42 Bible Verses About Justice

What does the Bible say about justice? We have worldview conversations about justice but its important to see this from the biblical lens too. Bible verses about justice are helpful words in dark times. They help us anchor to Truth and Wisdom.

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As we begin our understanding of justice, we first look at the modern definition. This leads to the definition “just behavior or treatment.” But justice can also be a title for a person, such as a judge or magistrate, in particular a judge of the Supreme Court of a country or state. 

Bible verses about justice. What does the Bible say about justice? Look at these Bible verses to understand biblical justice.

In original Biblical language, we examine the Hebrew and Greek meaning of this word. We find H4941 to mean “a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant’s) divine law, individual or collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice, including a participant’s right or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style:— adversary, ceremony, charge, crime, custom, desert, determination, discretion, disposing, due, fashion, form, to be judged, judgment, just(-ice, -ly), (manner of) law(-ful), manner, measure, (due) order, ordinance, right, sentence. (source: BlueLetterBible)

Dig deeper and you will find other Hebrew words translated as “justice.” Such as H6664 which means the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity: all together right.

These are just two examples of the original biblical meaning for the word justice. When you look at the New Testament (NT) you find Greek original language, and similar variations of the word.

Bible Verses About Justice

The Laws of Justice and Mercy: Do not spread false reports. Do not help a guilty person by being a malicious witness. (Exodus 23:1 NIV)

Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, and do not show favoritism to a poor person in a lawsuit. (Exodus 23:2-3 NIV)

Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits. (Exodus 23:6 NIV)

Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly. (Leviticus 19:15 NIV)

Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the innocent. (Deuteronomy 16:19 NIV)

Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you. (Deuteronomy 16:20 NIV)

But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice. (1 Samuel 8:3 NIV)

I put on righteousness as my clothing; justice was my robe and my turban. (Job 29:14 NIV)

Let God weigh me on the scales of justice, for he knows my integrity. (Job 31:6 NLT)

Great men are not always wise, Nor do the aged always understand justice. (Job 32:9 NKJV)

Arise, Lord, in your anger; rise up against the rage of my enemies. Awake, my God; decree justice. Let the Lord judge the peoples. Vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High. (Psalm 7:6,8  NIV)

The Lord is known by his acts of justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands. (Psalm 9:16 NIV)

Declare me not guilty, O Lord my God, for you give justice. Don’t let my enemies laugh about me in my troubles. (Psalm 35:24 NLT)

And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for he is a God of justice. (Psalm 50:6 NIV)

Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice. (Psalm 112:5 NIV)

The wicked accept bribes in secret to pervert the course of justice. (Proverbs 17:23 NIV)

For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face. (Psalm 11:7 NIV)

The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way. (Psalm 25:9 NKJV)

I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart; I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone in the great assembly of your unfailing love and faithfulness. (Psalm 40:10 NLT)

More Bible Verses On Justice 

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you. (Psalm 89:14 NIV)

God says, “At the time I have planned, I will bring justice against the wicked. When the earth quakes and its people live in turmoil, I am the one who keeps its foundations firm. (Psalm 75:2-3 NLT)

He guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints. (Proverbs 2:8 NKJV)

When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers. (Proverbs 21:15 NIV)

 

Justice is a joy to the godly, but it terrifies evildoers. (Proverbs 21:15 NLT)

Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the Lord that one gets justice. (Proverbs 29:26 NIV)

For a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, And for strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate. (Isaiah 28:6 NKJV)

I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie, and water will overflow your hiding place. (Isaiah 28:17 NIV)

Justice will rule in the wilderness and righteousness in the fertile field. And this righteousness will bring peace. Yes, it will bring quietness and confidence forever. (Isaiah 32:16-17 NLT)

Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. (Isaiah 59:15 NIV)

Yes, truth is gone, and anyone who renounces evil is attacked. The Lord looked and was displeased to find there was no justice. He was amazed to see that no one intervened to help the oppressed. So he himself stepped in to save them with his strong arm, and his justice sustained him. (Isaiah 59:15-16 NLT)

But I will be merciful only if you stop your evil thoughts and deeds and start treating each other with justice. (Jeremiah 7:5 NLT)

If they twist justice in the courts— doesn’t the Lord see all these things? (Lamentations 3:36 NLT)

So you, by the help of your God, return; Observe mercy and justice, And wait on your God continually. (Hosea 12:6 NKJV)

You twist justice, making it a bitter pill for the oppressed. You treat the righteous like dirt. (Amos 5:7 NLT)

But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream. (Amos 5:24 NKJV)

But as for me, I am filled with power— with the Spirit of the Lord. I am filled with justice and strength to boldly declare Israel’s sin and rebellion. (Micah 3:8 NLT)

The law has become paralyzed, and there is no justice in the courts. The wicked far outnumber the righteous, so that justice has become perverted. (Habakkuk 1:4 NLT)

New Testament Verses About Justice

Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. (Galatians 6:7 NLT)

“Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. (Matthew 12:18 NIV)

But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.” (Hebrews 1:8 NIV)

By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions. (Hebrews 11:33 NLT)

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. (Revelation 19:11 NIV)

Bible Copyrights For This Article

New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.