---
title: "Deuteronomy 16:19"
description: "The verse forbids partiality in justice. A law that protects a child at one gestational stage but not another, or that shields the guilty by exception, is by definition partial — exactly what God prohibits. Incremental carve-outs institutionalize the partiality this verse condemns."
type: "scripture"
book: "Deuteronomy"
chapter: 16
verses: "19"
translation: "NASB"
refutes: "Pro-life incrementalism"
affirms_abolition: true
themes:
  - "partiality"
  - "impartial justice"
  - "equal protection"
  - "no bribe"
  - "corruption"
source_url: "https://www.abhortion.org/scripture/deuteronomy-16-19.html"
---

# Deuteronomy 16:19

Book of Deuteronomy · Chapter 16

## The text

> “You shall not distort justice; you shall not be partial, and you shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous.”
> — Deuteronomy 16:19, NASB

**The claim this verse counters:** "It is acceptable to protect some children (e.g., after a heartbeat) while leaving others unprotected — partial protection is progress."

## The argument

The verse forbids partiality in justice. A law that protects a child at one gestational stage but not another, or that shields the guilty by exception, is by definition partial — exactly what God prohibits. Incremental carve-outs institutionalize the partiality this verse condemns.

## Context & notes

Read as the immediate context of the 'justice, and only justice' command (v. 20). Directly answers the user's example: 'it's better to get some justice vs no justice, even when scripture says not to be partial.' Partiality that distinguishes protected from unprotected image-bearers is the essence of an unjust statute.

## Themes

- partiality
- impartial justice
- equal protection
- no bribe
- corruption

## Discussion questions

1. A bill that protects a 12-week child but permits killing an 8-week child — is that impartial justice or partiality?
2. If God forbids partiality in judgment, can a Christian in good conscience author a law that is deliberately partial?

## Source transcript

Drawn from Does the Pro-Life Movement Hate Justice? (T. Russell Hunter, 'Justice Alone') — The closing benediction of V1 quotes 'you shall not be partial, you shall take no bribe...' immediately before 'justice, only justice.'.

## Related

**Related scriptures:**

- [Deuteronomy 16:20](deuteronomy-16-20.md)
- [Leviticus 19:15](leviticus-19-15.md)
- [Proverbs 17:15](proverbs-17-15.md)
- [Isaiah 10:1-2](isaiah-10-1-2.md)

**Related arguments:**

- [God commands 'justice, and only justice' — not partial or deferred justice](../arguments/arg-justice-only.md)
- [“Equal protection does not require prosecuting mothers; targeting abortionists (and…”](../arguments/arg-equal-protection-14th.md)
- [“A bill that protects some children now is better than a bill that protects none and…”](../arguments/def-some-justice-better.md)
- [“Bills that ban abortion at a heartbeat, at pain-capability, or after an ultrasound…”](../arguments/def-milestone-bills.md)

## Attribution

Verse text is quoted from the NASB. Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org