משוא פנים

Hebrew

Etymology

Literally, "the lifting of face(s)", supposedly, because a system of justice where a judge sees the face of the person being judged is with prejudice.

Phrase

מַשּׂוֹא פָּנִים • (masó paním)

1. bias, partiality, favouritism
   • Tanach, 2 Chronicles 19:7, with translation of the Jewish Publication Society:

     וְעַתָּה יְהִי פַחַד־יְהוָה עֲלֵיכֶם שִׁמְרוּ וַעֲשׂוּ כִּי־אֵין עִם־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ עַוְלָה וּמַשֹּׂא פָנִים וּמִקַּח־שֹׁחַד׃

     v'atá y'hí fakhad-YHVH 'aleikhém shim'rú va'asú ki-'éin 'im-YHVH 'elohéinu 'avlá umasó faním umikakh-shókhad.
     wəʿattā yəhī p̄aḥaḏ-YHWH ʿălēḵem šimərū waʿăśū kī-ʾēn ʿim-YHWH ʾĕlōhḗnū ʿawlā ūmaśśō p̄ānīm ūmiqqaḥ-šṓḥaḏ.

     Now therefore let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it; for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes.

   • 1884 September 18, יוסף ריבלין (“Yosef Rivlin”), השופטים את ציון (hashof'tím 'et tsiyón, “Those Who Judge Zion”)‎^[1]:

     לפניהם אין משוא פנים ואין מקח שוחד.

     Before them there is not partiality and there is no taking of bribery.

Synonyms

• אפלייה / אַפְלָיָה (áflaya), הַעֲדָפָה (ha'adafá)

Derived terms

• לְלֹא מַשּׂוֹא פָּנִים (l'ló masó paním)

See also

• דֵּעָה קְדוּמָה (de'á kduma)