Bible Dictionary
BRIBERY
Giving or receiving a gift to corrupt judgment or obtain an improper advantage. Biblical law condemns bribery because it blinds judges, perverts justice, and harms the innocent and poor.
Definition
Bribery is giving or receiving a gift in order to corrupt judgment or obtain an improper advantage. Biblical law condemns it because it impairs impartial justice and turns a gift into a means of perverting judgment.
Biblical Usage
The law forbids gifts that blind judgment. Scripture repeatedly associates bribery with corrupt judges and rulers, oppression, ransom, and the punishment of those who accept or practice it.
Historical Background
The Hebrew term means a gift in a corrupt sense. The supplied passages refer to bribery in judicial and governmental settings and connect it with the prevailing corruption of oriental rulers and judges.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>brib'-er-i (shochadh, "a gift," in a corrupt sense, "a bribe"): The Hebrew law condemns everything that would tend to impair the impartial administration of justice, particularly the giving and receiving of gifts or bribes, in order to pervert judgment (Ex 23:8). Allusions are frequent to the prevailing corruption of oriental judges and rulers. "And fire shall consume the tents of bribery" (Job 15:34; 1Sa 8:3; Ps 26:10; Isa 1:23; 33:15; Eze 22:12). Samuel speaks of a "ransom" in the sense of a bribe: "Of whose hand have I taken a ransom (kopher, "covering," the King James Version "bribe") to blind mine eyes therewith?" (1Sa 12:3; Am 5:12; compare Am 2:6).</p><p>See CRIMES; JUSTICE; PUNISHMENTS.</p><p>L. Kaiser</p>