Focused Passage

Psalms 82:5-8

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

5They do not know or understand; they wander in the darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

6I have said, ‘You are gods; you are all sons of the Most High.’

7But like mortals you will die, and like rulers you will fall.”

8Arise, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are Your inheritance.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 5

Cross-references

Psalms 11:3Classic cross-references Proverbs 2:13Classic cross-references Romans 1:28Classic cross-references 1 John 2:9Classic cross-references Micah 3:1Classic cross-references

Original words

They do notלֹ֤אH3808Adverb - Negative particleknowיָֽדְע֨וּ׀H3045Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural. . .וְלֹ֥אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particleor understandיָבִ֗ינוּH995Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralthey wanderיִתְהַלָּ֑כוּH1980Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralin the darknessבַּחֲשֵׁכָ֥הH2825Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singularallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructthe foundationsמ֥וֹסְדֵיH4144Noun - masculine plural constructof the earthאָֽרֶץ׃H776Noun - feminine singularare shakenיִ֝מּ֗וֹטוּH4131Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural

Verse 6

Cross-references

John 10:34Classic cross-references Psalms 82:1Classic cross-references Matthew 5:9Classic cross-references Exodus 7:1Classic cross-references Genesis 6:2Classic cross-references

Original words

Iאֲ‍ֽנִי־H589Pronoun - first person common singularhave saidאָ֭מַרְתִּיH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularYouאַתֶּ֑םH859Pronoun - second person masculine pluralare godsאֱלֹהִ֣יםH430Noun - masculine pluralyou are allכֻּלְּכֶֽם׃H3605Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine pluralsonsוּבְנֵ֖יH1121Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural constructof the Most Highעֶלְי֣וֹןH5945Adjective - masculine singular

BSB notes

Cited in John 10:34

Verse 7

Cross-references

Psalms 49:12Classic cross-references Ezekiel 31:14Classic cross-references Job 21:32Classic cross-references Psalms 83:11Classic cross-references Ezekiel 28:9Classic cross-references

Original words

Butאָ֭כֵןH403Adverblike mortalsכְּאָדָ֣םH120Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singularyou will dieתְּמוּת֑וּןH4191Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nunand likeוּכְאַחַ֖דH259Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Number - masculine singular constructrulersהַשָּׂרִ֣יםH8269Article | Noun - masculine pluralyou will fallתִּפֹּֽלוּ׃H5307Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural

Verse 8

Cross-references

Revelation 11:15Classic cross-references Psalms 2:8Classic cross-references Psalms 96:13Classic cross-references Isaiah 2:4Classic cross-references Psalms 22:28Classic cross-references

Original words

Ariseקוּמָ֣הH6965Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singularO Godאֱ֭לֹהִיםH430Noun - masculine pluraljudgeשָׁפְטָ֣הH8199Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singularthe earthהָאָ֑רֶץH776Article | Noun - feminine singularforכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionallבְּכָל־H3605Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructthe nationsהַגּוֹיִֽם׃H1471Article | Noun - masculine pluralare Yourאַתָּ֥הH859Pronoun - second person masculine singularinheritanceתִ֝נְחַ֗לH5157Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular

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