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Kretzmann's Popular Commentary

Psalms 82:5

They know not, neither will they understand, that is, the rulers, in many cases, ignore the voice of their conscience, they willfully set aside the obligation resting upon them; they walk on in darkness, deliberately blinding their eyes and hardening their hearts to the demands of their position; all the foundations of the earth are out of course, the entire order of things in the world is upset, their negligence causes anarchy to ensue and to overthrow law and order.

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See also Psalms 82:5 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Psalms 82:5. _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 wi...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    THEY KNOW NOT, NEITHER WILL THEY UNDERSTAND - This is designed still further to characterize the magistrates at the time referred to in the psalm. They not merely judged unjustly, and were not merely...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    Psalms 82 Concerning Judgment _ 1. The judge with His righteous judgment (Psalms 82:1)_ 2. Arise O God! judge the earth (Psalms 82:6) His own presence in the congregation of God (Israel) means a r...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    LXXXII. AGAINST INIQUITOUS RULERS. Jewish rulers are meant, as is plain from Psalms 82:3 f. PSALMS 82:6 F. The use of the word God in Psalms 82:6 f. is ironical. The great men bear themselves as if D...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    THEY. The oppressed. WILL. can. ON. to and fro....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    God is still the speaker; but instead of addressing the culprits, He describes their incorrigible blindness and obstinacy, before He pronounces sentence on them. They have no knowledge, neither will t...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The character of these judges described and their sentence pronounced....

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    THEY KNOW NOT, &C.— _They are ignorant of their duty, and will not attend_ to it, _but go on in the dark: All the foundations of the land are in a tottering state._ Green. Respecting the word _foundat...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    PSALMS 82 DESCRIPTIVE TITLE The Judgment of Unjust Judges. ANALYSIS Stanza I., Psalms 82:1, Introductory Vision. Stanza II., Psalms 82:2-7, Reprimand of the Judges by the Judge of Judges. Stanza II...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    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, NEITHER WILL THEY UNDERSTAND. Practical ignorance besets in...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    82:5 earth (d-18) _ Erets_ , 1 Samuel 2:8 ....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    This Ps. is an impeachment of unjust judges, who are officially called 'gods.' It represents them as put upon their trial at God's tribunal (Psalms 82:1). God Himself denounces their wickedness (Psalm...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THEY KNOW NOT] The judges are deaf to reproof. OUT OF COURSE] RV 'moved.' Injustice leads to the wreck of society....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Psalms 73:89 _GORDON CHURCHYARD_ GOD AND THE GODS PSALMS 82 JESUS SAID, "I SAW *SATAN FALL FROM *HEAVEN LIKE A LIGHT THROUGH THE SKY". (LUKE 10: 18)

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    Here we imagine a pause, that interval between warning and judgment which is God’s pity and man’s opportunity; but the expostulation falls dead without a response. The men are infatuated by their posi...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    לֹ֤א יָֽדְע֨וּ ׀ וְ לֹ֥א יָבִ֗ינוּ בַּ חֲשֵׁכ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    Psalms 82:1 IN Psalms 50:1 God is represented as gathering His people together to be judged; in this psalm He has gathered them together for His judgment on judges. The former psalm begins at an earli...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE JUST JUDGE OF ALL Psalms 82:1 Those described here as _gods_ are evidently the judges and magistrates of Israel. See John 10:34. They were intended to be the mouthpiece and representatives of God...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    This psalm is a cry for justice, born of a sense of maladministration of those in authority. It first announces the fact that God is the supreme Judge. This is a recognition of the perfect equity of t...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the (d) foundations of the earth are out of course. (d) That is, all things are out of order either by their tyranny or care...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Nation. That there may be no more of this religion, or Catholics. (Worthington) --- Israel delighted most in being styled the chosen nation of God. (Berthier)_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    While we pay all due respect to the important truths here set forth, concerning earthly courts of justice, I would not overlook the occasion, the very idea of judgment and justice sets forth, to call...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    5_They know not, neither do they understand. _(425) After having reminded princes of their duty, the Psalmist complains that his admonition from their infatuation is ineffectual, and that they refuse...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Psalms 82. We find God assuming the government into His own hands. He had set up authority in the earth and especially in Israel. Directed by His word in judgment and armed with His authority, the jud...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THEY KNEW NOT,.... The Targum adds, to do well. This is to be understood of unjust judges and wicked magistrates, who know not God, and have not the fear of him before their eyes, though he stands in...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. Ver. 5. _They know not, neither will they understand_] _q.d._ There is no go...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _They know not_ That is, the magistrates, of whom this Psalm treats, are not acquainted with, and will not be at the pains to learn the truth and right of the causes which come before them, nor the du...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    OUT OF COURSE: _ Heb._ moved...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-5 Magistrates are the mighty in authority for the public good. Magistrates are the ministers of God's providence, for keeping up order and peace, and particularly in punishing evil-doers, and prote...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    THEY, the magistrates, of whom this Psalm treats, KNOW NOT, to wit, the truth and right of the cause, nor the duty of their place. Men are oft said in Scripture _not to know_ what they do not love and...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Psalms 82:5 know H3045 (H8804) understand H995 (H8799) walk H1980 (H8691) darkness H2825 foundations H4144 earth...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Instructions for the judges of the earth. CHARACTERS: God, Asaph. CONCLUSION: God judges among the mighty of earth. They have their power from Him and are accountable to Him. Magistrates s...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Title. _A psalm of Asaph._ There is no authority for referring this psalm to the time of Jehoshaphat, 2 Chronicles 19:6, which is to contradict the title. David no doubt reformed the courts of justice...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _All the foundations of the earth are out of course, _ THE RADICAL WRONGNESS OF THE WORLD I. The foundation of mauve individual character is “out of course.” The true foundation of man’s character i...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; He judgeth among the gods._ THE SUPREMACY OF GOD I. As rebuking unjust rulers. “How long will ye judge unjustly?” Here is a common crime. Human ruler...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    PSALM PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 82:1. Some call this a community lament since it addresses God directly with a request on behalf of the whole people (v. Psalms 82:8). Others

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 82:5 When such people rule, the FOUNDATIONS OF THE EARTH (the moral principles that God instilled in the creation order) ARE SHAKEN (see note on 11:3)....

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    INTRODUCTION _Superscription.—“A_ Psalm of Asaph.” (See Introduction to Psalms 74.) _Occasion_.—We are unable to determine upon what occasion the Psalm was written. It is clear, however, that it is ad...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION Two different explanations have been given of the general bearing and intention of this psalm—one, recently advocated by Professor Cheyne, that it is a denunciation of the angels whom God h...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Psa 82:1-8 is a psalm that is directed to judges. And it is a very solemn psalm that God directs to judges, and basically God declares that He is not happy or satisfied with men's judgment. God stand...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 John 2:11; 2 Timothy 2:19; Ecclesiastes 2:14; Ecclesiastes 3:16;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    They — The magistrates of whom this psalm treats. Know not — The duty of their place. Nor will — Their ignorance is wilful. Walk on — They persist: it is their constant course. In darkness — In their...

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