Bible Strands
Psalms 72:2
May he judge Your people with righteousness and Your afflicted with justice.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist, identified as Solomon, prays to God for the reigning king and his successor. The prayer occurs at the transition of royal authority, asking God to endow the ruler with divine standards.
The words — The Hebrew יָדִין (ya.Din) literally means "he will judge," while צֶדֶק (Tze.dek) translates to "righteousness." These terms anchor the ruler's duty in impartial legal and moral standards.
The thread — This theme of royal justice appears in Isaiah 32:1 and Isaiah 32:17, which link righteous reign to lasting peace. The same psalm later specifies this care for the needy in Psalms 72:12.
Why it lands — The text demands that those in power apply equitable standards to both the general populace and the vulnerable. It requires readers to evaluate leadership by its measurable treatment of the oppressed.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 32:1 Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule with justice.
- Psalms 72:12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out and the afflicted who have no helper.
- Isaiah 32:17 The work of righteousness will be peace; the service of righteousness will be quiet confidence forever.
- 1 Kings 3:5 One night at Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “Ask, and I will give it to you!”
- Job 34:19 who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.
- Psalms 12:5 “For the cause of the oppressed and for the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD. “I will bring safety to him who yearns.”
- Psalms 45:6 Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever, and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom.
- Psalms 82:3 Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed.
- Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.
- Isaiah 11:2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.