Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. New Living Translation But these oppressors know nothing; they are so ignorant! They wander about in darkness, while the whole world is shaken to the core. English Standard Version They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. Berean Standard Bible They do not know or understand; they wander in the darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. King James Bible They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. New King James Version They do not know, nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are unstable. New American Standard Bible They do not know nor do they understand; They walk around in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are shaken. NASB 1995 They do not know nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are shaken. NASB 1977 They do not know nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are shaken. Legacy Standard Bible They do not know and do not understand; They walk about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are shaken. Amplified Bible The rulers do not know nor do they understand; They walk on in the darkness [of complacent satisfaction]; All the foundations of the earth [the fundamental principles of the administration of justice] are shaken. Christian Standard Bible They do not know or understand; they wander in darkness. All the foundations of the earth are shaken. Holman Christian Standard Bible They do not know or understand; they wander in darkness. All the foundations of the earth are shaken. American Standard Version They know not, neither do they understand; They walk to and fro in darkness: All the foundations of the earth are shaken. Contemporary English Version "None of you know or understand a thing. You live in darkness, while the foundations of the earth tremble. English Revised Version They know not, neither do they understand; they walk to and fro in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are moved. GOD'S WORD® Translation Wicked people do not know or understand anything. As they walk around in the dark, all the foundations of the earth shake. Good News Translation "How ignorant you are! How stupid! You are completely corrupt, and justice has disappeared from the world. International Standard Version They neither know nor understand; they walk about in the dark while all the foundations of the earth are shaken. NET Bible They neither know nor understand. They stumble around in the dark, while all the foundations of the earth crumble. New Heart English Bible They do not know, neither do they understand. They walk back and forth in darkness. All the foundations of the earth are shaken. Webster's Bible Translation They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThey do not know or understand; they wander in the darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. World English Bible They don’t know, neither do they understand. They walk back and forth in darkness. All the foundations of the earth are shaken. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionThey did not know, nor do they understand, "" They habitually walk in darkness, "" All the foundations of earth are moved. Young's Literal Translation They knew not, nor do they understand, In darkness they walk habitually, Moved are all the foundations of earth. Smith's Literal Translation They will not know, they will not Understand: they will go about in darkness: all the foundations of the earth will be moved. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThey have not known nor understood: they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth shall be moved. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible The gods neither know nor understand, wandering about in darkness, and all the world’s foundations shake. New Revised Standard Version They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk around in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThey know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated For they have not known neither are they wise; they have been walking in darkness and all the foundations of the Earth are moved! OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917They know not, neither do they understand; They go about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are moved. Brenton Septuagint Translation They know not, nor understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth shall be shaken. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context God Presides in the Divine Assembly…4Rescue the weak and needy; save them from the hand of the wicked. 5They do not know or understand; they wander in the darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. 6I have said, ‘You are gods; you are all sons of the Most High.’… Cross References Isaiah 59:9-10 Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We hope for light, but there is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in gloom. / Like the blind, we feel our way along the wall, groping like those without eyes. We stumble at midday as in the twilight; among the vigorous we are like the dead. Hosea 4:1-6 Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a case against the people of the land: “There is no truth, no loving devotion, and no knowledge of God in the land! / Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another. / Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it will waste away with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air; even the fish of the sea disappear. ... John 12:35-36 Then Jesus told them, “For a little while longer, the Light will be among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. / While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of