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 Living Translation (NLT)But these oppressors know nothing; they are so ignorant! They wander about in darkness, while the whole world is shaken to the core.

Context of Psalms 82:5

3Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. 4Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked. They do not know, nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are unstable. 6I said, “You are gods, And all of you are children of the Most High. 7But you shall die like men, And fall like one of the princes.”

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 53:4Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, Who eat up my people as they eat bread, And do not call upon God?
• Proverbs 1:29Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the Lord,
• Micah 3:1And I said: “Hear now, O heads of Jacob, And you rulers of the house of Israel: Is it not for you to know justice?
• Romans 1:28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
• Proverbs 2:13From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness;
• Proverbs 4:19The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble.
• Ecclesiastes 2:14The wise man’s eyes are in his head, But the fool walks in darkness. Yet I myself perceived That the same event happens to them all.
• John 3:19And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
• John 12:35Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.
• 1 John 2:11But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
• Psalms 11:3If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?
• Psalms 75:3The earth and all its inhabitants are dissolved; I set up its pillars firmly. Selah
• Ecclesiastes 3:16Moreover I saw under the sun: In the place of judgment, Wickedness was there; And in the place of righteousness, Iniquity was there.
• Isaiah 5:7For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, And the men of Judah are His pleasant plant. He looked for justice, but behold, oppression; For righteousness, but behold, a cry for help.
• 2 Timothy 2:19Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

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