Psalms 82:5

Psalms 82:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
• New International Version (NIV)“The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
• English Standard Version (ESV)They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
• New King James Version (NKJV)They do not know, nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are unstable.

Context of Psalms 82:5

3Provide justice for the needy and the fatherless; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute. 4Rescue the poor and needy; save them from the power of the wicked.” They do not know or understand; they wander in darkness. All the foundations of the earth are shaken. 6I said, “You are gods; you are all sons of the Most High. 7However, you will die like humans and fall like any other ruler.”

Psalms 82:5 word by word

לֹ֤א יָֽדְע֨וּ׀ וְלֹ֥א יָבִ֗ינוּ בַּחֲשֵׁכָ֥ה יִתְהַלָּ֑כוּ יִ֝מּ֗וֹטוּ כָּל־מ֥וֹסְדֵי אָֽרֶץ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• They knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• not, neither will they understandבִּיןbîyn · to understandH995
• they walkהָלַךְhâlak · to go: walkH1980
• on in darknessחֲשֵׁכָהchăshêkâh chăshêykâh · darknessH2825
• all the foundationsמוֹסָדmôsâd · foundationH4144
• of the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• are out of courseמוֹטmôţ · to shakeH4131

Cross-references for Psalms 82:5

• Psalms 53:4Will evildoers never understand? They consume my people as they consume bread; they do not call on God.
• Proverbs 1:29Because they hated knowledge, didn’t choose to fear the Lord,
• Micah 3:1Then I said, “Now listen, leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Aren’t you supposed to know what is just?
• Romans 1:28And because they did not think it worthwhile to acknowledge God, God delivered them over to a corrupt mind so that they do what is not right.
• Proverbs 2:13from those who abandon the right paths to walk in ways of darkness,
• Proverbs 4:19But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they don’t know what makes them stumble.
• Ecclesiastes 2:14The wise person has eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also knew that one fate comes to them both.
• John 3:19This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.
• John 12:35Jesus answered, “The light will be with you only a little longer. Walk while you have the light so that darkness doesn’t overtake you. The one who walks in darkness doesn’t know where he’s going.
• 1 John 2:11But the one who hates his brother or sister is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and doesn’t know where he’s going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
• Psalms 11:3When the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
• Psalms 75:3When the earth and all its inhabitants shake, I am the one who steadies its pillars.Selah
• Ecclesiastes 3:16I also observed under the sun: there is wickedness at the place of judgment and there is wickedness at the place of righteousness.
• Isaiah 5:7For the vineyard of the Lord of Armies is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah, the plant he delighted in. He expected justice but saw injustice; he expected righteousness but heard cries of despair.
• 2 Timothy 2:19Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, bearing this inscription: The Lord knows those who are his, and let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness.

Commentaries on Psalms 82:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5They 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 impartial. Never did greater men in their profession dignify any land or country - (1822). All the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5They 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 partial in the administration of justice Psalm 82:2, but they did not desire to understand their duty, and the true principles on which justice should be administered. They were at no pains to inform themselves, either in regard to those principles, or in…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5Unjust oppressors cannot bring or restore order. They wander about in darkness, unmoved by circumstances, even when the whole world order falls apart around them (compare Psalm 11:3).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. By the wilful ignorance and negligence of judges, anarchy ensues (Psa 11:3; 75:3). out of course--(Compare Margin; Psa 9:6; 62:2).Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 82:5

• Blindness
• Impenitence

In the dictionaries

• Asaph
• Psalms
• Angel
• Course
• Dark; Darkness
• God
• Korahites; Sons of Korah
• Psalms, Book of

Commentaries on Psalms 82

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• The Treasury of David
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings