Psalms 82:5
They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse doesn't just say these leaders lack knowledge; it emphasizes that their ignorance is willful. They "walk on in darkness," choosing it over light, which is why society's very foundations are shaken when justice is perverted.
This psalm is calling out corrupt judges and rulers who are perverting justice, essentially acting like gods without any divine accountability. The verse describes their utter lack of understanding and willful ignorance, highlighting how their actions are destabilizing society itself. It sets the stage for God's own pronouncement of judgment against them and a plea for divine intervention.
Why does God call out leaders for 'not knowing' and 'not understanding'? It's a deeper blindness than just lacking information.
The verse paints a stark picture of willful ignorance. It's not that these rulers couldn't know God's ways or their duty; it's that they wouldn't.
A Choice to Remain in Darkness
What happens when the very people meant to uphold order start to shake its foundations?
The final phrase of the verse, 'all the foundations of the earth are shaken,' is a powerful image of societal collapse. When justice, the bedrock of any stable community, is perverted, the entire structure is threatened.
The Domino Effect of Injustice
Understand the original words
choshek · Hebrew Noun
Often used metaphorically for a lack of spiritual insight or moral discernment. It represents the state of living without knowledge of God's truth, leading to confusion and spiritual death.
mosad · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the fundamental principles, laws, or moral order established by God for the stability of human society and the world. When these are shaken, it indicates societal collapse and chaos resulting from systemic injustice.
Psalm 82 confronts corrupt judges and rulers, describing their willful ignorance and the resulting societal chaos. The psalm's context in ancient Israel, a time rife with judicial malfeasance and prophetic warnings, highlights that the failure of justice by those in power doesn't just harm individuals but destabilizes the very fabric of society, a truth that resonates through Israel's history of judgment and exile.
c. 1000 BC - 500 BC
Period of Israelite Monarchy and Divided Kingdom
This period saw the establishment and subsequent division of the Israelite monarchy. Kings and judges were appointed to rule and administer justice, but the potential for corruption and injustice was ever-present.
c. 8th Century BC
Prophetic Critiques of Injustice
Prophets like Isaiah and Micah frequently decried the corruption of judges and rulers, highlighting their ignorance of God's law and their perversion of justice, echoing themes found in Psalm 82.
c. 8th Century BC— this verse
Psalms 82 Composed or Compiled
Psalm 82, likely composed during or reflecting on a time of significant judicial corruption, serves as a divine indictment against corrupt human leaders who fail in their God-given roles.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation of Judah to Babylon
This passage echoes the sentiment of Psalms 82:5, highlighting a pervasive ignorance and defiance of God's ways among the people and their leaders, leading to a shaking of societal order.
Isaiah 3:1-3This passage directly links the removal of support and leadership – the 'stay and staff' – to the corruption and perversion of justice, mirroring how the 'foundations of the earth' are shaken when leaders fail.
John 3:19-20This New Testament passage connects walking in darkness with a wilful rejection of light and truth, directly paralleling the 'walk about in darkness' described in Psalms 82:5, implying a conscious choice against understanding.
Romans 1:21-23This passage describes how people, despite knowing God, chose not to honor Him, leading to darkened understanding and foolish hearts, a spiritual parallel to the willful ignorance and darkness mentioned in Psalms 82:5.
Ecclesiastes 8:11This verse explains that because swift judgment is not executed for evil deeds, the hearts of people become fully bent on doing evil, which resonates with the 'foundations of the earth being shaken' due to a lack of justice and understanding.
pulpitPsalms 82:5: "They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course."
Verse 5. - They know not, neither will they understand. Scarcely "an aside from the indignant judge," as Professor Cheyne suggests, much less a remark interpolated by the poet (Ewald, Hitzig). Rather a complaint of human perversity, addressed by Jehovah to the angelic host who are present (ver. 1). It is not an accidental and excusable ignorance, but a wilful…
clarkePsalms 82:5: "They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course."
They know not - The judges are not acquainted with the law of God, on which all their decisions should be founded. Neither will they understand - They are ignorant and do not wish to be instructed. They will not learn; they cannot teach. Happy England! How different from Judea, even in the days of Jehoshaphat! All thy judges are learned, righteous, and impart…
The verse doesn't just say these leaders lack knowledge; it emphasizes that their ignorance is willful. They "walk on in darkness," choosing it over light, which is why society's very foundations are shaken when justice is perverted.
This psalm is calling out corrupt judges and rulers who are perverting justice, essentially acting like gods without any divine accountability. The verse describes their utter lack of understanding and willful ignorance, highlighting how their actions are destabilizing society itself. It sets the stage for God's own pronouncement of judgment against them and a plea for divine intervention.
This psalm is calling out corrupt judges and rulers who are perverting justice, essentially acting like gods without any divine accountability. The verse describes their utter lack of understanding and willful ignorance, highlighting how their actions are destabilizing society itself. It sets the stage for God's own pronouncement of judgment against them and a plea for divine intervention.
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The Babylonian exile began, partly as a consequence of Israel's repeated disobedience and injustice. This event served as a stark reminder of the consequences of societal breakdown due to unrighteous leadership.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and its temple, marking a catastrophic end to the Southern Kingdom. This event underscored the ultimate consequence of a society where the 'foundations of the earth'—justice and righteousness—had been shaken.
"They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken." — The verse doesn't just say these leaders lack knowledge; it emphasizes that their ignorance is willful. They "walk on in darkness," choosing it over light, which is why society's very foundations a…
