Psalms 82:5
They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
Original Language Analysis
לֹ֤א
H3808
לֹ֤א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
1 of 10
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יָֽדְע֨וּ׀
They know
H3045
יָֽדְע֨וּ׀
They know
Strong's:
H3045
Word #:
2 of 10
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
וְלֹ֥א
H3808
וְלֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
3 of 10
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יָבִ֗ינוּ
not neither will they understand
H995
יָבִ֗ינוּ
not neither will they understand
Strong's:
H995
Word #:
4 of 10
to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e., (generally) understand
יִתְהַלָּ֑כוּ
they walk
H1980
יִתְהַלָּ֑כוּ
they walk
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
6 of 10
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
יִ֝מּ֗וֹטוּ
are out of course
H4131
יִ֝מּ֗וֹטוּ
are out of course
Strong's:
H4131
Word #:
7 of 10
to waver; by implication, to slip, shake, fall
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
8 of 10
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
Cross References
Psalms 11:3If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?Proverbs 2:13Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;Romans 1:28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;Micah 3:1And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; Is it not for you to know judgment?Psalms 14:4Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.Proverbs 1:29For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:1 John 2:11But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.John 12:35Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.Isaiah 59:9Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.Isaiah 5:7For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.
Historical Context
The ancient Near East understood justice as maintaining cosmic order (Egyptian ma'at, Mesopotamian kittu). Judges weren't merely resolving disputes but upholding the moral structure of reality established by divine decree. When Israelite judges corrupted justice, they didn't just harm individuals—they threatened the covenant community's very existence. God's judgment came through Babylonian exile (586 BC) partly because of systemic judicial corruption (Jeremiah 5:28, Ezekiel 22:29).
Questions for Reflection
- How does judicial and governmental corruption in our society threaten 'the foundations of the earth'—social stability and moral order?
- What does it mean to 'walk in darkness' while holding positions of authority—how can leaders guard against willful ignorance of truth?
- How can the church speak prophetically against systemic injustice without becoming merely political?
Analysis & Commentary
They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. God's indictment expands: corrupt judges lack both knowledge and understanding. "Know not" (לֹא יָדְעוּ/lo yade'u) and "neither will they understand" (וְלֹא יָבִינוּ/velo yavinu) describe willful ignorance. These aren't mere intellectual deficits but moral failures—refusal to acknowledge truth, rejection of wisdom, blindness to justice's requirements.
"They walk on in darkness" (בַּחֲשֵׁכָה יִתְהַלָּכוּ/bachashekah yithalleku) depicts persistent, habitual evil. Walking suggests the course of life; darkness represents moral and spiritual blindness (Proverbs 4:19, John 3:19, 1 John 2:11). These judges stumble through life without light, their judgments reflecting their own darkness rather than God's righteous standards.
"All the foundations of the earth are out of course" reveals injustice's cosmic consequences. When judges pervert justice, society's very foundations (מוֹסְדֵי אָרֶץ/mosdei erets) shake and totter (מָוֹט/mot). Justice is foundational to social order; its corruption destabilizes everything. This anticipates Psalm 11:3, "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" Moral order sustains creation itself; its violation threatens cosmic chaos.