The Meaning of Psalms 82:5 Explained

Psalms 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.

YLT: They knew not, nor do they understand, In darkness they walk habitually, Moved are all the foundations of earth.

Darby: They know not, neither do they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are moved.

ASV: They know not, neither do they understand; They walk to and fro in darkness: All the foundations of the earth are shaken.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Psalms 82:5 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 82:5 mean?

Not they do know nor do they understand in darkness they walk about are unstable All the foundations of the earth
לֹ֤א יָֽדְע֨וּ ׀ וְלֹ֥א יָבִ֗ינוּ בַּחֲשֵׁכָ֥ה יִתְהַלָּ֑כוּ יִ֝מּ֗וֹטוּ כָּל־ מ֥וֹסְדֵי אָֽרֶץ

יָֽדְע֨וּ ׀  they  do  know 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
וְלֹ֥א  nor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יָבִ֗ינוּ  do  they  understand 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: בִּין  
Sense: to discern, understand, consider.
בַּחֲשֵׁכָ֥ה  in  darkness 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֲשֵׁכָה  
Sense: darkness.
יִתְהַלָּ֑כוּ  they  walk  about 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
יִ֝מּ֗וֹטוּ  are  unstable 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: מֹוט  
Sense: to totter, shake, slip.
מ֥וֹסְדֵי  the  foundations 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: מֹוסָד  
Sense: foundation.
אָֽרֶץ  of  the  earth 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.