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What the Bible Says About Judge

Overview

The Bible addresses judge across 91 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Matthew, Deuteronomy and 1 Kings. Closely related themes include Rulers, Justice, Courts of Justice and Court. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Jesus, Pontius Pilate, Elisha and Gehazi.

Key Bible verses about judge

Old Testament

Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 1:12

How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife?

Deuteronomy 1:13

Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you. Take: Heb. Give

Deuteronomy 1:14

And ye answered me, and said, The thing which thou hast spoken is good for us to do.

Deuteronomy 1:15

So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes. made: Heb. gave

Deuteronomy 1:16

And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him.

Deuteronomy 1:17

Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it. respect: Heb. acknowledge faces

Deuteronomy 16:18

Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.

Deuteronomy 16:19

Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. words: or, matters

Deuteronomy 16:20

That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. That which: Heb. Justice, justice

Deuteronomy 17:8

If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose;

Deuteronomy 17:9

And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and enquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment:

Deuteronomy 17:10

And thou shalt do according to the sentence, which they of that place which the LORD shall choose shall shew thee; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee:

Deuteronomy 17:11

According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do: thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall shew thee, to the right hand, nor to the left.

Deuteronomy 19:16

If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong; that: or, falling away

Deuteronomy 19:17

Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;

Deuteronomy 19:18

And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;

Deuteronomy 19:19

Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.

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.

Deuteronomy 25:2

And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number.

Deuteronomy 25:3

Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee.

1 Kings

1 Kings 3:16

Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.

1 Kings 3:17

And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.

1 Kings 3:18

And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.

1 Kings 3:19

And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid it.

1 Kings 3:20

And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.

1 Kings 3:21

And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear.

1 Kings 3:22

And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.

1 Kings 3:23

Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.

1 Kings 3:24

And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.

1 Kings 3:25

And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.

1 Kings 3:26

Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it. yearned: Heb. were hot

1 Kings 3:27

Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.

1 Kings 3:28

And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment. in him: Heb. in the midst of him

2 Kings

2 Kings 8:1

Then spake Elisha unto the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go thou and thine household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn: for the LORD hath called for a famine; and it shall also come upon the land seven years.

2 Kings 8:2

And the woman arose, and did after the saying of the man of God: and she went with her household, and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years.

2 Kings 8:3

And it came to pass at the seven years' end, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines: and she went forth to cry unto the king for her house and for her land.

2 Kings 8:4

And the king talked with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, Tell me, I pray thee, all the great things that Elisha hath done.

2 Kings 8:5

And it came to pass, as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body to life, that, behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life.

2 Kings 8:6

And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed unto her a certain officer, saying, Restore all that was hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day that she left the land, even until now. officer: or, eunuch

2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 19:5

And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city,

2 Chronicles 19:6

And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment. in: Heb. in the matter of judgment

2 Chronicles 19:7

Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.

2 Chronicles 19:8

Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the LORD, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 19:9

And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.

2 Chronicles 19:10

And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, ye shall even warn them that they trespass not against the LORD, and so wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and ye shall not trespass.

Psalms

Psalms 58:1

To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David. Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men? Altaschith: or, Destroy not, A golden Psalm of David

Psalms 58:2

Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.

Psalms 72:1

A Psalm for Solomon. Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son. for: or, of

Psalms 72:2

He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.

Psalms 72:3

The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.

Psalms 72:4

He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.

Psalms 72:12

For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.

Psalms 72:13

He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.

Psalms 72:14

He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.

Psalms 82:2

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

Psalms 82:3

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

Psalms 82:4

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

New Testament

Matthew

Matthew 26:57

And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.

Matthew 26:58

But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.

Matthew 26:59

Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;

Matthew 26:60

But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none.1161 At the last came two false witnesses,

Matthew 26:61

And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

Matthew 26:62

And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?

Matthew 27:11

And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.

Matthew 27:12

And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

Matthew 27:13

Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?

Matthew 27:14

And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.

Matthew 27:15

Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.

Matthew 27:16

And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.

Matthew 27:17

Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?

Matthew 27:18

For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.

Matthew 27:19

When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

Matthew 27:20

But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.

Matthew 27:21

The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you?1161 They said, Barabbas.

Matthew 27:22

Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.

Matthew 27:23

And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.

Matthew 27:24

When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.

Matthew 27:25

Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

Matthew 27:26

Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

People in the Bible and judge

Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.

In the Bible dictionary

Studying judge for yourself

  • Begin with Exodus 18:21, then read the passages below in canonical order.
  • Compare how Matthew, Deuteronomy and 1 Kings each treat the theme.
  • Consider the lives of Jesus, Pontius Pilate and Elisha and how their stories intersect with it.
  • Widen the study to related themes: Rulers, Justice, Courts of Justice and Court.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about judge?

The Bible addresses judge across 91 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Matthew, Deuteronomy and 1 Kings. Closely related themes include Rulers, Justice, Courts of Justice and Court. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Jesus, Pontius Pilate, Elisha and Gehazi.

How many Bible verses are about judge?

The Bible references judge in 91 verses (King James Version).

Where does the Bible first mention judge?

In canonical order, the first of these passages is Exodus 18:21: “Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:”

Which people in the Bible are associated with judge?

Jesus, Pontius Pilate, Elisha, Gehazi and Jehoshaphat.

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