63 Bible Verses about Judges

And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life,

Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hands of their oppressors, and yet for all that they would not hearken unto their judges: But went a whoring after strange gods and bowed themselves unto them, and turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in obeying the commandments of the LORD, and did not so. And when the LORD raised up judges unto them, the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hands of their enemies all the days of the judge: for the LORD had compassion over their sorrowings which they had by the reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.read more.
Yet for all that, as soon as the judge was dead they turned and did worse than their fathers in following strange gods, and in serving them, and ceased not from their inventions nor from their malicious ways.

And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD. And the LORD stirred them up a saver and saved them: one Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. And the spirit of the LORD came upon him. And he judged Israel, and went out to war. And the LORD sold Cushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. So that his hand was mighty over Cushanrishathaim. And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth judged Israel the same time, and dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah, between Ramah and Bethel, in mount Ephraim. And the children of Israel came to her for judgment. And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam, out of Kadesh in Naphtali, and said unto him, "The LORD God of Israel commandeth thee, that thou go and draw to mount Tabor and take with thee ten thousand men, of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun.read more.
And I will bring unto the river Kishon, Sisera, the Captain of war unto Jabin - with his chariots, and his people - and will deliver them into thine hands." And Barak said unto her, "If thou wilt go with me, I will go: But and if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go." And she answered, "I will surely go with thee, but then the praise shall not be thine in the way which thou goest, for the LORD shall deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman." And she arose and went with Barak to Kadesh. And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kadesh. And he went up afoot with ten thousand men: and Deborah went with him.

In the time when the judges judged, there fell a dearth in the land. Wherefore a certain man of Bethlehem Judah went for to sojourn in the country of Moab with his wife and two sons.

For there was no passover held like that from the days of the judges that judged Israel, and throughout all the days of the kings of Israel and of Judah.

When there is strife between men, let them come unto the law, and let the judges justify the righteous and condemn the trespasser. And if the trespasser be worthy of stripes, then let the judge cause to take him down and to beat him before his face according to his trespass, unto a certain number.

And Lot went out at doors unto them and shut the door after him, and said, "Nay. For God's sake, brethren, do not so wickedly. Behold, I have two daughters which have known no man; them will I bring out unto you: do with them as it seemeth you good: Only unto these men do nothing, for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof."read more.
And they said, "Come hither." And they said, "Camest thou not in to sojourn, and wilt thou be now a judge? We will surely deal worse with thee than with them. And as they pressed sore upon Lot and began to break up the door,

And it chanced on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood about Moses from morning unto evening. When his father-in-law saw all that he did unto the people, he said, "What is this that thou doest unto the people? Why sittest thou thyself and lettest all the people stand about thee from morning unto even?" And Moses said unto his father-in-law, "Because the people came unto me to seek counsel of God.read more.
For when they have a matter, they come unto me, and I must judge between every man and his neighbor, and must show them the ordinances of God and his laws." And his father-in-law said unto him, "It is not well that thou doest. Thou doest unwisely and also this people that is with thee: because the thing is too grievous for thee, and thou art not able to do it thyself alone. But hear my voice, and I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee. Be thou unto the people to Godward, and bring the causes unto God, and provide them ordinances and laws, and show them the way wherein they must walk and the works that they must do. Moreover, seek out, among all the people, men of activity which fear God; and men that are true and hate covetousness: and make them heads over the people, captains over thousands, over hundreds, over fifty, and over ten. And let them judge the people at all seasons: If there be any great matter, let them bring that unto thee, and let them judge all small causes them selves, and ease thyself, and let them bear with thee. If thou shalt do this thing, then thou shalt be able to endure that which God chargeth thee with all, and all this people shall go to their places quietly." And Moses heard the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said, and chose active men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, captains over thousands, over hundreds, over fifty and over ten. And they judged the people at all seasons, and brought the hard causes unto Moses: and judged all small matters themselves.

If a man deliver his neighbor money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of his house: If the thief be found, he shall pay double. If the thief be not found, then the goodman of the house shall be brought unto the judges and swear, whether he have put his hand unto his neighbor's good. And in all manner of trespass, whether it be ox, ass, sheep, raiment or any manner lost thing which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges. And whom the judges condemn: the same shall pay double unto his neighbor.

And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, "Go and slay those men that joined themselves unto Baal- Peor."

And I charged your judges the same time, saying, 'Hear your brethren and judge righteously between every man and his brother and the stranger that is with him.

If an unrighteous witness rise up against a man to accuse him of trespass: then let both the men which strive together stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges which shall be in those days, and let the judges enquire a good. And if the witness be found false and that he hath given false witness against his brother,read more.
then shall ye do unto him as he had thought to do unto his brother, and so thou shalt put evil away from thee. And other shall hear and fear and shall henceforth commit no more any such wickedness among you. And let thine eye have no compassion, but life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and foot for foot.

If one be found slain in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it, and lieth in the fields, and not known who hath slain him: Then let thine elders and thy judges come forth and meet unto the cities that are round about the slain.

