The Hebrew expression na·saʼʹ pa·nimʹ, rendered ‘treat with partiality,’ literally means “lift up the face.” (Le 19:15) An Oriental way of greeting was to bow humbly and turn one’s face to the ground. As a sign of acknowledgment and recognition, the one greeted lifted up, or raised, the face of the one who had bowed. (Compare Ge 32:20, where “give a kindly reception” renders the Hebrew phrase literally meaning “lift up the face.”) The expression came to be used disparagingly when referring to corrupt preferential treatment. The Hebrew phrase na·kharʹ pa·nimʹ (rendered “be partial,” but literally meaning “recognize the face”) was similarly used. (De 1:17; 16:19) The Greek expression lam·baʹno proʹso·pon (‘show partiality’; literally, “take or accept the face”) is modeled on the Hebrew. (Lu 20:21; compare Int.) Compounded forms of these two words are rendered “partiality; favoritism” (Ro 2:11; Jas 2:1), ‘show favoritism’ (Jas 2:9), and “partial” (Ac 10:34).​—Compare Int.

Counsel to Judges. Jehovah gave strong counsel to the judges in Israel as to impartiality. Judges were under the strict command: “You must not be partial in judgment.” (De 1:17; 16:19; Pr 18:5; 24:23) They were not to show partiality to a poor man merely because of his poorness, out of sentimentality or out of prejudice against the wealthy. Neither were they to favor a rich man because of his wealth, perhaps catering to him for favor, for a bribe, or through fear of his power or influence. (Le 19:15) God eventually condemned the unfaithful Levitical priesthood in Israel for violation of his law and, as he particularly pointed out, for showing partiality, since they acted as judges in the land.​—Mal 2:8, 9.