Psalms 9:8
in Psalms 9He judges the world with justice; He governs the people with equity.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And he will judge the world in righteousness, He will minister judgment to the peoples in uprightness.
KJV
And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.
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This verse in Psalms 9
Commentary
11 notes on this verseWhatever earthly courts may do, heaven's throne ministers judgment in uprightness. Partiality and respect of persons are things unknown in the dealings of the Holy One of Israel. How the prospect of appearing before the impartial tribunal of the Great King should act as a check to us when tempted to sin, and as a comfort when we are slandered or oppressed.
This site's exposition
the LORD abides forever
on Psalms 9:7-8
Against the erased names and uprooted cities of verse 6 stands a throne that does not fall. The LORD abides forever and has established that throne for judgment, judging the world with justice and governing the people with equity. Equity means one measure for every people.
This site's exposition
He judges the world with justice
Here the world is tevel, the inhabited earth. Psalms 96:13 and 98:9 repeat the line almost word for word, as the LORD comes to judge. Paul echoes it at Acts 17:31, where God has set a day to judge the world by the Man He has appointed.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
"And the Lord abideth for ever" (ver. 7). "Wherefore" then "have the heathen raged, and the people imagined vain things against the Lord, and against His anointed:" for "the Lord abideth for ever. He hath prepared His seat in judgment, and He shall judge the world in equity." He prepared His seat when He was judged. For by that patience Man purchased heaven, and God in Man profited believers. And this is the Son's hidden judgment. But seeing He is also to come openly and in the sight of all to judge the quick and the dead, He hath prepared His seat in the hidden judgment: and He shall also openly "judge the world in equity:" that is, He shall distribute gifts proportioned to desert, setting the sheep on His right hand, and the goats on His left. "He shall judge the people with justice" (ver. 8). This is the same as was said above, "He shall judge the world in equity." Not as men judge who see not the heart, by whom very often worse men are acquitted than are condemned: but "in equity" and "with justice" shall the Lord judge, "conscience bearing witness, and thoughts accusing, or else excusing."
These words warn that we must withdraw from evil and impiety and pursue excellence and righteousness. For who being prudent, if he believes this, would not fear that he might fall into the hands of judgment and rightly and properly so on account of his …
While the general judgment is reserved for that time, the particular is for this; after all, he puts many things into effect here and now lest the heedless form the impression that present realities do not fall under his providence. If, on the contrary, not everyone receives their crown in this life, do not be surprised. "He has prepared a day," remember, "on which he intends to judge the world," whereas for the present there is an arena, contest, struggles. Hence not everyone receives their just desserts; instead, rewards are reserved there for those who do well and punishments for those who fail.
The Medieval Church1 voice
He also says that it is universal; hence he says, "He shall judge the whole world," and not the Jews alone. Gen. 18: "Far be it from you, Lord, to destroy the just with the wicked." Also, that it is just; hence he says, "in …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
): He shall judge the world, all persons and all controversies, shall minister judgment to the people (shall determine their lot both in this and in the future state) in righteousness and in uprightness, so that there shall not be the least colour of exception against it.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And he shall judge the world in righteousness,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
He shall judpe the world in righteousness - All the dispensations of God’s providence are founded in righteousness and truth.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And he shall judge the world in righteousness - The word here rendered world means properly the habitable earth; and then it denotes the inhabitants that dwell upon the earth. The statement here is general, and is suggested by what is referred to in the previous verses. In the particular case on which the psalm turns, God had manifested himself as a just Judge. He had overthrown the enemies of himself and of truth; he had interposed in behalf of the righteous: and from this fact the psalmist makes the natural and proper inference that this would be fouud to be his character in regard to all the world; this indicated what, in all Iris dealings with men he would always be found to be; this showed what he would be whenever he in any way pronounced a judgment on mankind. It may be added here that this will be found to be true in the great final judgment; that it will be in accordance with the principles of eternal justice. He shall minister judgment - He will declare or pronounce judgment; he will execute the office of judge. “To the people.” To all people; to the nations of the earth. This corresponds with what, in the former part of the verse, is called the world; and the declaration is, that in his dealings with the dwellers on the earth he will be guided by the strictest principles of justice. In uprightness - In rectitude. He will not be influenced by partiality; he will show no favoritism; he will not be bribed. He will do exact justice to all.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְה֗וּא | vehu' | and he | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| יִשְׁפֹּֽט־ | yishpot- | he will judge | H8199 → | 202 times |
| תֵּבֵ֥ל | tevel | [the] world | H8398 → | 36 times |
| בְּצֶ֑דֶק | betzedek | with righteousness | H6664 → | 119 times |
| יָדִ֥ין | yadin | he will judge | H1777 → | 24 times |
| לְ֝אֻמִּ֗ים | leumim | [the] nations | H3816 → | 31 times |
| בְּמֵישָׁרִֽים׃ | bemeisharim | with uprightness<es> | H4339 → | 19 times |
וְה֗וּאand he
vehu'H1931 →1879 times
יִשְׁפֹּֽט־he will judge
yishpot-H8199 →202 times
תֵּבֵ֥ל[the] world
tevelH8398 →36 times
בְּצֶ֑דֶקwith righteousness
betzedekH6664 →119 times
יָדִ֥יןhe will judge
yadinH1777 →24 times
לְ֝אֻמִּ֗ים[the] nations
leumimH3816 →31 times
בְּמֵישָׁרִֽים׃with uprightness<es>
bemeisharimH4339 →19 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 2:16on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Christ Jesus, as proclaimed by my gospel.
it leads to
- Ecclesiastes 12:14
For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
- Acts 17:31
For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each…
- Ecclesiastes 12:14
Through
Acts 17:31For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”
it leads to
- Psalms 98:9
before the LORD, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Matthew 25:31–46
When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne.
- Romans 2:16
on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Christ Jesus, as proclaimed by my gospel.
- 2 Peter 3:7
And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
- Psalms 98:9
Through
Psalms 96:13before the LORD, for He is coming— He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness.
it leads to
- Revelation 19:11
Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war.
- Revelation 19:11
Where this verse is studied
By subject
Judgment35 verses
Justice34 verses
About Psalms
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 9; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 1; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David; Didymus the Blind, FRAGMENTS ON THE PSALMS 9:8; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Psalms; John Chrysostom, COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 9:4; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Exposition on the Psalms of David.