Sense: between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between.
אֲחֵיכֶם֙  your  brothers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
וּשְׁפַטְתֶּ֣ם  and  judge 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: שָׁפַט  
Sense: to judge, govern, vindicate, punish.
צֶ֔דֶק  righteously 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: צֶדֶק  
Sense: justice, rightness, righteousness.
בֵּֽין־  between 
Parse: Preposition
Root: בַּיִן 
Sense: between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between.
אִ֥ישׁ  a  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
אָחִ֖יו  his  brother 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
גֵּרֽוֹ  the  stranger  who  is  with  him 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: גֵּר  
Sense: sojourner.