Psalms 82:2-4
“How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrase "accept the persons" isn't just about being biased; it refers to a judge "lifting up the face" of a wicked person, essentially giving them favor and encouraging their injustice. This speaks volumes about how perverted justice can become when it’s not about truth but about propping up the powerful.
This psalm opens with God Himself calling out earthly judges, represented as "gods" in their role of authority, for their corrupt practices. The cry of "How long?" signals God's profound frustration and impatience with their ongoing failure to administer justice fairly. The psalmist, speaking on God's behalf, directly confronts these judges for showing favoritism and allowing wicked people to benefit from their biased rulings, a stark contrast to the impartiality demanded by God's law.
Have you ever felt like justice wasn't served? This verse echoes a timeless frustration with unfairness, but who is speaking and to whom?
A Divine Rebuke
This isn't just a complaint; it's a direct challenge from God, spoken through the psalmist. The question, "How long?" carries an immense weight of divine impatience and sorrow. It's God looking at His appointed judges and asking why they are failing so miserably.
The Core of the Injustice
The phrase "judge unjustly" and "show partiality to the wicked" pinpoints the exact problem. It wasn't just making a mistake; it was actively choosing to be unfair, favoring those who did wrong. This often meant siding with the powerful and rich over the vulnerable and poor, a direct violation of the principles God had already laid out.
You see that little word 'Selah' at the end? It's more than just a musical note; it's an invitation to pause and consider something profound.
A Moment to Ponder
'Selah' is a command to pause, to reflect, perhaps even to sing or to play an instrument. In this context, after God’s sharp question about unjust judgment, 'Selah' is an urgent call to stop and think about the implications of their actions. It’s a moment where the weight of their unrighteousness should sink in.
The Consequence of Failure
This pause isn't neutral. It’s meant to highlight the gravity of the situation. The judges are being reminded of their divine mandate to uphold justice, and their failure carries serious consequences. 'Selah' encourages a deep consideration of their duty and the judgment that awaits them if they continue on this path.
Understand the original words
rasha' · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
A moral condition characterized by defiance against God's law. It describes those who persist in evil, injustice, and disobedience to the divine will.
mishpat · Hebrew Noun
A term denoting fairness and righteousness, particularly the legal and social requirement to protect the vulnerable. It is rooted in God's own character and His covenantal expectation for human society.
This psalm cries out against a specific problem in ancient Israel: judges, who were meant to uphold God's law and reflect His justice, were instead perverting it by showing partiality to the wicked, especially the wealthy and powerful. The historical context shows this was a recurring issue, explicitly condemned in the Law and denounced by prophets, reaching a critical point in periods of significant corruption within the kingdom.
c. 1400 BC
Mosaic Law Given
The Law given through Moses on Mount Sinai establishes clear principles for justice, including strict impartiality and forbidding favoritism in legal proceedings. This forms the foundational ethical and legal framework for Israel.
c. 970-931 BC
Reign of Solomon
Solomon's reign is often associated with both great wisdom and, in its later years, a growing complexity in governance that could potentially allow for corruption or undue influence in judicial matters.
c. 750-722 BC
Period of Corruption
This period, leading up to the fall of the Northern Kingdom, saw significant social and judicial decay, with prophets like Amos and Isaiah decrying injustice and the oppression of the poor by the powerful.
c. 715-686 BC— this verse
Reign of Hezekiah
This passage from the Law explicitly forbids showing partiality in judgment, directly echoing the critique in Psalm 82:2 against favoring the wicked.
Deuteronomy 1:17Similar to Psalm 82:2, this verse from Deuteronomy warns judges against showing favoritism, emphasizing that justice must be impartial and that judgments belong to God.
Proverbs 18:5This proverb directly addresses the same issue, condemning partiality in judgment and stating that it is not good to be partial to the wicked.
Isaiah 1:23This prophetic passage describes rulers who are 'accomplices of thieves' and 'love bribes,' illustrating the kind of unjust and corrupt judgment condemned in Psalm 82:2.
2 Chronicles 19:7When Jehoshaphat commissions judges, he instructs them to act 'in the fear of the LORD with all faithfulness,' directly opposing the unjust practices rebuked in Psalm 82:2.
pulpitPsalms 82:2: "How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah."
Verse 2. - How long will ye judge unjustly? "The cry of the impatient Jehovah" (Cheyne); comp. Exodus 10:3; Exodus 16:28; Numbers 14:11, 27. And accept the persons of the wicked? Accepting men's persons is favouring them unduly on account of their position or outward circumstances. It was strictly forbidden in the Mosaic Law (see Deuteronomy 1:17; Deuteronomy 16:19; Leviticus 19:15).
clarkePsalms 82:2: "How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah."
Accept the persons of the wicked? - "Lift up their faces," encourage them in their oppressions. Selah - "Mark this:" ye do it, and sorely sLall ye suffer for it.
The phrase "accept the persons" isn't just about being biased; it refers to a judge "lifting up the face" of a wicked person, essentially giving them favor and encouraging their injustice. This speaks volumes about how perverted justice can become when it’s not about truth but about propping up the powerful.
This psalm opens with God Himself calling out earthly judges, represented as "gods" in their role of authority, for their corrupt practices. The cry of "How long?" signals God's profound frustration and impatience with their ongoing failure to administer justice fairly. The psalmist, speaking on God's behalf, directly confronts these judges for showing favoritism and allowing wicked people to benefit from their biased rulings, a stark contrast to the impartiality demanded by God's law.
This psalm opens with God Himself calling out earthly judges, represented as "gods" in their role of authority, for their corrupt practices. The cry of "How long?" signals God's profound frustration and impatience with their ongoing failure to administer justice fairly. The psalmist, speaking on God's behalf, directly confronts these judges for showing favoritism and allowing wicked people to benefit from their biased rulings, a stark contrast to the impartiality demanded by God's law.
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The prophet Isaiah critiques the corrupt courts of Jerusalem during this time, indicating that even in a spiritually reformed kingdom, the practice of showing favoritism in legal judgments persisted.
c. 621 BC
Josiah's Reforms
King Josiah institutes religious and legal reforms, likely as a response to the widespread corruption and idolatry that had taken root. This reflects a societal need for a return to just practices.
"“How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver t…" — The phrase "accept the persons" isn't just about being biased; it refers to a judge "lifting up the face" of a wicked person, essentially giving them favor and encouraging their injustice. This speak…
