Psalm 82:2

2 How long will ye judge unrighteously, and accept the persons of sinners? Pause.

Psalm 82:2 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 82:2

How long will ye judge unjustly
These are the words not of the psalmist, but of the divine Person that stands in the congregation of the mighty, and judges among the gods; calling the unjust judges to an account, and reproving them for their unrighteous proceedings and perversion of justice, in which they had long continued, and which was an aggravation of their sin; this is very applicable to the rulers and judges of the Jewish nation in the times of Christ, who had long dealt very unjustly, and continued to do so; they judged wrong judgment, or judgment of iniquity, as Aben Ezra renders it, both in civil and ecclesiastical things; their judgment was depraved concerning the law, which they transgressed and made void by adhering to the traditions of the elders; they passed an unrighteous judgment on John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, rejecting his baptism, and calling him a devil; and upon Christ himself, adjudging him to death for crimes he was not guilty of; and upon his followers, whom they cast out of the synagogue; the character of an unjust judge see in ( Luke 18:2 ) ,

and accept the persons of the wicked?
gave the cause in favour of them, and against the righteous, because they were rich, or related to them, or had bribes from them, contrary to the law in ( Deuteronomy 16:19 ) , so the judges among the Jews, in Christ's time, judged according to appearance, the outward circumstances of men, and not righteous judgment, as our Lord suggests, ( John 7:24 ) .

Selah. (See Gill on Psalms 3:2).

Psalm 82:2 In-Context

1 God stands in the assembly of gods; and in the midst of them will judge gods.

2 How long will ye judge unrighteously, and accept the persons of sinners? Pause.

3 Judge the orphan and poor: do justice to the low and needy.

4 Rescue the needy, and deliver the poor out of the hand of the sinner.

5 They know not, nor understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth shall be shaken.

6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you children of the Most High.

7 But ye die as men, and fall as one of the princes.

8 Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.