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Psalm 82:2
“How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked?” Selah.
1A Psalm by Asaph. God presides in the great assembly. He judges among the gods.
2“How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked?” Selah.
3“Defend the weak, the poor, and the fatherless. Maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
4Rescue the weak and needy. Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.”
Notice
“How long” carries the weight of injustice allowed to continue, as God confronts judgments that protect the wicked through favoritism.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
Where have you seen judgment favor someone whose actions caused harm?
Write on thisWhat might partiality look like in a decision entrusted to you?
Write on thisWhat do you notice about God asking how long injustice will continue?
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Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Proverbs 18:5To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.Both condemn partiality toward the wicked, with Proverbs also naming the injustice suffered by the innocent.
Deuteronomy 1:17You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be afraid of the face of man, for the judgment is God’s. …Both reject partiality in judgment and place those who judge under God’s authority.
Leviticus 19:15“‘You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor show favoritism to the great; but you shall judge your neighbor in …Both condemn injustice in judgment; Leviticus specifies that neither poverty nor greatness should determine how a neighbor is judged.
Psalm 62:3How long will you assault a man? Would all of you throw him down, like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?Both ask “How long” wrongdoing will continue, though Psalm 82 confronts unjust judgment and Psalm 62 confronts an assault.
John 7:24Don’t judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”Both challenge distorted judgment: Psalm 82 condemns favoring the wicked, while John warns against judging by appearance.
Psalm 58:1–2For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A poem by David. Do you indeed speak righteousness, silent ones? Do you judge blamelessly, you sons of …Both use questions to confront those who judge, putting the righteousness of their judgments under scrutiny.
Philippians 4:8Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, …Both value justice: Psalm 82 condemns unjust judgment, while Philippians directs attention toward whatever things are just.
Job 13:10He will surely reprove you if you secretly show partiality.Both present partiality as grounds for God’s rebuke, with Job specifying that even secret favoritism faces his reproof.
Galatians 2:6But from those who were reputed to be important—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God doesn’t show partiality to man—they, I say, who were …Both reject partiality: Psalm 82 records God confronting it, while Galatians states that God does not practice it.
Exodus 10:3Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and said to him, “This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before …Both contain God’s question “How long,” confronting continued wrongdoing: unjust judgment in the psalm and Pharaoh’s refusal to humble himself in Exodus.
James 2:4haven’t you shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?Both connect partiality with corrupt judgment and confront it through a direct question.
2 Samuel 19:29The king said to him, “Why do you speak any more of your matters? I say, you and Ziba divide the land.”Both concern judgments affecting others, though the king’s division of land here carries no explicit charge of partiality.
Where this verse fits
Injustice and anger. leadership weight.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
God speaks against judgments that favor the wicked. If you have seen such favoritism, this accusation names something God himself condemns.
Now put it in your words.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).