light.” After Jesus had spoken these things, He went away and was hidden from them. Matthew 15:14 Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” Romans 1:21-22 For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, Ephesians 4:17-18 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. / They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. Jeremiah 4:22 “For My people are fools; they have not known Me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but they know not how to do good.” Proverbs 4:19 But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. / The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. Isaiah 6:9-10 And He replied: “Go and tell this people, ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ / Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” John 1:5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 1 John 2:11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness. He does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. Isaiah 44:18 They do not comprehend or discern, for He has shut their eyes so they cannot see and closed their minds so they cannot understand. Matthew 23:16-17 Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ / You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes it sacred? Acts 26:17-18 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them / to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’ Treasury of Scripture They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. they. Psalm 53:4 Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God. Proverbs 1:29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: Micah 3:1 And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; Is it not for you to know judgment? walk Proverbs 2:13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; Proverbs 4:19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. Ecclesiastes 2:14 The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all. all the. Psalm 11:3 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? Psalm 75:3 The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah. Ecclesiastes 3:16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. out of course. Jump to Previous Bases Course Dark Darkness Earth Forth Foundations Fro Habitually Moved Sense Shaken Understand Understanding WalkJump to Next Bases Course Dark Darkness Earth Forth Foundations Fro Habitually Moved Sense Shaken Understand Understanding WalkPsalm 82 1. The psalmist, having exhorted the judges5. And reproved their negligence 8. Prays God to judge They do not know or understand; This phrase highlights the spiritual ignorance and lack of discernment among the leaders or judges being addressed. In biblical context, this ignorance is often attributed to a rejection of God's wisdom and law. Proverbs 1:7 states, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge," indicating that true understanding comes from reverence for God. The leaders' failure to know or understand suggests a departure from divine guidance, which is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, where Israel's leaders often led the people astray due to their own lack of understanding (Hosea 4:6). they wander in the darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. Persons / Places / Events 1. GodThe ultimate judge who presides over the divine council, addressing the failures of earthly judges. 2. Earthly Judges The human leaders or judges who are being admonished for their lack of justice and understanding. 3. Divine Council A heavenly assembly where God holds the judges accountable for their actions. 4. Foundations of the Earth Symbolic of the order and stability of society, which is threatened by injustice. 5. Darkness Represents ignorance and moral confusion, a state in which the judges are said to wander. Teaching Points The Importance of JusticeGod holds leaders accountable for their role in upholding justice. As Christians, we should advocate for fairness and righteousness in our communities. Spiritual Awareness Ignorance and lack of understanding lead to moral darkness. We must seek wisdom and discernment through prayer and study of God's Word. Impact of Leadership The failure of leaders to act justly can destabilize society. We should pray for and support leaders who pursue godly principles. Personal Responsibility While leaders are accountable, individuals also have a responsibility to live justly and seek truth, avoiding the darkness of ignorance. Foundation of Truth The stability of our lives and communities depends on adherence to God's truth. We must build our lives on the solid foundation of Scripture. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Psalm 82:5?2. How does Psalm 82:5 describe the consequences of lacking understanding of God's ways? 3. What actions can we take to avoid "walking in darkness" as in Psalm 82:5? 4. How does Psalm 82:5 relate to Proverbs 3:5-6 about trusting God? 5. In what ways can we help others gain understanding to prevent societal "foundations" shaking? 6. How can we apply the warning in Psalm 82:5 to our daily decisions? 7. What does Psalm 82:5 imply about human understanding and spiritual blindness? 8. How does Psalm 82:5 challenge the belief in human wisdom and knowledge? 9. Why does Psalm 82:5 describe the earth's foundations as "shaken"? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Psalm 82? 11. How can one be light in the Lord? 12. How can Psalm 11:3’s concern about “foundations” be reconciled with historical and scientific evidence for societal progress rather than total collapse? 