Psalms 58:2 · Bible study
Psalms 58:2 Commentary: Study: Weighing Violence, Perverting Justice
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
What does it mean to 'weigh the violence of your hands'?
Research Summary
- Meaning: Corrupt judges secretly plot injustice and openly dispense violence under the guise of fair judgment.
- Key words: 'Weigh' (bitter irony, using the language of justice to describe injustice); 'heart' (inner source of corruption).
- Main debate: Whether the setting is Saul's court, Absalom's conspiracy, or a generic indictment of corrupt rulers.
- Theological theme: God's justice stands against human perversion of judgment; the hope that God will ultimately set things right.
- Best use: A prophetic call for integrity among those in authority, and a prayer for deliverance when systems fail.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
No, in your hearts you devise injustice; with your hands you mete out violence on the earth.
WEB World English Bible 2000
No, in your heart you plot injustice. You measure out the violence of your hands in the earth.
KJV King James Version 1769
Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Nay, in heart ye work wickedness; Ye weigh out the violence of your hands in the earth.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Even in heart ye work iniquities, In the land the violence of your hands ye ponder.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh out the violence of your hands in the earth.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; and defend me from them that rise up against me.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Antes con el corazón obráis iniquidades: hacéis pesar la violencia de vuestras manos en la tierra.
Na verdade vós praticais perversidades em vosso coração; sobre a terra pesais a violência de vossas mãos.
Est-ce donc en vous taisant que vous rendez la justice?
Ja, mutwillig tut ihr Unrecht im Lande und gehet stracks durch, mit euren Händen zu freveln.
Spreekt gijlieden waarlijk gerechtigheid, gij, vergadering? Oordeelt gij billijkheden, gij, mensenkinderen?
Anzi, nel cuore voi commettete delle iniquità; nel paese, voi gettate nella bilancia la violenza delle vostre mani.
O zgromadzenie! Izali poprawdzie sprawiedliwość mówicie? A uprzejmież sądzicie, wy synowie ludzcy?
Избавь меня от врагов моих, Боже мой! защити меня от восстающих на меня;
不然！你們是心中 作 惡；你們在地上 秤出 你們手 所行的強暴。
The purposes of your hearts are evil; your hands are full of cruel doings on the earth.
Verse in Context
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Psalm 58:2 forms the second half of David's accusation against corrupt judges, following the rhetorical question in verse 1. The verse exposes a stark contradiction: those charged with upholding righteousness instead plot injustice in their hearts. The key term 'weigh' (as in KJV 'ye weigh') is identified across the commentaries as a bitter irony, the language of justice with its scales and balances is used to describe the deliberate, premeditated dispensing of violence. Clarke notes that while judges held the scales of justice in their hands, they were 'balances of injustice and violence.' Barnes explains that the deeds of violence are 'weighed out' as if issuing a legal sentence. Gill adds that the wicked sin 'with premeditation and deliberation,' working wickedness heartily and openly throughout the land. The Cambridge Bible calls this a 'bitter irony' in the use of a word strictly applicable to justice. Calvin sees the verse as David vindicating his integrity against slander, while Matthew Henry places it in the context of Saul's persecution. The core agreement is unmistakable: the verse indicts those in authority who subvert the very institutions of justice into instruments of oppression.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Historical setting view: Some (Henry, Poole) connect it to Saul's protection of his officials; others (Keil & Delitzsch) to Absalom's subversion of justice.
- Generic indictment view: Many (Barnes, Calvin, Clarke) read it as a general accusation against corrupt rulers, not tied to one event.
- Irony-of-justice view: The 'weighing' imagery is a bitter parody of the scales of justice, emphasizing that the judges' official acts are violent (Cambridge, Gill).
