Original Word: פְלִילִיָּה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: pliyliyah
Pronunciation: peh-lee-LEE-yah
Phonetic Spelling: (pel-ee-lee-yaw')
KJV: judgment
NASB: judgment
Word Origin: [feminine of H6416 (פְּלִילִי - judgment)]

1. judicature

judgment

Feminine of pliyliy; judicature -- judgment.

see HEBREW pliyliy

Word Origin
from palal
Definition
the giving of a decision
NASB Translation
judgment (1).

מְּלִילִיָּה noun feminine the giving a decision; — ׳פ Isaiah 28:7 (of priests).

Overview

פְלִילִיָּה (peliliyah) denotes the act of rendering decisions—“judgment” in the sense of a judicial verdict or ruling. Its single appearance in Isaiah 28:7 places it at the heart of a prophetic critique of Israel’s spiritual leadership, where inebriated priests and prophets “stumble in judgment”. The term therefore serves as a focal point for reflecting on the biblical expectation that God-appointed leaders exercise sober, righteous discernment.

Biblical Setting (Isaiah 28:7)

Isaiah confronts the northern kingdom’s clergy, whose drunkenness has crippled their capacity to issue sound decisions. In the immediate context (Isaiah 28:5-6) the LORD promises to be “a spirit of justice to the one who sits in judgment,” but verse 7 exposes leaders who have forfeited that divine enablement. The solitary occurrence of peliliyah thus encapsulates a crucial prophetic message: justice collapses when the guardians of the covenant surrender moral clarity.

Judicial Responsibility of Priests and Prophets

1. Priests served as teachers of the Law (Leviticus 10:11) and arbiters in civil and ceremonial disputes (Deuteronomy 17:8-11).
2. Prophets, while primarily proclaimers of God’s word, were also consulted for verdicts in complex matters (2 Kings 22:13-14).
3. Together they formed the spiritual court of Israel, meant to reflect the LORD’s own righteous rule (Psalm 89:14).

Sobriety as Prerequisite for Discernment

Isaiah’s rebuke stands on earlier mandates:
• Leviticus 10:9-11—Aaron’s sons are forbidden wine “so that you can distinguish between the holy and the profane.”
• Proverbs 31:4-5—Rulers must shun strong drink “lest they forget what is decreed and deprive all the oppressed of justice.”

Physical sobriety is emblematic of spiritual alertness, a theme echoed for New-Covenant leaders (1 Timothy 3:2-3; 1 Peter 5:8).

Broader Scriptural Witness to Righteous Judgment

• Deuteronomy 1:16-17—“Judge fairly… Do not show partiality.”
• 2 Chronicles 19:6-7—Jehoshaphat charges judges to remember “you are judging for the LORD.”
• Isaiah 11:3-4—The promised Messiah “will judge the poor with righteousness.”

Peliliyah belongs to this larger vocabulary of biblical justice, underscoring that verdicts must mirror God’s character.

Historical Background in the Israelite Legal System

Israel’s courts operated at three levels: local elders at the city gate, Levitical priests for harder cases, and the king as final arbiter (2 Samuel 15:2-3). When those vested with authority were compromised—whether by bribery (Micah 3:11) or intoxication (Isaiah 28:7)—the social fabric unraveled, often precipitating national judgment and exile.

Messianic and Eschatological Dimensions

Isaiah contrasts corrupt human verdicts with the flawless justice of the coming King (Isaiah 28:16; 32:1). His depiction anticipates Jesus Christ, who declares, “My judgment is just” (John 5:30). Revelation 19:11 pictures the returning Christ who “judges and wages war in righteousness,” completing the trajectory from failed peliliyah to perfect, eternal judgment.

Ministry Applications Today

• Leaders—whether pastors, elders, or civil magistrates—must cultivate personal holiness and mental clarity to render godly decisions.
• Congregations should pray for their shepherds, recognizing that spiritual dullness imperils collective discernment (Hebrews 13:17-18).
• Believers are called to test every spirit and teaching (1 Thessalonians 5:21), ensuring that church discipline, doctrinal rulings, and pastoral counsel align with Scripture.

Key Texts for Further Study

Isaiah 28:5-7; Leviticus 10:9-11; Deuteronomy 1:16-17; Proverbs 31:4-5; 2 Chronicles 19:6-7; Isaiah 11:3-4; John 5:30; 1 Timothy 3:2-3; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 19:11

פְּלִילִיָּֽה׃ פליליה׃ pə·lî·lî·yāh peliliYah pəlîlîyāhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts