Exodus 23:2
Thou shalt not follow the multitude to do evil: neither shalt thou yield in judgment, to the opinion of the most part, to stray from the truth.
Open Exodus 23:2 in the Motif Searcher, word by word across all five texts →Show on the spiral →The verse in its languages
- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Non sequeris turbam ad faciendum malum : nec in judicio, plurimorum acquiesces sententiæ, ut a vero devies.
- Septuagint (Swete)
- οὐκ ἔσῃ μετὰ πλειόνων ἐν κακίᾳ· οὐ προσθήσῃ μετὰ πλήθους ἐκκλῖναι μετὰ πλειόνων, ὥστε ἐκκλεῖσαι κρίσιν.
- Hebrew (WLC)
- לֹֽא תִהְיֶ֥ה אַחֲרֵֽי רַבִּ֖ים לְרָעֹ֑ת וְלֹא תַעֲנֶ֣ה עַל רִ֗ב לִנְטֹ֛ת אַחֲרֵ֥י רַבִּ֖ים לְהַטֹּֽת
The Fathers on this verse
Clement of Alexandria The Instructor, Chapter IV. With Whom We are to Associate
But those who impose on the women, spend the day with them, telling them silly amatory stories, and wearing out body and soul with their false acts and words. “Thou shalt not be with many,” it is said, “for evil, nor give thyself to a multitude;” for wisdom shows itself among few, but disorder in a multitude. But it is not for grounds of propriety, on account of not wishing to be seen, that they purchase bearers, for it were commendable if out of such feelings they put themselves under a covering; but it is out of luxuriousness that they are carried on their domestics’ shoulders, and desire to make a show.
The Apostolic Constitutions Book II. Of Bishops, Presbyters, and Deacons, Sec. VI. The Disputes of the Faithful to Be Settled by the Decisions of the Bishop, and the Faithful to Be Reconciled
XLIX . When, therefore, you are set down at your tribunal, and the parties are both of them present (for we will not call them brethren until they receive each other in peace), examine diligently concerning those who appear before you; and first concerning the accuser, whether this be the first person he has accused, or whether he has advanced accusations against some others before, and whether this contest and accusation of theirs does not arise from some quarrel, and what sort of life the accuser leads. Yet, though he be of a good conscience, do not give credit to him alone, for that is contrary to the law; but let him have others to join in his testimony, and those of the same course of life. …
St John Chrysostom A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, Homily XXXVII on Acts xvii. 1, 2, 3
See what zeal the rest of the disciples showed with respect to their leaders: not as it is now with us, who are separated and divided into great and small: some of us exalted, while others are envious: for this is the reason why those are envious, because we are puffed up, because we will not endure to be put upon a par with them. The reason why there is harmony in the body, is because there is no puffing up: and there is no puffing up, because the members are of necessity made to stand in need of each other, and the head has need of the feet. And God has made this to be the case with us, and, for all that, we will not endure it: although even without this, there ought to be love among us. Hear ye not how they that are without accuse us when they say, “Needs make friendships?” The laity have need of us; and we again exist for them. …
Theodoret Letters of the Blessed Theodoret, Bishop of Cyprus, To Bishop Basilius
There is nothing remarkable in the reproaches that are directed against me being heard in silence by men who do not know me; but that your holiness should not refute the lies of my revilers, or at least should do so only to a certain extent, and with no great heartiness, passes the belief of any one who knows your character and conduct. And I say this not because friendship ought to be preferred to truth, but because the witness of truth is on the side of friendship. Your reverence has very often heard me preaching in church, and, in other assemblies where I have spoken on doctrinal questions; you have listened to what I have said, and I do not know of any occasion on which you have found fault with me for expressing unorthodox opinions. …