Psalm 7:8 kjv
The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.
Psalm 7:8 nkjv
The LORD shall judge the peoples; Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, And according to my integrity within me.
Psalm 7:8 niv
Let the LORD judge the peoples. Vindicate me, LORD, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High.
Psalm 7:8 esv
The LORD judges the peoples; judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me.
Psalm 7:8 nlt
The LORD judges the nations.
Declare me righteous, O LORD,
for I am innocent, O Most High!
Psalm 7 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 18:25 | Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just? | God's justice in judgment is questioned. |
| Deut 32:4 | The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice... just and upright is he. | God's perfect justice and uprightness. |
| 1 Sam 24:15 | May the LORD therefore be judge and give decision... | David calls on God to judge between him and Saul. |
| Ps 9:8 | He will judge the world in righteousness; he will govern the peoples with equity. | God's universal righteous judgment. |
| Ps 26:1 | Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity... | A direct parallel, similar plea. |
| Ps 35:24 | Vindicate me, O LORD my God, according to your righteousness... | David's similar prayer for justice. |
| Ps 50:6 | The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge! | Heavens witness God as the supreme Judge. |
| Ps 96:13 | For he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness. | God's coming judgment on all peoples. |
| Ps 103:6 | The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. | God delivers and brings justice. |
| 1 Kgs 8:32 | then hear in heaven and act and judge your servants, condemning the guilty by bringing his conduct on his own head, and vindicating the righteous by rewarding him according to his righteousness. | Solomon's prayer for vindication of the righteous. |
| Pro 11:3 | The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them. | Integrity guides; lack of it brings ruin. |
| Isa 2:4 | He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples... | God as arbiter and judge among nations. |
| Jer 11:20 | O LORD of hosts, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind... | God judges based on internal heart condition. |
| Mal 3:18 | Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked... | God's final distinction between good and evil. |
| Acts 17:31 | because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed... | God's appointed future judgment through Christ. |
| Rom 2:6 | He will render to each one according to his works: | God's just recompense according to deeds. |
| 2 Cor 5:10 | For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ... | Future accounting for actions. |
| 1 Pet 2:23 | When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. | Christ's example of trusting in God's just judgment. |
| 1 Pet 4:19 | Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. | Commending oneself to God as a faithful Creator and Judge. |
| Heb 12:23 | and to God, the judge of all... | God is the ultimate universal Judge. |
| Rev 20:12 | And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened... judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. | Ultimate divine judgment based on deeds. |
Psalm 7 verses
Psalm 7 8 Meaning
Psalm 7:8 expresses a fervent prayer from David to the Lord, the universal Judge, appealing for vindication. David, facing false accusations and treachery, confidently requests that God administer justice by judging him according to his genuine righteousness and internal integrity concerning the specific charges against him. It is a plea for divine discernment and an acquittal based on the truth of his conduct and heart, not an assertion of absolute sinlessness but an affirmation of his innocence regarding the particular wrongdoing alleged by his enemies.
Psalm 7 8 Context
Psalm 7 is a "shiggaion" (a wandering song or a wild, passionate outpouring) of David concerning Cush, a Benjaminite. This superscription points to a period when David was unjustly accused and pursued, possibly during the reign of King Saul, where "Cush" could represent a figure or faction associated with Saul's loyalists who falsely slandered David. The Psalm is a passionate prayer of distress, trust, and a plea for divine judgment. David expresses his innocence regarding the specific malicious charges laid against him (vv. 3-5), asserting his loyalty and lamenting the unjust persecution. Verse 8 comes in the context of David appealing to God’s absolute justice, calling upon Him, as the universal Judge, to intervene and discern the truth of his case against his adversaries. It sets up the confident expectation of divine vindication, which David believes will then bring judgment upon his persecutors.
Psalm 7 8 Word analysis
- The LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): The sacred, personal, covenant name of God, revealing His self-existence and unwavering faithfulness. This emphasizes that David is appealing to the God who is intrinsically just, righteous, and true to His promises, rather than a generic deity. He is the ultimate, sovereign authority, uniquely qualified to execute perfect judgment.
- shall judge (יָדִין - yadin from דִּין - din/שָׁפַט - shaphat): While the common translation is "judge," the root "shaphat" (as is often implied in such contexts and related Hebrew words) carries a broader meaning than simply condemning. It encompasses ruling, governing, delivering justice, vindicating the oppressed, distinguishing between right and wrong, and setting things right. In this verse, "yadin" comes from "din," which often denotes deciding a legal case or contending in judgment. Here, it signifies the Lord's universal exercise of divine arbitration over all peoples.
- the people (עַמִּים - ammim): Refers to all nations, peoples, or ethnic groups. This signifies the universal scope of God's jurisdiction, asserting His role as the supreme Judge of all humanity, not just Israel. David’s personal plea is framed within this grand, cosmic truth of God’s ultimate authority over everyone.
- judge me (שָׁפְטֵנִי - shophteni): A direct, personal imperative plea to God. David requests not merely an observation of his situation, but an active intervention – that God would act as his advocate, vindicator, and discern the truth of his cause. He is inviting God's scrutiny, confident in his integrity concerning the specific charges against him.
- O LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): A repeated invocation of God's covenant name, intensifying the appeal for personal attention and intervention from the faithful God. It shows David’s absolute reliance on God’s nature.
- according to my righteousness (כְּצִדְקִי - k'tzidki): "Tzidki" (from tzedeq/tzedakah) means my righteousness. This does not imply perfect sinlessness before God in an absolute sense, but refers to his innocence, uprightness, and integrity relative to the specific accusations from his enemies. David asserts that he has acted rightly in the matter for which he is being slandered, especially in avoiding retaliation or treachery himself, despite having the opportunity.
- and according to my integrity (וּכְתֻמִּי - u’ch’tummi): "Tummi" (from tummah) means my blamelessness, completeness, wholeness, or sincerity. It complements "righteousness" by emphasizing David’s internal purity of motive, honesty, and wholehearted devotion to God, especially concerning his adherence to His ways. It points to a sound moral character and blameless conduct regarding the false charges, indicating his unblemished faithfulness and genuine conduct in the situation.
- that is in me: This phrase underlines the internal, genuine nature of his righteousness and integrity. It’s not just outward conformity but an internal reality of character. David’s plea is based on the sincerity and honesty of his heart, appealing to the God who searches the heart and discerns true motives.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "The LORD shall judge the people": This declaration sets the theological stage, asserting God’s universal and inherent role as the ultimate judge of all nations. It is a foundational truth upon which David then builds his personal plea, reminding God (and himself) of His sovereign nature.
- "judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me": This forms the core plea. It's a confident, yet humble, surrender to divine scrutiny. David asks for vindication based not on perfect adherence to the Law in every aspect of life (which he would know he lacked due to general human sinfulness), but specifically on the truth of his character and actions in relation to the specific accusations. His appeal relies on his clear conscience concerning the matters for which he is falsely condemned.
Psalm 7 8 Bonus section
The appeal in Psalm 7:8, rooted in David's relative innocence concerning the specific accusations, resonates deeply with the character of a faithful servant of God in a fallen world. It presupposes that God sees and knows the truth of individual hearts and deeds, even when human courts or opinions are misled. The confidence in God's judgment here implies that divine justice is superior to human perceptions or biases. Furthermore, this psalm illustrates the concept that divine justice often involves vindication (delivering the righteous) as much as it does condemnation (punishing the wicked). The psalmist's understanding of "judge" extends beyond retribution; it includes the active role of setting the record straight and demonstrating the truth for those who trust in Him.
Psalm 7 8 Commentary
Psalm 7:8 encapsulates David’s profound trust in God as the impartial and just Judge. While universally God is "Judge of all," David daringly brings his personal case before Him, requesting judgment "according to his righteousness and integrity." This is not an arrogant claim of sinless perfection (as later understood in the New Testament concept of imputed righteousness in Christ), but a sincere plea for vindication concerning the specific accusations leveled against him by his adversaries. David, clear in his conscience regarding these particular charges, submits to God’s discerning gaze, knowing that only God can truly discern the heart and reveal the truth of one’s intentions and actions. His confidence stems from an unblemished conscience regarding the malicious accusations, relying on the reality of his upright conduct in the face of treachery. It highlights the biblical truth that God rewards those who sincerely seek to walk in His ways and that He will ultimately expose injustice and vindicate the innocent who appeal to Him. For a believer today, while righteousness before God is fundamentally through Christ (Phil 3:9), the principle of appealing to God’s justice for vindication when facing false accusations and entrusting oneself to His judgment remains a powerful example (1 Pet 2:23).