International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Respect of Persons

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Respect of Persons


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rḗ-spekt´: The phrase פנים נשׂא, nāsā' phānı̄m, means literally, “lift up the face,” and, among other translations, is rendered indifferently “accept” or “respect the person” in the King James Version (contrast and ). As applied to a (prostrate) suppliant, the phrase means “receive him with favor,” and is so used in ; , (compare , etc.). By a shift in force the phrase came to mean “accept the person instead of the cause” or “show partiality” (, the American Standard Revised Version), and is so used commonly. A literal translation into Greek gave λαμβάνω πρόσωπον, lambánō prósōpon (Sirach 35:13 (32:16); ; ), with the noun προσωπολημψία, prosōpolēmpsı́a, “face-taking” (; ; ; ), rendered uniformly “respect of persons” in English Versions of the Bible. A noun προσωπολήμπτης, prosōpolḗmptēs, “respecter of persons,” and a verb προσωπολημπτέω, prosōpolēmptéō, are found ; . God's judgment rests solely on the character of the man and will be influenced by no worldly () or national () considerations. See also ACCEPT.