“Hevu mesunim badin – be cautious in judgment”
The Ritva provides two explanations for the use of the word “mesunim” in this mishnah.
In lashon kodesh, mesunim is a word that contains letters similar to those in the word matanah, a present. This is to imply that if a judge wants to be able to avoid the temptation of taking bribery, he should think of his ruling as a matanah, a present, that he is proffering to the litigants.
The word mesunim in lashon kodesh is also similar to the word nesunim, placed. This is to give notice to the judge that although at this time he may be the one who is adjudicating, he does not know when he himself will be placed in the situation where someone else will be deciding his fate.