What is clear: The verse condemns those in positions of judgment who use their authority to perpetrate injustice, subverting the scales of justice into instruments of violence.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Identity of those addressed | The verse addresses rulers or judges who have corrupted their office. | Some (Matthew Henry, Poole) see Saul's court; others (Keil & Delitzsch) point to Absalom's conspiracy; many (Barnes, Calvin) treat it as a general indictment of corrupt magistrates. |
| Meaning of 'weigh' | The word is drawn from the imagery of scales and justice, and is used ironically. | Whether it implies literal legal decisions (Barnes, Cambridge) or a broader metaphor for any acts of violence done with premeditation (Gill). |
| The phrase 'in the earth' | Indicates that injustice is carried out openly and publicly. | Whether it refers to the whole land of Israel (Keil & Delitzsch) or has a more universal scope (Luther). |
| Connection to verse 1 | Verse 2 is a direct response to the challenge of verse 1, denying that the judges speak righteousness. | Whether the opening interrogative expects a negative answer (Calvin, Cambridge) or a strongly emphatic denial (Barnes). |
Historical & Cultural Context
The psalm is attributed to David and bears the title 'Michtam of David' with the tune 'Do Not Destroy.' This same inscription appears on Psalms 56, 57, and 59, all linked to David's flight from Saul. However, scholars debate the precise setting. Matthew Henry and Poole connect it to Saul's court, where judges and counsellors met to plot against David (1 Samuel 22:7). Keil and Delitzsch argue for a later context: Absalom's conspiracy, where the prince staged himself as a more impartial judge to steal the people's hearts (2 Samuel 15:1-6). Lange is cautious, noting that the language is similar to other Davidic psalms but lacking enough evidence to decide between Saul or Absalom.
The culture of ancient Israel placed immense weight on the administration of justice. Judges were seen as representatives of God, and the law commanded absolute fairness (Deuteronomy 16:18-20). The 'congregation' in verse 1 likely refers to a judicial assembly or ruling council. The Hebrew term behind 'silent ones' (אלם) is disputed, with some reading 'gods' (אלים) to emphasize the judges' divine-like authority (see Psalm 82:1, 6). The imagery of weighing comes from the market and courtroom: scales were a universal symbol of equity. To 'weigh violence' is to turn the symbol of justice into a tool for extortion and bloodshed. Cross-references such as Isaiah 10:1 ('Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees') and Ecclesiastes 3:16 ('in the place of justice, wickedness was there') show that this corruption was a recurring prophetic complaint in Israel's history.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note a significant textual issue in verse 1 rather than verse 2. The Hebrew phrase translated 'silent ones' (אלם) is debated. Keil and Delitzsch report that the Masoretic Text reads אֵלֶם ('silence' or 'mute'), but many scholars (Houbigant, Michaelis, Mendelssohn) emend to אֵלִים ('gods' or 'mighty ones'), based on Psalm 82:1 and Exodus 15:11. This would make the opening read 'Do you indeed speak righteousness, O gods?' (i.e., you who act as God's representatives). No major variants are reported for verse 2 itself; the LXX and Vulgate render the verse with the same sense of plotting and weighing injustice. The KJV, ASV, and WEB all substantially agree on the wording of verse 2.
Reception History
Psalm 58:2 has been received across Jewish and Christian traditions as a prayer for deliverance from corrupt rulers. In Jewish exegesis, it was often applied to internal judges who perverted the law. Early Christian interpreters like Augustine read it as a cry against unrighteous authority, while the Reformers, Luther, Calvin, and Matthew Henry, used it to critique corrupt civil and religious leaders in their own contexts. Calvin's commentary emphasizes David's boldness in confronting injustice and the believer's ultimate hope in God's judgment. The verse is a recurring reference in discussions of theodicy, particularly in the face of systemic injustice, and it has been woven into hymns and prayers that ask God to 'break the teeth of the wicked' (v.6). Its stark imagery continues to challenge readers to examine where justice is being subverted under pious appearances.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Inward Plotting, The verse begins with the heart: 'in your heart you plot injustice.' Corruption is not first an external act; it is conceived inwardly. The wickedness of the judges originated in their devising (cf. Micah 2:1 'working evil upon their beds').
- The Scales of Injustice, 'You measure out the violence of your hands.' The language of weighing, borrowed from the courtroom, becomes a metaphor for judicial perversion. Instead of justice, they dispense violence. This is not a failure of judgment but a deliberate act of oppression.
- Public and Open, 'In the earth' or 'in the land' indicates that this corruption was not hidden. It was carried out openly, in the full sight of God and the community. The public nature of the sin compounds its offense.
Five-point outline
- The question: David challenges the judges' claim to righteousness (v.1).
- The counter: 'No', the negative particle denies any justice in their proceedings.
- The heart: the source of wickedness is internal, not accidental.
- The hands: their actions betray their inward corruption; they 'weigh out' violence.
- The land: the public sphere is contaminated by their abuse of authority.
Illustration hooks
- A judge who takes a bribe to rule against an innocent defendant, outwardly formal, inwardly corrupt.
- A corporate CEO who speaks of 'fairness' while exploiting workers, using precise accounting to cover exploitation.
- A local official who uses zoning laws to benefit a donor while displacing the poor.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How do I respond when the systems meant to protect the innocent actually harm them?
- Does this verse mean all human justice is corrupt, or was it a specific historical situation?
- If God weighs our hearts, how can I examine my own 'weighing' of others?
Leading a Discussion
Psalm 58:2 confronts us with the painful reality that those entrusted with justice can become agents of injustice. Yet the psalm does not end in despair, it moves toward prayer for God's intervention (v.6-11). As a group, explore how this verse exposes the gap between human institutions and God's perfect justice, and how it calls us to both honesty and hope.
Discussion questions
- Read Psalm 58:2 in two or three translations. What differences do you notice? How does the word 'no' or 'nay' set the tone?
- Why does the psalmist focus on the heart first? What does this say about the root of injustice?
- The phrase 'weigh the violence of your hands' uses legal imagery ironically. What is the effect of that irony?
- How does this verse connect to the broader biblical theme of God as the ultimate judge (e.g., Psalm 9:7-8, Isaiah 11:3-4)?
- In what ways do we see 'weighing violence' in modern systems of authority? Is there a place for the church to speak out?
- This psalm prays for judgment on the wicked. How does that prayer sit with Jesus' command to love our enemies? Discuss.
- How can this verse shape our own integrity, not just in public roles but in the hidden 'weighings' of our hearts?
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Psalms 21:11 | For they intended evil against you. They plotted evil against you which cannot succeed. |
| Psalms 94:20 | Shall the throne of wickedness have fellowship with you, which brings about mischief by statute? |
| Ecclesiastes 3:16 | Moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there. |
| Isaiah 10:1 | Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, and to the writers who write oppressive decrees |
| Isaiah 26:7 | The way of the just is uprightness. You who are upright make the path of the righteous level. |
| Isaiah 59:4 | No one sues in righteousness, and no one pleads in truth. They trust in vanity and speak lies. They conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity. |
| Isaiah 59:6 | Their webs won’t become garments. They won’t cover themselves with their works. Their works are works of iniquity, and acts of violence are in their hands. |
| Jeremiah 22:16 | He judged the cause of the poor and needy; so then it was well. Wasn’t this to know me?” says Yahweh. |
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
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What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke observes that the psalmist draws on the image of justice holding scales: these magistrates and counsellors literally hold the balances in court, yet in practice they use them for injustice and violence. The symbol of the court remains, but its reality is betrayed.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes points out that the phrase about weighing violence comes from the language of the courtroom. Judges are supposed to weigh out justice with even scales, but these rulers weigh out violence and oppression instead. Their verdicts are nothing but acts of wrongdoing.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin highlights the boldness of David's challenge: by appealing to his enemies themselves to judge whether he speaks right, David shows the strength of a clear conscience. Only someone absolutely certain of his innocence would dare call his accusers as witnesses, forcing them to acknowledge the truth against their own malice.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator emphasizes the bitter irony of authorities who are the worst offenders themselves. The phrase "you weigh" mocks their pretense of justice, as they secretly plot evil and then carry it out openly.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note stresses that the wicked do not merely speak falsehood; they actively plot harm in their hearts and carry out cruelty with their hands. Their inner thoughts and outward actions are united in evil, making their sin complete and deliberate.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill stresses that these rulers sin with full deliberation and persistence, not by accident or impulse. Their hearts are the workshop where wickedness is premeditated, and they commit violent acts of oppression while pretending to weigh them with justice. This is open, nationwide hypocrisy.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
This they did not design; but weigh . . . violence —or give decisions of violence. Weigh is a figure to express the acts of judges. in the earth —publicly.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry views this psalm as aimed at corrupt rulers during Saul's persecution of David. Though learned in God's laws, these judges perverted justice because Saul could reward them with land and positions. David speaks not as king but as a prophet, exposing their hypocrisy and bought verdicts.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley draws a sharp contrast between the heart and the hands: the heart acts with full, willing consent, while the hands carry out great wrong hidden behind a show of justice. They pretend to weigh actions fairly but deliberately turn the scale, pronouncing an unjust sentence in a land where God is present and righteous laws govern.