Psalm 82:3

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

Psalm 82:3 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 82:3

Defend the poor and fatherless
Or, judge ^F4 them; such as have no money to enter and carry on a suit, and have no friends to assist and advise them, and abide by them; these should be taken under the care and wing of judges; their cause should be attended to, and justice done them; their persons should be protected, and their property defended and secured for, since they are called gods, they ought to imitate him whose name they bear, who is the Father of the fatherless, the Judge of the widows, and the helper of the poor that commit themselves to him, ( Psalms 10:14 ) ( 68:5 ) , such a righteous judge and good magistrate was Job; see ( Job 29:12 ) ,

do justice to the afflicted and needy;
or "justify" ^F5 them, pronounce them righteous, give the cause for them, not right or wrong, nor because they are poor and needy, but because they are in the right; for, if wicked, they are not to be justified, this is an abomination to the Lord; see ( Leviticus 19:15 ) ( Deuteronomy 25:1 ) ( Proverbs 17:15 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 (wjpv) "judicate", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Musculus, Junius & Tremellius, Gejerus, Michaelis.
F5 (wqyduh) "justificate", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Musculus, Cocceius

Psalm 82:3 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.