Psalms 75:2 — Word Study
WLCכִּ֭י אֶקַּ֣ח מוֹעֵ֑ד אֲ֝נִ֗י מֵישָׁרִ֥ים אֶשְׁפֹּֽט׃
BSAto give thanksyâdâh Godʼĕlôhîym to give thanksyâdâh nearqârôwb nameshêm to recountçâphar to wonderpâlâʼ
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| כִּ֭י | if | Particle |
| אֶקַּ֣ח | I will take | Verb, Qal, imperfect first person common singular |
| מוֹעֵ֑ד | an appointed time | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| אֲ֝נִ֗י | I | Pronoun |
| מֵישָׁרִ֥ים | uprightness | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| אֶשְׁפֹּֽט׃ | I will judge | Verb, Qal, imperfect first person common singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | “When I choose a time, I will judge fairly. |
| KJV | When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly. |
| ASV | When I shall find the set time, I will judge uprightly. |
| YLT | When I receive an appointment, I — I do judge uprightly. |
| WEB | When I choose the appointed time, I will judge blamelessly. |
| BBE | When the right time has come, I will be the judge in righteousness. |
There are no significant differences in translation for this verse.
The sentence has a main clause followed by a verb phrase, indicating the action that will take place when the time is chosen.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectאֱלֹהִים
verbלְ
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 75:2
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — A Declaration of God's Justicegenerated
Psalm 75:2 expresses God's commitment to judge fairly at the right time. This verse emphasizes the certainty of divine judgment and the righteousness with which it will be carried out. It is situated within a psalm that acknowledges God's greatness and the acknowledgment of His works among the people, as seen in the preceding verse.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 78:70–72 | He chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds; |
| 2 | Psalm 101:2 | I will ponder the way that is blameless— when will You come to me? I will walk in my house with integrity of heart. |
| 3 | 2 Samuel 2:4 | Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.” |
| 4 | 2 Samuel 5:3 | So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where King David made with them a covenant before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel. |
| 5 | 2 Samuel 8:15 | Thus David reigned over all Israel and administered justice and righteousness for all his people: |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 10 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — מוֹעֵד, mo'edgenerated
The word מוֹעֵד (mo'ed) refers to an appointed time or meeting, often associated with sacred gatherings or festivals. It is derived from a root meaning to appoint, indicating a specific time set for an event.
In this verse, it signifies the moment God has chosen to execute judgment. The use of this term underscores the idea that God's actions are deliberate and timely, reinforcing His authority over the appointed times.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is rendered in the Berean Standard Bible as 'When I choose a time, I will judge fairly.' This is consistent across the KJV, ASV, YLT, WEB, and BBE, all of which convey the same essential meaning.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The sentence consists of two clauses, with the first clause introducing the conditional aspect of God's choice of time — אֶקַּ֣ח מוֹעֵ֑ד (I will take an appointed time) — and the second clause stating the action of judgment — אֶשְׁפֹּֽט (I will judge).
The structure emphasizes God's sovereignty in determining the timing of His actions, with the verb אֶקַּ֣ח (I will take) positioned at the start, highlighting its importance.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates מוֹעֵד as σοι (to you), which shifts the focus slightly from the concept of an appointed time to a more direct address. This choice suggests a more personal engagement with the audience.
This translation indicates a nuanced interpretation, possibly emphasizing the relational aspect of God's timing in judgment.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 75:2 tells us that God will choose the right time to judge fairly. This verse assures us that God's judgment will be just and is based on His perfect timing.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that God's judgments will be just and righteous, reflecting His character and authority.
Timing is important because it shows that God is deliberate and sovereign over when and how He acts in the world.
This verse relates to God's attributes of justice and righteousness, emphasizing that He judges according to His perfect standards.
We can learn to trust in God's justice and to understand that He will act at the right time, even when we may not see it immediately.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How can I recognize God's timing in my life and trust in His judgments?
- What does it mean to me that God judges fairly?
- In what ways can I reflect God's justice in my own decisions?
- How can I prepare myself for God's appointed times in my life?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Augustine of Hippo comments on this verse, noting the significance of God's timing in judgment.
And he says what? "When I shall have received," he says, "the time, I will judge justices" [Psalms 75:2]. When shall He judge justices? When He shall have received the time.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 75 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 75:2 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleWhen I shall receive the congregation,.... Some render it, from the Arabic signification of the word, "the promise" (o); the Spirit promised, the gifts of the Spirit, which Christ received for men,
Read John Gill on Psalms 75 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryWhen I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly. When I shall receive the congregation, I will judge uprightly - the reply of Yahweh to the thanksgiving prayer of His people.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 75 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleWhen I shall receive the congregation, to wit, the whole congregation, or body of thy people, to wit, all the tribes; which are now distracted and disordered by a civil war, which is a great hinderance to the administration of justice. Or, when I shall receive or obtain the appointment, i.e. what God hath appointed and promised to me, to wit, the full and firm possession of the kingdom; or, the time or place appointed by God for that work. Some make these and the following passages the words of God concerning his church or people; which seems not probable; partly because he speaks of God in the third person, as one distinct from him that speaks these words, ,8; and partly because it is…
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 75 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 75:2 When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly.Ver. 2. When I shall receive the congregation] i.e. The government of all the twelve tribes, as I believe I shall do shortly, according to God’ s promise to me by Samuel. I will judge uprightly] That a man is in truth, that he is in his own particular place and station, that he is really, that he is relatively.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 75 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(2) When I.—Rather, When I have chosen my time, I will judge uprightly. This sense: “my time” being shown by the emphatic “I” of the Hebrew. (Comp. Acts 17:31.) The word rendered in the Authorised Version “congregation” (moed), has plainly here its first derivative sense of a set time, or “occasion.” (Comp. Psalms 102:13; Habakkuk 2:3.) So LXX. and Vulg. here; but Symmachus gives “synagogue.” It is quite clear that the speaker of these words is God Himself, who suddenly, as in Psalms 46:10, breaks in with the announcement of judgment. But how far the Divine utterance extends in the psalm is not quite clear. Some end it with Psalms 75:3; others with Psalms 75:5.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 75 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 2. When I shall receive the congregation] When the proper time is come that the congregation, my people of Israel, should be brought out of captivity, and received back into favour, I shall not only enlarge them, but punish their enemies. They shall be cut off and cast out, and become a more miserable people than those whom they now insult. I will destroy them as a nation, so that they shall never more be numbered among the empires of the earth.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 75 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges2, 3. God speaks, as in Psalms 46:10, and His words are virtually an answer to men’s thoughts. Men may have thought that He had abdicated His function as Judge of all the earth: not so: He was only waiting for the fitting moment for action.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 75 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleWhen I shall receive the congregation - The marginal rendering is, “Take a set time.” The phrase is thus rendered in most of the versions. So the Septuagint, “When I take the time” - ὅτανλάβωκαιρὸν hotan labō kairon.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 75 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
“When I choose a time, I will judge fairly.
When I choose the appointed time, I will judge blamelessly.
“When I choose a time, I will judge fairly.
God says, “At the appointed times, I judge fairly.
Tyndale line
When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly.
When I shall find the set time, I will judge uprightly.
When I shall find the set time, I will judge uprightly.
When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly.
When I shall take a conuenient time, I will iudge righteously.
Strictly literal
When I shall receive the assembly, I will judge with equity.
When I receive an appointment, I — I do judge uprightly.
When I receive an appointment, I judge uprightly.
(75:3) “For I will take up a fixed time when I will judge uprightly.
At the appointed time I will judge fairly.
From the Latin
In Judea God is known: his name is great in Israel.
Simplified
God says, “When the time I have decided comes, I will judge fairly.
When the right time has come, I will be the judge in righteousness.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in their wording, with five out of six words matching. This consistency highlights the reliability of the text across different traditions.
כִּ֭י אֶקַּ֣ח מוֹעֵ֑ד אֲ֝נִ֗י מֵישָׁרִ֥ים אֶשְׁפֹּֽט׃
5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 75:2
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'
כִּי conj. that, for, when
that
Of time, when, of the past
elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם
when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though
Because, since
base
כִּי אם־
each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:
that if
for if
(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—
limiting the prec. clause, except
the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but
after an oath, surely
base
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
base
H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that
. . Of time, when, of the past
. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם
. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though
. Because, since
H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if
. for if
. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except
. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but
. after an oath, surely
H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
3588 kiy kee
a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional
prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent
or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative
conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by
other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,
where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,
even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +
nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,
therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,
whether, while, whom, yea, yet.
כִּי (ki) — for.
1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since
1a) that
1a1) yea, indeed
1b) when (of time)
1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)
1c) because, since (causal connection)
1d) but (after negative)
1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if
1f) but rather, but
1g) except that
1h) only, nevertheless
1i) surely
1j) that is
1k) but if
1l) for though
1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.
1) except if
1a) but if
1b) even though
כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.
1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since
1a) that
1a1) yea, indeed
1b) when (of time)
1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)
1c) because, since (causal connection)
1d) but (after negative)
HTc — ParticleHTc
The Hebrew word לָקַח (*laqach*) means 'to take' and encompasses a wide range of actions, including to receive, seize, capture, and carry away. It can refer to taking something in hand, taking a wife, or even taking vengeance. The verb has various forms indicating different nuances, such as being taken away or captured.
לָקַח 965 vb. take
Qal
take, take in hand
take and carry along with oneself
take from, or out of
take, carry away
take away from, so as to deprive of
esp. take away life
take to or for a person
take up, upon = put upon
= fetch
take = lead, conduct (with or without contact)
take = capture, seize
take = carry off
in phr. take vengeance
Niph.
be captured, of ark
be taken away, removed
be taken, brought unto
Pu.
be taken from, out of
= be stolen from
be taken captive
be taken away, removed
Hoph.
be taken, brought unto
be taken out of
be taken away from
Hithp. lit. fire taking hold of itself, of lightning
base
H3947 לָקַח take .. take, take in hand
. take and carry along with oneself
. . take from, or out of
. take, carry away
. take away from, so as to deprive of
. esp. take away life
. take to or for a person
. take up, upon = put upon
. = fetch
. take = lead, conduct (with or without contact)
. take = capture, seize
. take = carry off
. in phr. take vengeance
. . be captured, of ark
. be taken away, removed
. be taken, brought unto
. . be taken from, out of
. = be stolen from
. be taken captive
. be taken away, removed
. . be taken, brought unto
. be taken out of
. be taken away from
. lit. fire taking hold of itself, of lightning
3947 laqach law-kakh'
a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of
applications):--accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch,
get, infold, X many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve,
seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.
לָקַח (la.qach) — to take: take.
: take
1) to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to take, take in the hand
1a2) to take and carry along
1a3) to take from, take out of, take, carry away, take away
1a4) to take to or for a person, procure, get, take possession of, select, choose, take in marriage, receive, accept
1a5) to take up or upon, put upon
1a6) to fetch
1a7) to take, lead, conduct
1a8) to take, capture, seize
1a9) to take, carry off 1a10) to take (vengeance)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be captured
1b2) to be taken away, be removed
1b3) to be taken, brought unto
1c) (Pual)
1c1) to be taken from or out of
1c2) to be stolen from
1c3) to be taken captive
1c4) to be taken away, be removed
1d) (Hophal)
1d1) to be taken unto, be brought unto
1d2) to be taken out of
1d3) to be taken away
1e) (Hithpael)
1e1) to take hold of oneself
HVqi1cs — Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singularHVqi1cs
tak: Most of the very numerous examples of this word are still in good use and only a few call for special attention. "To take" in the sense of "capture" is still common, but when a person or living animal is in point, modern English usually adds "prisoner" or "captive." English Versions of the Bible not infrequently has this addition (Ge 14:14, etc.), but more commonly "take" is used without it (Jos 10:39; Job 5:13; Sirach 23:21; Joh 7:30, etc.). An occasional obscurity is thus caused, as in Ge 27:3, "take me venison" for "hunt venison for me." "To take advice" (2Ch…
מוֹעֵד (mo'ed) refers to an appointed time, place, or meeting, often associated with festivals and sacred seasons. It can denote a specific appointment or assembly, and is linked to the concept of a tent of meeting. The word is derived from a root meaning to appoint, and encompasses a range of meanings related to scheduled gatherings and designated locations.
מוֹעֵד 223 n.m. appointed time, place, meeting
appointed time
appointed meeting
appointed place
appointed sign, signal
tent of meeting
base
H4150 מוֹעֵד appointed time, place, meeting . appointed time
. appointed meeting
. appointed place
. appointed sign, signal
. tent of meeting
4150 mow`ed mo-ade'
or moled {mo-ade'}; or (feminine) moweadah (2 Chronicles
8:13) {mo-aw-daw'}; from 3259; properly, an appointment, i.e.
a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival;
conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as
convened for a definite purpose); technically the
congregation; by extension, the place of meeting; also a
signal (as appointed beforehand):--appointed (sign, time),
(place of, solemn) assembly, congregation, (set, solemn)
feast, (appointed, due) season, solemn(-ity), synogogue, (set)
time (appointed).
see HEBREW for 03259
מוֹעֵד (mo.ed) — meeting: time appointed.
: time_appointed
1) appointed place, appointed time, meeting
1a) appointed time
1a1) appointed time (general)
1a2) sacred season, set feast, appointed season
1b) appointed meeting
1c) appointed place
1d) appointed sign or signal
1e) tent of meeting
מוֹעֵד (mo.ed) — meeting: festival.
: festival
1) appointed place, appointed time, meeting
1a) appointed time
1a1) appointed time (general)
1a2) sacred season, set feast, appointed season
1b) appointed meeting
1c) appointed place
1d) appointed sign or signal
1e) tent of meeting
מוֹעֵד (mo.ed) — meeting.
: meeting
1) appointed place, appointed time, meeting
1a) appointed time
1a1) appointed time (general)
1a2) sacred season, set feast, appointed season
1b) appointed meeting
1c) appointed place
1d) appointed sign or signal
1e) tent of meeting
מוֹעֵד (mo.ed) — meeting: signal appointed.
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
tim: The basis of the Hebrew measurement of time was the day and the lunar month, as with the Semites generally. The division of the day into hours was late, probably not common until after the exile, although the sun-dial of Ahaz (2Ki 20:9; Isa 38:8) would scent to indicate some division of the day into periods of some sort, as we know the night was divided, The word used for "hour" is Aramaic she`a' (sha`ta'), and does not occur in the Old Testament until the Book of Daniel (4:33; 5:5), and even there it stands for an indefinite period for which "time" would answer as well.
1. The Day:
The term "day" (yom) was in use from the earliest times, as is indicated in the story of the Creation (Ge 1). It there doubtless denotes an indefinite period, but is marked off by "evening and…
Besides the ordinary uses of this word, the Bible sometimes employs it to denote a year, as in Da 4:16; or a prophetic year, consisting of three hundred and sixty natural year, a day being taken for a year. Thus in Da 7:25 12:7, the phrase "a time, times, and the dividing of a time" is supposed to mean three and a half prophetic years, or 1,260 natural years. This period is elsewhere paralleled by the expression, "forty-two months," each month including thirty years, Re 11:2-3 12:6,14 13:5.
אֲנִי, transliterated as aniy, is a first-person singular pronoun meaning 'I' or 'me.' It is often used for emphasis and can also imply possession, as in 'mine' or 'myself.' The word is derived from a form that indicates self-reference, and it appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament.
אֲנִי, אָ֑נִי pron. 1s. comm. I
base
H589 אֲנִי, אָ֑נִי I
589 'aniy an-ee'
contracted from 595; I:--I, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, X
which, X who.
see HEBREW for 0595
אֲנִי (a.ni) — I.
I (first pers. sing. -usually used for emphasis)
HPp1bs — PronounHPp1bs
מֵישָׁר (meyshar) refers to concepts of evenness, uprightness, and equity. It is derived from a root meaning 'to be straight' and can figuratively denote prosperity or concord. The term is used in various contexts to express rectitude and fairness, often appearing in plural form with a singular sense.
[מֵישָׁר] n.m. evenness, uprightness, equity
base
H4339 [מֵישָׁר] evenness, uprightness, equity
4339 meyshar may-shawr'
from 3474; evenness, i.e. (figuratively) prosperity or
concord; also straightness, i.e. (figuratively) rectitude
(only in plural with singular sense; often
adverbially):--agreement, aright, that are equal, equity,
(things that are) right(-eously, things), sweetly,
upright(-ly, -ness).
see HEBREW for 03474
מֵישָׁר (me.shar) — uprightness.
1) evenness, uprightness, straightness, equity
1a) evenness, level, smoothness
1b) uprightness, equity
1c) rightly (as adv)
HNcmpa — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
→ See RIGHTEOUSNESS
שָׁפַט (shaphat) is a Hebrew verb meaning to judge or govern. It encompasses a range of actions including pronouncing sentences, executing judgments, and deciding controversies in various contexts such as civil and religious matters. The word can also imply being judged or entering into legal disputes. There is a specific mention of its use in the context of final judgment.
שָׁפַט 185 vb. judge, govern
Qal
act as law-giver, judge, governor
specif. decide controversy, discriminate betw. persons, in civil, political, domestic and religious questions
execute judgment
Niph.
recipr., enter into controversy, plead
pass. be judged
Pô‛el = my opponent-at-law
base
H8199 שָׁפַט judge, govern .. act as law-giver, judge, governor
. specif. decide controversy, discriminate betw. persons, in civil, political, domestic and religious questions
. execute judgment
. . recipr., enter into controversy, plead
. pass. be judged
.= my opponent-at-law
8199 shaphat shaw-fat'
a primitive root; to judge, i.e. pronounce sentence (for or
against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by
extenssion, to govern; passively, to litigate (literally or
figuratively):--+ avenge, X that condemn, contend, defend,
execute (judgment), (be a) judge(-ment), X needs, plead,
reason, rule.
שָׁפַט (sha.phat) — to judge.
1) to judge, govern, vindicate, punish
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to act as law-giver or judge or governor (of God, man)
1a1a) to rule, govern, judge
1a2) to decide controversy (of God, man)
1a3) to execute judgment
1a3a) discriminating (of man)
1a3b) vindicating
1a3c) condemning and punishing
1a3d) at theophanic advent for final judgment
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to enter into controversy, plead, have controversy together
1b2) to be judged
1c) (Poel) judge, opponent-at-law (participle)
HVqi1cs — Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singularHVqi1cs
juj (shopheT; New Testament dikastes, krites): In the early patriarchal times the heads of families and the elders of the tribes were the judges (compare Ge 38:24), and their authority was based on custom. In the wilderness Moses alone was the judge until Jethro suggested a scheme of devolution. On his advice Moses divided the people into groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, and over each group a wise and good man was set as a judge. Thereafter only the most important cases were brought before Moses (Ex 18:13-26; De 1:9-17). This arrangement ceased to be practicable when the children of Israel settled down in Canaan. Although David took counsel with the heads of thousands and hundreds (
Judge
(Heb. shophet, pl. shophetim), properly a magistrate or ruler, rather than one who judges in the sense of trying a cause. This is the name given to those rulers who presided over the affairs of the Israelites during the interval between the death of Joshua and the accession of Saul (Judg. 2:18), a period of general anarchy and confusion. “The office of judges or regents was held during life, but it was not hereditary, neither could they appoint their successors. Their authority was limited by the law alone, and in doubtful cases they were directed to consult the divine King through the priest by Urim and Thummim (Num. 27:21). Their authority extended only over those tribes by whom they had been elected or acknowledged. There was no income attached to their office, and they…
→ Appointed by the Persians Ezr 7:25
→ Kings and other rulers as 2Sa 8:15; 15:2; 1Ki 3:16-28; 10:9; 2Ki 8:1-6; Ps 72:1-4; Mt 27:11-26; Ac 23:34,35; 24; 25:11,12
→ Priests and Levites as De 17:9; 2Ch 19:8; Eze 44:23,24; Mt 26:57-62