And he set judges in the land, throughout all the strong cities of Judah, city by city, and said to the judges, "Take heed what ye do: for ye be not judges in the law of man, but of the LORD - which is with you in the words of the law. Wherefore, let the fear of the LORD be with you, and take heed and do it. For there is no unrighteousness in the LORD our God nor regarding of persons, nor taking of rewards."

If any discord arise, they shall discern it, and give sentence after my judgments. My solemn feasts, my laws and ordinances shall they keep, and hallow my Sabbaths.

And he said unto him, "Man, who made me a judge, or a divider over you?"

Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? If the world shall be judged by you: are ye not good enough to judge small trifles? Know ye not how that we shall judge the angels? How much more may we judge things that pertain to the life? If ye have judgments of worldly matters, take them which are despised in the congregation, and make them judges.read more.
This I say to your shame. Is there utterly no wise man among you? What, not one at all? That can judge between brother and brother?

And I saw seats, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God: which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had taken his mark upon their foreheads, or on their hands: and they lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

If thou buy a servant that is an Hebrew, sixth years he shall serve, and the seventh he shall go out free paying nothing. If he came alone, he shall go out alone: If he came married, his wife shall go out with him. And if his master have given him a wife and she have borne him sons or daughters: then the wife and her children shall be her master's and he shall go out alone.read more.
But and if the servant say, 'I love my master and my wife and my children, I will not go out free.' Then let his master bring him unto the judges and set him to the door or the doorpost, and bore his ear through with an awl, and let him be his servant forever.

Let us appoint our rulers therefore in all the congregation, that all they which have taken strange wives in our cities, may come at the time appointed - and the elders of every city and their judges with them - till the wrath of our God be turned away from us for this offense."

Then Paul, after that the ruler himself had beckoned unto him that he should speak, answered, "I shall with a more quiet mind answer for myself, forasmuch as I understand that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this people,

And all Israel and the elders thereof, and their officers and judges, stood part on this side the ark, and part on that side, before the priests: that were Levites which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD - as well the stranger, as they that were born among them: half of them on the forefront of the Mount of Gerizim, and half of them on the forefront of mount Ebal: as Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, first to bless the people of Israel.

And it came to pass, a long season after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and was stricken in years. Wherefore he sent for all Israel and for their elders, their heads, their judges and officers, and said unto them, "I am old and stricken in years. And ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations before your faces: for the LORD your God he fought for you.read more.
Behold, I have appointed these nations that remain to be the inheritance of your tribes: even from Jordan, and all the nations that I have destroyed, even unto the great sea. And the LORD your God shall expel and cast them out before you, and ye shall conquer their lands, as the LORD your God hath said unto you. Be, therefore, exceeding strong that ye take heed to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye bow not aside therefrom, to the righthand or to the left: and that ye go not unto these nations that remain with you: and that ye neither make mention or swear by the names of their gods, and that ye neither serve them nor bow yourselves unto them. But that ye stick fast unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this day. So shall the LORD cast out before you great nations and mighty, as ye see how no man hath stand before you hitherto. One of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God he fighteth for you, as he hath said unto you. Take good heed therefore unto your souls, that ye love the LORD your God. But and if ye shall go back and cleave unto the rest of these nations that remain with you and shall make marriages with them, and shall go to them and they come to you: be sure that the LORD your God will not cast out all these nations before you. But they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges for your sides, and pricks in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you. Behold, I walk this day, by the way of all the world: call ye to mind in all your hearts and in all your souls, that nothing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God promised you. All are come to pass, and nothing hath failed thereof. And as all good things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you: so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil until he have destroyed you from off this good land, which the LORD your God hath given you when ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you: and have gone and served strange gods, and bowed yourselves to them. Then shall the wrath of the LORD wax hot upon you, and ye shall perish quickly, from off the good land which he hath given you." And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for elders of Israel, and for their heads, judges and officers which presented themselves before God. And Joshua said unto all the people, "Thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel, 'Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the water in old time even Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, and served strange gods. But I took your father Abraham from the other side of the water, and brought him into the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac. And I gave unto Isaac, Jacob and Esau. And I gave unto Esau mount Seir to possess it. But Jacob and his children went down into Egypt. Then I sent Moses and Aaron. And I plagued Egypt, after the manner as I did among them, and after that I brought you out, and I brought your fathers out of Egypt. And ye came unto the sea: and the Egyptians followed after your fathers with chariots and horsemen, unto the reed sea. And they cried unto the LORD. And he put darkness between you and the Egyptians and brought the sea upon them and covered them. And your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt. And ye dwelt in the wilderness a long season. And I brought you into the land of the Amorites which dwelt on the other side Jordan. And they fought with you: and I gave them into your hands. And ye conquered their country. And I destroyed them in your sight.

And Solomon communed with all Israel: the captains over thousands and hundreds, the judges and all other lords, and ancient heads throughout all Israel. And so Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the hill altar of Gibeon: for there was the tabernacle of witness of God, which Moses the servant of the LORD made in the wilderness.

Judges and officers thou shalt make thee in all thy cities, which the LORD thy God giveth thee throughout thy tribes: And let them judge the people righteously.

