That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought.
That make a man an offender for a word (Hebrew, bªdaabaar (H1697)) - Who arraign a man for a word which he hath spoken, and which they were watching for to make it a plea for accusing him. This accords with Isaiah 29:20, "that watch for iniquity." So "the Pharisees took counsel how they might entangle Jesus in His talk" (Matthew 22:15: cf. especially Luke 11:53-54), and accused Him for His words, that He might be condemned to death. Compare as to Jeremiah the type, Jeremiah 18:18; Jeremiah 20:10. But Gesenius translates, 'Who make a man guilty in his cause' - i:e., unjustly condemn him. "A man" is, in the Hebrew ( 'aadaam (H120), not 'iysh (H376)), a poor man, upon whom such unjust condemnations might be practiced with more impunity than on the rich: cf. Isaiah 29:19, "the meek ... the poor."
And lay a snare for him that reproveth. Compare Amos 5:10, "They hate him that rebuketh in the gate." They lay plots for slandering the prophet, and they entrap into false decisions the judge that would reprove them publicly for their iniquity, by bribes and misrepresentations; and also they lay snares so as to baffle a suitor against them who reproves them in court.
In the gate - the place of concourse in a city, where courts of justice were held (Ruth 4:11; Proverbs 31:23; Amos 5:12), and where the prophets, as Jeremiah, were often directed to rebuke the people for sin (Jeremiah 7:2; Jeremiah 17:19).
The just - one who has a just cause; or, Jesus Christ, "the Just One" (Horsley).
For a thing of nought - literally, by emptiness ( batohuw (H8414)); "without a (just) cause" (Psalms 69:4; Proverbs 28:21); 'by a decision that is null in justice.' Compare as to Christ, Matthew 26:15; Matthew 26:60-66; Acts 3:13-14; Acts 8:33,