13. How does a lamp guide my path? 14. How can the earth be 'set on its foundations, never to be moved' (Psalm 104:5) if our planet orbits the sun and moves through space? What Does Psalm 82:5 Mean They do not know or understand• The verse opens with a blunt assessment of spiritual ignorance. When those in authority lose touch with God’s word, discernment evaporates. Hosea 4:6 says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge,” a tragedy that begins in the heart and spreads outward. • Isaiah 1:3 notes that even an ox recognizes its owner, yet God’s people can be slower to recognize Him—a picture of stubborn forgetfulness. • Romans 1:21 reminds us that although people may claim wisdom, their thinking becomes futile when they refuse to glorify God. • The result is leaders who neither perceive God’s standards nor understand His purposes, leaving the flock without reliable guidance. They wander in the darkness • Ignorance naturally leads to aimless living. Proverbs 4:19 observes, “The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.” • Ephesians 4:18 echoes the theme: “They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God.” The absence of divine light produces confusion and relational breakdown. • Isaiah 59:9-10 paints Israel groping along a wall like the blind, unable to find justice—an image of societal paralysis. • John 8:12 offers the contrast: Jesus declares, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness.” Light is available, yet those described in Psalm 82:5 persist in darkness because they refuse that light. all the foundations of the earth are shaken • When leaders lack knowledge and walk in darkness, the very pillars of society tremble. Psalm 11:3 asks, “When the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Stability depends on righteousness and truth at the highest levels. • Proverbs 14:34 affirms that “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” Sin in leadership erodes legal structures, family life, and public morality. • Isaiah 24:19 expands the image: “The earth is utterly broken apart… shaken violently.” While global judgment lies ahead, every generation tastes aftershocks when justice is abandoned. • The verse warns that spiritual blindness in leadership is never private; it destabilizes everything under their influence. summary Psalm 82:5 describes rulers who reject God’s truth, stumble in darkness, and drag the whole social order toward collapse. The passage calls us to recognize the link between knowing God, walking in His light, and preserving the foundations that keep communities secure. (5) Here we imagine a pause, that interval between warning and judgment which is God's pity and man's opportunity; but the expostulation falls dead without a response. The men are infatuated by their position and blinded by their pride, and the poet, the spectator of this drama of judgment, makes this common reflection. The perversion of judgment strikes him, as it could not fail to do, as an indication of total anarchy and a dissolution of society, a convulsion like an earthquake.They know not.--Comp. Psalm 58:4, "They have no knowledge;" there, too, of judges corrupted by the moral blindness which, as in the case of Lord Bacon, sometimes so strangely darkens those in whom intellectual light is most keen. They walk on in darkness--Or, better, They let themselves walk in darkness; the conjugation implying that inclination or will, and not circumstance, brings this dullness to the dictates of justice and right. All the foundations . . .--The very existence of society is threatened when the source of justice is corrupt. "Back flow the sacred rivers to their source, And right and all things veer around their course; Crafty are men in council, and no more God-plighted faith abides as once of yore." EUR. Med., 409. Verse 5. - They know not, neither will they understand. Scarcely "an aside from the indignant judge," as Professor Cheyne suggests, much less a remark interpolated by the poet (Ewald, Hitzig). Rather a complaint of human perversity, addressed by Jehovah to the angelic host who are present (ver. 1). It is not an accidental and excusable ignorance, but a wilful and guilty one that is spoken cf. They walk on in darkness. Loving darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil (John 3:19), they walked in the way of darkness (Proverbs 2:13). All the foundations of the earth are out of course; rather, are shaken. The fundamental bases on which the life of man upon the earth rests, the very principles of morality, are shaken, and totter to their fail, when those whose place it is to administer justice pervert it and deal out injustice instead.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew They do notלֹ֤א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no know יָֽדְע֨וּ ׀ (yā·ḏə·‘ū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 3045: To know or understand; יָבִ֗ינוּ (yā·ḇî·nū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 995: To separate mentally, understand they wander יִתְהַלָּ֑כוּ (yiṯ·hal·lā·ḵū) Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk in the darkness; בַּחֲשֵׁכָ֥ה (ba·ḥă·šê·ḵāh) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 2825: Darkness, misery all כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every the foundations מ֥וֹסְדֵי (mō·ws·ḏê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 4144: A foundation of the earth אָֽרֶץ׃ (’ā·reṣ) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 776: Earth, land are shaken.” יִ֝מּ֗וֹטוּ (yim·mō·w·ṭū) Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 4131: To waver, to slip, shake, fall Links Psalm 82:5 NIVPsalm 82:5 NLT Psalm 82:5 ESV Psalm 82:5 NASB Psalm 82:5 KJV Psalm 82:5 BibleApps.com Psalm 82:5 Biblia Paralela Psalm 82:5 Chinese Bible Psalm 82:5 French Bible Psalm 82:5 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Psalm 82:5 They don't know neither do they understand (Psalm Ps Psa.) |
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