And he set judges in the land, throughout all the strong cities of Judah, city by city,

And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life, and went about year by year, to Bethel, Gilgal and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places, and came again to Ramah: for there was his house, and there he judged Israel, and there he built an altar unto the LORD.

If a matter be too hard for thee in judgment between blood and blood, plea and plea, stroke and stroke in matters of strife within thy cities: Then arise and get thee up unto the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen, and go unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and ask, and they shall show thee how to judge.

Then Absalom said moreover, "Oh, that I were a judge in the land, and that all men which have pleas and matter in the law, should come to me. For I would do them justice."

And that man that will do presumptuously, so that he will not hearken unto the priest that standeth there to minister unto the LORD thy God or unto the judge, shall die: and so thou shalt put away evil from Israel.

And if the trespasser be worthy of stripes, then let the judge cause to take him down and to beat him before his face according to his trespass, unto a certain number. Forty stripes he shall give him and not pass: lest if he should exceed and beat him above that with many stripes, thy brother should appear ungodly before thine eyes.

yet they say they do well when they do evil. As the prince will, so sayeth the judge: that he may do him a pleasure again. The great man speaketh what his heart desireth; and the hearers allow him.

saying, "There was a Judge in a certain city, which feared not God neither regarded man. And there was a certain widow in the same city, which came unto him saying, 'Avenge me of mine adversary.' And he would not for a while. But afterward he said unto himself, 'Though I fear not God, nor care for man,read more.
yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her: lest at the last she come, and hag on me.'" And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge sayeth. And shall not God avenge his elect, which cry night and day unto him? Yea though he defer them: I tell you, he will avenge them, and that quickly. Nevertheless, when the son of man cometh, suppose ye that he shall find faith on the earth?"

And the Levites were numbered from thirty years and above, and the tale of them in men, poll by poll, was thirty eight thousand. Of which twenty four thousand were set to further the work of the house of the LORD. And six thousand were officers and judges.

Among the Izrahites was Chenaniah, with his sons, for the work without over Israel, officers and judges.

and sent out to gather together the dukes, lords and nobles, the judges and officers, the deputies and sheriffs, with all the rulers of the land: that they might come to the dedication of the Image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. So the dukes, lords and nobles, the judges and officers, deputies and sheriffs, with all the rulers of the land gathered them together, and came unto the dedicating of the Image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. Now when they stood before the Image, which Nebuchadnezzar had set up,

But thou Ezra - after the wisdom of thy God that is in thy hand - set thou judges and arbiters, to judge all the people that is beyond the Jordan, even all such as know the law of thy God: and them that know it not, those see that ye teach.

Then Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and others of the council of Dina, of Arphaxad, of Tarplat, of Persia, of Erech, of Babylon, of Susa, of Deha, and of Elam,

When he was set down to give judgment, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have thou nothing to do with that just man, I have suffered many things this day in a dream about him."

Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest that adversary deliver ye to the judge, and the judge deliver ye to the minister, and then thou be cast into prison.

While thou goest with thine adversary to the ruler: as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him, lest he bring thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the jailer, and the jailer cast thee into prison.

When Pilate heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down to give sentence, in a place called the pavement: But in the Hebrew tongue, Gabbatha.

For the LORD shall be our captain, the LORD shall be our law giver. The LORD shall be our king, and he himself shall be our Saviour

Wherefore I have not sinned against thee. But thou doest me wrong, to war against me. The LORD therefore be judge this day, between the children of Israel, and the children of Ammon."

The LORD be judge between thee and me, and the LORD avenge me of thee. But mine hand be not upon thee.

And if any man trespass against his neighbour, and his neighbour take an adjuration to adjure him withal, and the adjuration come before thine altar at this house, then hearken thou up to heaven, and work and judge thy servants, that thou condemn the wicked to bring his way upon his head, and justify the righteous to give him according to his righteousness.

Moreover, let the trees of the wood ring at the presence of the LORD: for he cometh to judge the earth.

Yea though I be righteous, yet will I not give him one word again, but meekly submit myself to my judge.

So that men shall say, "Verily there is a reward for the righteous! Doubtless, there is a God that judgeth the earth!"

Arise, thou judge of the world, and reward the proud after their deserving.

I seek not mine own praise: but there is one that seeketh it and judgeth.

He that refuseth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him. The words that I have spoken, they shall judge him in the last day.

and unto the congregation of the first born sons, which are written in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of just and perfect men:

That be far from thee, that thou shouldest do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked, and that the righteous should be as the wicked: that be far from thee. Should not the Judge of all the world do according to right?"

God is a righteous judge, strong and patient; and God is provoked every day.

And the heavens shall declare his righteousness, for God is judge himself. Selah.

And he commanded unto us to preach unto the people and testify, that it is he that is ordained of God, a judge of quick and dead.

Neither judgeth the father any man: but hath committed all judgment unto the son,

because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world according to righteousness, by that man, whom he hath appointed, and hath offered faith to all men, after that he had raised him from death."

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that every man may receive the works of his body according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

I testify therefore before God, and before the Lord Jesus Christ, which shall judge quick and dead at his appearing in his kingdom: