The Meaning of Psalms 82:2 Explained

Psalms 82:2

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

YLT: Till when do ye judge perversely? And the face of the wicked lift up? Selah.

Darby: How long will ye judge unrighteously, and accept the person of the wicked? Selah.

ASV: How long will ye judge unjustly, And respect the persons of the wicked? Selah

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Psalms 82:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 82:1-8 - The Just Judge Of All
Those described here as gods are evidently the judges and magistrates of Israel. See John 10:34. They were intended to be the mouthpiece and representatives of God; but instead, they thought only of their own interests and sought personal aggrandizement. But the psalmist beheld what was veiled from ordinary view-God standing in the midst of His people, judging them Himself and judging their judges.
We may have done wrongs of which no judge has convicted us. But God has seen, and unless there is confession, leading to forgiveness, He will certainly punish. Or, we may have been grossly misjudged, and in that case He will vindicate us. Go to Jesus, to whom the Father has committed all judgment, and remember that while all things are naked and open to His eyes, He also is the High Priest who is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and the Lamb that takes away sin. When the foundations of the earth are out of course, let us remember that we belong to a kingdom that cannot be moved, Hebrews 12:28. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 82

1  The psalmist, having exhorted the judges
5  And reproved their negligence
8  Prays God to judge

What do the individual words in Psalms 82:2 mean?

Until when will you judge unjustly and to the wicked show partiality Selah
עַד־ מָתַ֥י תִּשְׁפְּטוּ־ עָ֑וֶל וּפְנֵ֥י ؟ רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים תִּשְׂאוּ־ סֶֽלָה

עַד־  Until 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
תִּשְׁפְּטוּ־  will  you  judge 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: שָׁפַט  
Sense: to judge, govern, vindicate, punish.
עָ֑וֶל  unjustly 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עָוֶל 
Sense: injustice, unrighteousness, wrong.
؟ רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים  to  the  wicked 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.
תִּשְׂאוּ־  show  partiality 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
סֶֽלָה  Selah 
Parse: Interjection
Root: סֶלָה  
Sense: to lift up, exalt.