He has put off the PERSON of a judge that puts on the person of a friend (accuser)

Insights

Impartiality and Justice

Emphasizes the necessity for a judge (or anyone in authority) to remain impartial—adopting the role of a friend or an accuser inherently undermines fairness and integrity.

Conflict of Interest

Highlights the dangers of dual roles; when personal ties or interests enter judicial or evaluative processes, objectivity is lost and the process is corrupted.

Integrity of Office

Implies that positions of authority require strict boundaries; to mix personal feelings with official duties is to abdicate the ethical responsibilities of the office.

Legal and Ethical Tradition

Echoes long-standing legal wisdom—such as 'No man ought to be judge in his own cause'—rooted in both Roman law and common law, underscoring the importance of impartiality to justice.

Civic and Social Stability

Reminds that the legitimacy of institutions and social trust depend on the clear separation of public duty from private relationship or interest.

Enduring Relevance

The proverb’s warning remains pertinent today, wherever conflicts of interest, nepotism, or bias threaten the integrity of decision-making, whether in law, business, or personal disputes.

Rhetorical Devices

Antithesis

Contrasts 'putting off' the judge with 'putting on' the friend or accuser, dramatizing the shift from impartiality to partiality.

Metaphor

Uses the imagery of 'putting on' and 'putting off' roles as if they were garments, conveying the ease (and risk) with which impartiality can be abandoned.

Parallel Structure

Balanced, symmetrical phrasing makes the proverb memorable and underscores the reciprocal relationship between roles.