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# bribe

noun (a bribe, bribes); verb (bribe, bribes, bribed, bribing)

«bribe» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Money or a gift given to someone to make them do something dishonest or unfair, such as break a rule. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bribe/#m1)
2. (verb) To offer someone money or a gift to make them do what you want, often wrongly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bribe/#m2)
3. (informal, joking) A treat given to get a child to do something ("a sweet as a bribe"). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bribe/#m3)

### In the lessons

Used in stories, law and ethics lessons (bribing a judge or police officer is a crime) and jokingly in family life. It tells the reader someone is trying to buy a decision. Phrases: take a bribe, offer a bribe, bribe someone with.

### Examples

- The guard took a bribe and let the thief go. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bribe/#x1)
- It is against the law to bribe a police officer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bribe/#x2)
- Mum bribed us with ice cream to tidy our rooms. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bribe/#x3)
- The judge refused the bribe. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bribe/#x4)
- I won't take a bribe, said the referee. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bribe/#x5)
- My little brother can be bribed with stickers. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bribe/#x6)
- Offering a bribe can lead to prison. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bribe/#x7)
- Eriphyle, unable to withstand the tempting bait, accepted the bribe, and thus Amphiaraus was compelled to join the army. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bribe/#x8)

### Note

Noun: bribery (the crime). Verb bribe, bribed (drop e, add -ed). A reward for good work is not a bribe; a bribe is to make someone do something unfair. In families the word is often used as a joke.

## In Jewish tradition

A bribe is a gift taken to twist justice. The Torah calls the person who takes one cursed, especially if it leads to killing the innocent.

**Interpretation.** The rabbis taught that judges must never take gifts, even to judge fairly, because a gift blinds the eyes of the wise.

### Examples

- Cursed be he that taketh a bribe to slay an innocent person. (Torah DEU.27.25, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/bribe/#x1)
- In whose hands is craftiness, and their right hand is full of bribes. (Writings PSA.26.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/bribe/#x2)
- He that putteth not out his money on interest, nor taketh a bribe against the innocent. (Writings PSA.15.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/bribe/#x3)
- And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice. (Prophets 1SA.8.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/bribe/#x4)

### Note

Noun: bribery (the crime). Verb bribe, bribed (drop e, add -ed). A reward for good work is not a bribe; a bribe is to make someone do something unfair. In families the word is often used as a joke.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «bribe» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bribe/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«bribe» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/bribe.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «bribe» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/bribe/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«bribe» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/bribe.html) on Mova free.