The giving of an illicit present to an official in order to influence him. The Bible forbids the taking of bribes, “for bribes blind the clear-sighted and upset the pleas of those who are in the right”. A curse is pronounced on one who takes bribes in a capital case, “Cursed be he who takes a bribe to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen”. and God Himself is depicted as spurning bribes. “For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, mighty and awesome, which favours no person, nor takes bribes”.

Denunciations of bribery are found throughout the Prophets and the Hagiographa. “For I have noted how many are your crimes, and how countless your sins - you enemies of the righteous, you takers of bribes, you who subvert in the gate the cause of the needy”. Likewise, it is said of the sons of Samuel that rather than walk in the ways of their father, they took bribes and subverted justice.

The Talmud and the Midrash shared the biblical abhorrence of bribery. Judges were warned against taking bribes even for the purpose of acquitting the innocent or convicting the guilty. Because “bribes blind the clear-sighted,” the Talmud concluded that a bribe-taking judge is liable to physically lose his sight. Furthermore, it was held that judges must reject even subtle, non-monetary forms of bribery.

Thus, the Amora Samuel disqualified himself from judging the case of a man who had extended his hand to assist him in crossing a river. Even the taking of fees in equal amounts from both parties was allowed only in limited circumstances.

Jewish law regards the one who gives bribes as a transgressor, basing itself on Leviticus “You shall not... place a stumbling block before the blind” - i.e., one may not lead another to sin.