RESPECT OF PERSONS

ISBE

re-spekt': The phrase nasa' phanim, means literally, "lift up the face," and, among other translations, is rendered indifferently "accept" or "respect the person" in the King James Version (contrast Pr 18:5 and 24:23). As applied to a (prostrate) suppliant, the phrase means "receive him with favor," and is so used in 1Sa 25:35 ; Mal 1:8 , 9 (compare Ge 19:21 , etc.). By a shift in force the phrase came to mean "accept the person instead of the cause" or "show partiality" ( Job 13:8 , 10 the American Standard Revised Version), and is so used commonly. A literal translation into Greek gave lambano prosopon (Sirach 35:13 (32:16); Lu 20:21 ; Ga 2:6 ), with the noun prosopolempsia, "face-taking" ( Ro 2:11 ; Eph 6:9 ; Col 3:25 ; Jas 2:1 ), rendered uniformly "respect of persons" in English Versions of the Bible. A noun prosopolemptes, "respecter of persons," and a verb prosopolempteo, are found Ac 10:34 ; Jas 2:9 . God's judgment rests solely on the character of the man and will be influenced by no worldly ( Eph 6:9 ) or national ( Ro 2:11 ) considerations. See also ACCEPT . Burton Scott Easton