Bible Strands
Psalms 82:5
They do not know or understand; they wander in the darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God addresses a divine council, commanding the rescue of the weak and needy while pronouncing judgment on those he calls "gods" and "sons of the Most High." The moment captures a courtroom scene where earthly and spiritual authorities are held accountable for their failure to uphold justice.
The words — יָֽדְע֨וּ (ya.de.'U) translates literally as "they know," paired with יָבִ֗ינוּ (ya.Vi.nu) for "they understand." יִ֝מּ֗וֹטוּ (yi.Mo.tu) means "they are shaken," describing the violent instability that follows this ignorance.
The thread — The motif of walking in darkness appears in Proverbs 2:13, while the image of shaken foundations recurs in Psalms 11:3. Romans 1:28 parallels the spiritual blindness by describing a depraved mind given over to unrighteousness.
Why it lands — The text states that ignorance and moral blindness destabilize all order, demanding readers abandon self-reliance and submit to God's justice. It asks for immediate recognition that authority without discernment collapses the world it claims to govern.
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
They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
Cross-references
- Psalms 11:3 If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
- Proverbs 2:13 from those who leave the straight paths to walk in the ways of darkness,
- Romans 1:28 Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.
- Micah 3:1 Then I said: “Hear now, O leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Should you not know justice?
- Proverbs 1:29 For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.
- John 3:19 And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.
- John 12:35 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.
- Psalms 14:4 Will the workers of iniquity never learn? They devour my people like bread; they refuse to call upon the LORD.
- 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.
- Psalms 53:4 Will the workers of iniquity never learn? They devour my people like bread; they refuse to call upon God.