Psalms 82:2

How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.

How long will ye judge {H8199}{H8799)} unjustly {H5766}, and accept {H5375}{H8799)} the persons {H6440} of the wicked {H7563}? Selah {H5542}.

"How long will you go on judging unfairly, favoring the wicked? (Selah)

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

How long will ye judge unjustly, And respect the persons of the wicked? [Selah

Commentary

Commentary on Psalms 82:2 (KJV)

Psalm 82 is a powerful prophetic psalm, often described as a divine judgment against corrupt authorities. Verse 2, "How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah," is a direct and scathing rebuke from God, revealing His deep concern for justice and righteousness on earth.

Context

Psalm 82 opens with God standing in the "congregation of the mighty" or "divine council," delivering judgment. While some interpretations suggest this council comprises heavenly beings, a prominent and widely accepted view understands "the mighty" (elohim in Hebrew, often translated as "gods" but also referring to judges or powerful rulers) as human authorities entrusted with governing and administering justice. The psalm's context shows God confronting these earthly judges for their failure to uphold His standards, particularly for neglecting the poor and needy. Verse 2 immediately dives into the core of their transgression: their unjust and partial judgments.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Rebuke of Injustice: The verse begins with a rhetorical question, "How long will ye judge unjustly?", expressing God's exasperation and impatience with widespread corruption and perversion of justice. It highlights that God actively observes and will hold accountable those in positions of power.
  • Partiality and Favoritism: To "accept the persons of the wicked" means to show favoritism or partiality, especially towards the rich, powerful, or influential, at the expense of the poor or vulnerable. This was a direct violation of God's law, which commanded impartiality in judgment (Deuteronomy 16:19). The KJV phrase vividly captures the idea of giving preferential treatment rather than judging based on truth and righteousness.
  • God's Standard of Justice: Implicit in the rebuke is God's uncompromising standard of justice. He expects those who govern to reflect His own character of fairness, equity, and care for the oppressed.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Judge unjustly": The Hebrew word for "unjustly" ('awel) signifies iniquity, perversity, or wrong. It speaks to a deliberate twisting of justice rather than merely a mistake.
  • "Accept the persons": This phrase comes from the Hebrew nasa' panim, literally "to lift up the face." In a judicial context, it means to show favor or partiality, often influenced by a person's status or bribes, rather than judging impartially according to the law. This practice was explicitly forbidden in the Mosaic Law.
  • "Selah": This term appears frequently in the Psalms and is generally understood as a musical or liturgical notation. It often signals a pause for reflection, allowing the hearer or reader to meditate on the profound truth just uttered. In this context, it compels a moment to consider the gravity of God's accusation against unjust judges.

Practical Application

Psalms 82:2 remains profoundly relevant today. It serves as a timeless reminder to:

  • Leaders and Authorities: Those in positions of power, whether in government, law, business, or even within families, are called to exercise their authority with integrity and impartiality. This verse is a stern warning against corruption, bribery, and showing favoritism. God holds all authorities accountable for their actions and judgments.
  • Every Individual: While primarily addressed to judges, the principle extends to how we treat others in our daily lives. Are we quick to judge others based on their appearance, wealth, or status? Do we show favoritism in our interactions? This verse encourages us to seek fairness and righteousness in all our dealings.
  • Advocacy for Justice: The psalm calls believers to actively care for the vulnerable and to seek justice for the oppressed. It encourages us to pray for and support leaders who uphold righteousness, and to speak out against injustice wherever we encounter it, aligning ourselves with God's call to "seek judgment, relieve the oppressed".

The "Selah" at the end invites us to pause and reflect on the seriousness of God's demand for justice and our role in upholding it.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 1:17 (7 votes)

    Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; [but] ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment [is] God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring [it] unto me, and I will hear it.

  • Proverbs 18:5 (6 votes)

    ¶ [It is] not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

  • Psalms 58:1 (4 votes)

    ¶ To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David. Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?

  • Psalms 58:2 (4 votes)

    Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.

  • Galatians 2:6 (3 votes)

    But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed [to be somewhat] in conference added nothing to me:

  • Psalms 62:3 (2 votes)

    How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall [shall ye be, and as] a tottering fence.

  • Leviticus 19:15 (2 votes)

    Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: [but] in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.