Focused Passage

Psalms 82:1-4

God Judges Unjust Rulers and Calls for Justice for the Weak

The psalm moves from God taking His place in the divine courtroom, to an accusation against unjust rulers, to commands that justice be done for the vulnerable, to a diagnosis of ignorant darkness and cosmic instability, to the verdict that exalted rulers will die and fall, and finally to a global prayer that God judge the earth and possess all nations.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

A Psalm of Asaph.

1God presides in the divine assembly; He renders judgment among the gods:

2“How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah

3Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed.

4Rescue the weak and needy; save them from the hand of the wicked.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

Godאֱ‍ֽלֹהִ֗יםH430Noun - masculine pluralpresidesנִצָּ֥בH5324Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singularin the divineאֵ֑לH410Noun - masculine singularassemblyבַּעֲדַת־H5712Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular constructHe renders judgmentיִשְׁפֹּֽט׃H8199Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularamongבְּקֶ֖רֶבH7130Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructthe godsאֱלֹהִ֣יםH430Noun - masculine plural
Verse 2

Original words

How longעַד־H5704Preposition. . .מָתַ֥יH4970Interrogativewill you judgeתִּשְׁפְּטוּ־H8199Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralunjustlyעָ֑וֶלH5766Noun - masculine singularand show partialityוּפְנֵ֥יH6440Conjunctive waw | Noun - common plural construct. . .תִּשְׂאוּ־H5375Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralto the wickedרְ֝שָׁעִ֗יםH7563Adjective - masculine pluralSelahסֶֽלָה׃H5542Interjection

BSB notes

  • Or How long will you defend the unjust
Verse 3

Original words

Defend the causeשִׁפְטוּ־H8199Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralof the weakדַ֥לH1800Adjective - masculine singularand fatherlessוְיָת֑וֹםH3490Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularuphold the rightsהַצְדִּֽיקוּ׃H6663Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine pluralof the afflictedעָנִ֖יH6041Adjective - masculine singularand oppressedוָרָ֣שׁH7326Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Verse 4

Original words

Rescueפַּלְּטוּ־H6403Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine pluralthe weakדַ֥לH1800Adjective - masculine singularand needyוְאֶבְי֑וֹןH34Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singularsave themהַצִּֽילוּ׃H5337Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine pluralfrom the handמִיַּ֖דH3027Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular constructof the wickedרְשָׁעִ֣יםH7563Adjective - masculine plural

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.