"Mishpatim — Part II — Justice as Divine Service"

2.2 — Judges as Agents of the Divine

Why the Torah Calls Judges “Elohim”

In several places in Parshas Mishpatim, the Torah refers to judges with a surprising term:

וְהִגִּישׁוֹ אֲדֹנָיו אֶל הָאֱלֹהִים
“His master shall bring him to the judges.” (Shemos 21:6)

Similarly:

עַד הָאֱלֹקִים יָבֹא דְּבַר שְׁנֵיהֶם
“The case of both parties shall come before the judges.” (Shemos 22:8)

The word “אֱלֹקִים” ordinarily refers to Hashem. Yet here it clearly refers to human judges. Why would the Torah use a Divine name for a human institution?

The Ramban explains that this language is deliberate and profound. It teaches that when judges rule according to Torah, they are not merely resolving disputes. They are acting as agents of the Divine will. The court becomes the place where the justice of Hashem enters human society.

Human Judgment as a Reflection of Divine Justice

The Ramban consistently emphasizes that the civil laws of Mishpatim are not secular regulations. They are extensions of the covenant at Sinai. Justice is not an independent human construct. It is the application of Divine truth to human life.

When the Torah calls judges “אֱלֹהִים,” it is not elevating them personally. It is elevating their function. The judge does not speak in his own name. He speaks in the name of Torah.

In this sense, the courtroom represents something far greater than a human institution. It is the place where the Divine standard of justice is translated into human reality. The judge becomes a conduit for that standard, revealing the truth of the Torah through careful reasoning and faithful judgment.

The Judge as a Servant of the Covenant

The Ramban’s broader vision of Mishpatim is that the entire legal system is a continuation of Sinai. The moral truths of the Aseres HaDibros become the legal structures of society. Courts, damages, servitude, and responsibility all express the covenant in daily life.

Within this framework, the judge holds a sacred role. He is not a political authority or an instrument of the state. He is a servant of the covenant, entrusted with the responsibility of bringing Divine justice into human society.

His duty is not to:

• Please the powerful
• Follow public opinion
• Yield to personal emotion
• Seek advantage or popularity

His only loyalty is to the truth of the Torah. When he rules faithfully, he becomes a living instrument of Divine justice. This is why the Torah calls him “אֱלֹהִים.”

The Moral Weight of a Judicial Decision

If a judge is an agent of the Divine will, then judgment carries enormous moral weight. A mistaken or corrupt ruling is not only a social failure. It is a distortion of the covenant itself.

Every legal decision stands before Hashem. The courtroom is not morally neutral space. It is a place of accountability before the Divine presence.

A just ruling does more than resolve a case. It affirms the covenant.
An unjust ruling does more than harm a litigant. It obscures the Divine image within society.

This awareness transforms the entire concept of judgment. Law is not merely technical. It is spiritual.

Justice as a Form of Revelation

At Sinai, the people heard the voice of Hashem directly. That moment of revelation was overwhelming and unforgettable. But a nation cannot live permanently at the foot of the mountain.

The Torah therefore translates revelation into law. The voice of Hashem becomes the structure of justice.

When judges rule according to Torah:

• The voice of Sinai echoes in human decisions
• Divine truth enters daily life
• The covenant becomes a lived reality

The use of the word “אֱלֹהִים” for judges reminds us that revelation did not end at Sinai. It continues wherever justice is done according to Torah.

The Presence of Hashem in Human Society

The Ramban’s vision of Mishpatim is that holiness is not confined to the mountain or the Mikdash. It exists wherever the Torah governs human relationships.

Justice prevents exploitation. Responsibility restrains power. Courts create trust. Law protects dignity. Through these structures, the covenant becomes visible in everyday life.

In this vision, the courtroom becomes one of the primary places where the covenant is lived. It is the space where the Divine will shapes human interaction.

When a judge rules truthfully, the presence of Hashem rests in that moment of justice.

Application for Today — The Sacred Weight of Decisions

Most people are not judges in a formal court. Yet every person makes decisions that affect others: in business, in family life, in leadership, and in daily interactions.

The message of this teaching is that every decision carries moral weight. When we act with fairness, honesty, and responsibility, we become agents of the Divine will in our own spheres.

In practical terms, this means approaching decisions with:

• A commitment to truth rather than convenience
• A refusal to distort reality for advantage
• A sense of responsibility toward those affected
• Awareness that every choice has moral consequences

When we take decisions seriously, justice becomes part of our avodas Hashem.

The Torah calls judges “אֱלֹהִים” to teach that human choices can reflect Divine truth.
Every act of honest judgment becomes a small continuation of Sinai.

📖 Sources

• Full sources available on the Mitzvah Minute Parshas Mishpatim page under insights and commentaries.