Psalms 82:3

82:2 How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.

Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Defend: Heb. Judge

KJV

“Defend the weak, the poor, and the fatherless. Maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.

Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.

82:4 Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.

What does Psalms 82:3 mean?

Psalms 82:3 is a verse in the book of Psalms, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include שָׁפַט (shâphaṭ), דַּל (dal), יָתוֹם (yâthôwm).

Hebrew interlinear

Defendשָׁפַטshâphaṭ/shaw-fat'/H8199to judge, i.e. pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by extenssion, to govern; passively, to litigate (literally or figuratively)

the

poorדַּלdal/dal/H1800properly, dangling, i.e. (by implication) weak or thin

and

fatherless:יָתוֹםyâthôwm/yaw-thome'/H3490a bereaved person

justiceצָדַקtsâdaq/tsaw-dak'/H6663to be (causatively, make) right (in a moral or forensic sense)

the

afflictedעָנִיʻânîy/aw-nee'/H6041depressed, in mind or circumstances

and

needy.רוּשׁrûwsh/roosh/H7326to be destitute

Defend:

Heb.

Judge

Topics

Afflicted, Duty Toward The Judge Justice Orphan Poor Poor, the Psalms Rulers

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Psalms 82:3.

Deuteronomy 25:1

If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.

Isaiah 10:2

To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!

Job 24:9

They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor.

Job 29:12

Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.

Job 34:28

So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.

Leviticus 19:15

Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.

Proverbs 28:3

A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food. which: Heb. without food

Frequently asked questions

What does Psalms 82:3 say?

Psalms 82:3 (King James Version) reads: "Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Defend: Heb. Judge"

Is Psalms 82:3 in the Old or New Testament?

Psalms 82:3 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Psalms.

Reflect

As you read Psalms 82:3, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

Plan a sermon or study on Psalms 82:3 →

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