Psalm 82 5

Psalm 82:5 kjv

They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.

Psalm 82:5 nkjv

They do not know, nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are unstable.

Psalm 82:5 niv

"The 'gods' know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

Psalm 82:5 esv

They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

Psalm 82:5 nlt

But these oppressors know nothing;
they are so ignorant!
They wander about in darkness,
while the whole world is shaken to the core.

Psalm 82 verses

Psalm 82 5 Meaning

Psalm 82:5 describes the profound ignorance and spiritual blindness of unrighteous judges or rulers, which leads to dire consequences for society. These "gods" (elohim), meant to uphold divine justice, fail to understand God's ways or their own responsibilities. Consequently, their actions—or inaction—plunge them and the people they govern into moral and spiritual darkness, leading to the disruption and decay of the very societal and cosmic order upon which the world rests.

Psalm 82 5 Context

Psalm 82 depicts a divine assembly (Hebrew: ’edah ’el) where God (Hebrew: ’Elohim) stands to judge the "gods" (Hebrew: ’elohim). While ’elohim can refer to divine beings, in this context, most Christian interpretations understand these "gods" to be human rulers or judges, appointed by God and endowed with authority to administer justice, thus metaphorically serving as "gods" or divine representatives on earth. The psalm strongly condemns their widespread failure to uphold justice, especially for the poor, weak, and needy. Verse 5 is a central diagnosis of their profound spiritual and moral defect: their lack of understanding and their immersion in darkness directly contribute to the unraveling of societal order. The historical context reflects a consistent biblical concern for justice and a polemic against rulers who pervert it, often operating in pagan contexts where rulers might claim divine right without divine accountability, or in Israel where leaders failed to follow God's laws.

Psalm 82 5 Word analysis

• They do not know (לֹא יָדְעוּ - lo yad'u):

  • They (לֹא - lo): A strong negative particle. It denotes absolute lack.
  • know (יָדְעוּ - yad'u): Hebrew yada' (Qal perfect 3rd plural). This knowledge is not merely intellectual acquaintance but includes experiential, intimate understanding and practical application. It implies a moral and spiritual discernment of God's ways and justice, which these rulers lack. This points to a willful or negligent ignorance of truth.

• nor do they understand (וְלֹא יָבִינוּ - w’lo yavinu):

  • nor (וְלֹא - w’lo): Conjunction "and" followed by the negative, reinforcing the previous denial.
  • understand (יָבִינוּ - yavinu): Hebrew bin (Hiphil perfect 3rd plural). Bin denotes insight, discernment, ability to distinguish, and the faculty of judgment. In the Hiphil, it implies causing or having understanding. The rulers lack not just raw knowledge but the ability to process, apply, and derive true insight from it, particularly regarding justice and their divine mandate. This suggests a deep spiritual blindness and intellectual stubbornness.

• They walk about in darkness (בַּחֹשֶׁךְ יִתְהַלָּכוּ - baḥoshekh yit'hal'khu):

  • They walk about (יִתְהַלָּכוּ - yit'hal'khu): Hebrew halakh (Hithpael imperfect 3rd plural). The Hithpael form often indicates reflexive, iterative, or intensive action, meaning they "habitually walk themselves about" or "live their lives" in darkness. This is their chosen or inherent condition, a consistent way of life.
  • in darkness (בַּחֹשֶׁךְ - baḥoshekh): Hebrew choshekh. Symbolically represents moral confusion, spiritual ignorance, wickedness, injustice, and separation from divine truth and guidance. It's not merely absence of light but active wrongdoing.

• All the foundations of the earth are shaken (כָּל־מוֹסְדֵי־אֶרֶץ יִמּוֹטוּ - kol-mosdei-erets yimmotu):

  • All (כָּל־ - kol): Emphasizes totality, not just some parts but the entire fabric.
  • the foundations (מוֹסְדֵי־ - mosdei-): Hebrew mosad (construct plural of mosad). Literally "fixed places, foundations, bases." Here, it refers to the very basic principles or structures of society, cosmic order, and justice. When justice is corrupted, the moral underpinnings of society and creation are destabilized.
  • of the earth (אֶרֶץ - erets): Can mean "land" (e.g., Israel) or "earth" (the entire world). Given the universal judgment implications, "earth" is often preferred. It implies that perverted justice by rulers doesn't just harm a specific nation but has global, even cosmic, destabilizing effects on God's established order.
  • are shaken (יִמּוֹטוּ - yimmotu): Hebrew mut (Niphal imperfect 3rd plural). Mut means "to totter, be moved, shake, wobble." The Niphal form indicates a passive action: they "are caused to totter" or "are moved from their place." This isn't just slight instability but a significant disruption to their integrity, leading to collapse.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "They do not know, nor do they understand": This dual negative highlights a profound, systemic intellectual and spiritual failure. It's a double indictment of both a lack of basic knowledge and the inability to discern or apply truth, rendering them wholly unqualified to judge. This deficiency in moral comprehension is willful.
  • "They walk about in darkness": This phrase moves beyond internal ignorance to external manifestation. Their habitual lifestyle and decision-making are steeped in moral murkiness and sin, as opposed to the light of God's truth. This isn't just a condition but an active state of being.
  • "All the foundations of the earth are shaken": This statement directly links the moral failure of the "gods"/rulers to cataclysmic societal consequences. The collapse of justice undermines the very fabric of society and potentially the divinely established order of creation, showing the cosmic significance of upholding righteousness.

Psalm 82 5 Bonus section

The concept of the "foundations of the earth" (מוֹסְדֵי־אֶרֶץ) being shaken connects to numerous Old Testament passages where cosmic or foundational disturbances are metaphors for national distress, God's judgment, or the collapse of moral order (e.g., Isa 24:18-20, Joel 2:10). This linkage elevates the consequence of human injustice beyond merely local societal problems to having cosmic resonance in God's ordered creation. The Psalm's warning highlights a crucial biblical principle: the spiritual state and moral conduct of those in authority directly impact the stability and well-being of the world, reflecting God's ultimate sovereignty over both human rulers and the created order. This underscores the theological truth that true societal peace (shalom) is rooted in divine righteousness, not merely human structures.

Psalm 82 5 Commentary

Psalm 82:5 is a scathing indictment of unrighteous human authorities whose willful ignorance and lack of spiritual discernment lead them to abandon justice. Their failure to "know" (experientially and practically understand God's way) and "understand" (discern and apply wisdom) results in a life "in darkness," a metaphor for moral corruption, spiritual blindness, and wicked deeds. This deep-seated perversion of their divine mandate is not confined to personal failing; it has wide-ranging, catastrophic repercussions. When those appointed to uphold order and administer justice become unjust, the fundamental pillars of society and God's created order itself—truth, righteousness, fairness—are "shaken." This implies that without a stable foundation of divine justice, social stability and even the integrity of existence crumble. It emphasizes that societal health is intrinsically linked to righteous governance.

For example, when judges take bribes or make partial judgments (Pro 17:23, Deut 16:19), when leaders ignore the cries of the oppressed (Isa 10:1-2), or when a government is based on deceit rather than truth (Pro 29:12), the consequence is widespread instability, suffering, and societal breakdown, echoing the shaking of the "foundations of the earth."