Deep Dive

Psalms 82:3

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Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed.

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Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 3

This psalm is calculated for the meridian of princes' courts and courts of justice, not in Israel only, but in other nations; yet it was probably penned primarily for the use of the magistrates of Israel, the great Sanhedrim, and their other elders who were in places of power, and perhaps by David's direction. This psalm is designed to make kings wise, and "to instruct the judges of the earth" (as Psa 2:1-12 and Ps. 10), to tell them their duty as (Sa2 23:3), and to tell them of their faults as Psa 58:1. We have here, I. The dignity of magistracy and its dependence upon God (Psa 82:1). II. The duty of magistrates (Psa 82:3, Psa 82:4). III. The degeneracy of bad magistrates and the mischief they do (Psa 82:2, Psa 82:5). IV. Their doom read (Psa 82:6, Psa 82:7). V. The desire and prayer of all good people that the kingdom of God may be set up more and more (Psa 82:8). Though magistrates may most closely apply this psalm to themselves, yet we may any of us sing it with understanding when we give glory to God, in singing it, as presiding in all public affairs, providing for the protection of injured innocency, and ready to punish the most powerful injustice, and when we comfort ourselves with a belief of his present government and with the hopes of his future judgment. A psalm of Asaph.

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Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 3

שָׁפַט (shâphaṭ, H8199) — to judge, i.e. pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or… דַּל (dal, H1800) — properly, dangling, i.e. (by implication) weak or thin יָתוֹם (yâthôwm, H3490) — a bereaved person צָדַק (tsâdaq, H6663) — to be (causatively, make) right (in a moral or forensic sense) עָנִי (ʻânîy, H6041) — depressed, in mind or circumstances רוּשׁ (rûwsh, H7326) — to be destitute

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Cross-references

Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.

James 1:27rank 9

Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Jeremiah 22:3rank 8

This is what the LORD says: Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow. Do not shed innocent blood in this place.

Psalms 10:18rank 8

to vindicate the fatherless and oppressed, that the men of the earth may strike terror no more.

Jeremiah 5:28rank 6

They have grown fat and sleek, and have excelled in the deeds of the wicked. They have not taken up the cause of the fatherless, that they might prosper; nor have they defended the rights of the needy.

Isaiah 1:17rank 6

Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.”

Deuteronomy 10:18rank 6

He executes justice for the fatherless and widow, and He loves the foreigner, giving him food and clothing.

Jeremiah 22:16rank 6

He took up the cause of the poor and needy, and so it went well with him. Is this not what it means to know Me?” declares the LORD.

Deuteronomy 24:17rank 6

Do not deny justice to the foreigner or the fatherless, and do not take a widow’s cloak as security.

Isaiah 1:23rank 4

Your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves. They all love bribes and chasing after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, and the plea of the widow never comes before them.

Commentaries

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