26 Bible Verses about Justice

Paul David Tripp says justice “is close to the heart of our Savior-King.”¹ The concept permeates the Bible, verses about justice appearing as early as Genesis and culminating with God’s “true and just judgments” in Revelation that lead to the wedding of the Lamb (Rev 19:1–10).

Yet it’s a topic many Christians are struggling to understand within the context of current events.

There’s no better place to start learning more than in God’s Word by exploring verses in the Bible about justice.

God’s justice

Deuteronomy 32:4

The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.

Job 37:23

The Almighty—we cannot find him; he is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate.

Psalm 9:7

But the Lord sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice.

Psalm 10:17–18

O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.

Psalm 33:4–5

For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.

Isaiah 5:16

But the Lord of hosts is exalted in justice, and the Holy God shows himself holy in righteousness.

Isaiah 9:7

Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Isaiah 30:18

Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.

Isaiah 61:8

For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

Jeremiah 9:24

I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”

Ezekiel 34:16

I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.

Luke 18:7–8

And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily.

God’s instruction about observing justice

Deuteronomy 27:19

Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.

Psalm 106:3

Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times.

Proverbs 21:3, 15

To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. . . . When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.

Proverbs 18:5

It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice.

Proverbs 29:26

Many seek the face of a ruler, but it is from the Lord that a man gets justice.

Isaiah 1:17

Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.

Jeremiah 22:3

Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.

Hosea 12:6

Hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God.”

Amos 5:24

But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

Matthew 23:23

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. (See also Luke 11:42.)

Jesus and justice

Isaiah 42:1–2

Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.

Jeremiah 23:5

Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. (See also Jer. 33:15.)

Matthew 12:18

Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.

Acts 8:32–33

Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.”

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Study how the word “justice” is used in different contexts in the Bible by using the Bible Word Study Guide in Logos. Or, let Logos help you dig a bit deeper and search for the meaning of “justice” in its original language. The Bible Sense Lexicon makes it easy to search for words with related meaning in all the biblical languages.

Learn more about modern-day injustices—and how God might be calling us to respond—in the two books Tripp recommends in his video: Woke Church by Dr. Eric Mason and The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby.

Tripp, Paul David. “The Gospel, the Church, and Racial Injustice,” July 14, 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?