King James Bible
"Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison."
Jesus urges immediate reconciliation with an opponent while traveling to court, using a legal dispute as a practical illustration. The phrase emphasizes urgency in resolving conflicts before they escalate, reflecting the broader Sermon on the Mount theme of pursuing peace and right relationships. This warns that delaying reconciliation risks formal legal proceedings where the adversary gains control of the outcome. In the first-century Jewish context, being brought before a judge meant entering an unpredictable system where mercy was not guaranteed. The progression from judge to officer to prison illustrates the complete loss of freedom once legal judgment is rendered. Roman-era debtors' prison was particularly harsh, often requiring full payment before release, making this a vivid warning about the consequences of unresolved disputes.