115Plead

rib — Hebrew

To plead is to bring and argue a lawsuit — to contend a case before the bench, not merely to beg. “Plead my cause, O Yahuah, with them that strive with me” (Psalm 35:1) asks the Judge to take up a legal contest and press it. Rib is the verb of litigation: to enter a controversy, argue it, and seek a ruling. When Yahuah says “Come now, and let us reason together” (Isaiah 1:18), the setting is a courtroom, the parties contending toward a verdict. To plead is to prosecute or defend a real case — which is why Yahuah is asked to plead the cause of the widow and the poor: to take their suit and argue it to judgment.

The Root

rib (H7378) — to contend, to conduct a lawsuit, to plead a case.

Shares a Root With

rib (H7378) — 116. Cause

Rib as verb (to plead) and rib as noun (the cause, the case) share the root: to plead is to argue the cause.

The Courtroom Word

A litigation term — to bring and argue a lawsuit before the bench.

Its Role in the Court

A case must be argued, and to plead is the arguing — contending a controversy before the court toward a ruling. It is not begging but litigation: entering the suit and pressing it. Yahuah is asked to plead the cause of the defenseless — to take their case and argue it to a verdict. He also pleads His own controversy with His people. To plead is to prosecute or defend a real matter at law.

Proof Texts

Psalm 35:1 “Plead my cause, O Yahuah, with them that strive with me.” The Judge asked to argue the case.

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together.” The courtroom contest toward a verdict.

Micah 6:2 “Yahuah hath a controversy with his people... he will plead with Israel.” The lawsuit brought.

Proverbs 23:11 “He shall plead their cause with thee.” The case argued for the defenseless.

In Plain Terms

To plead is to bring and argue a lawsuit — to contend a case in court — not just to beg. ‘Plead my cause’ asks Yahuah to take up a legal contest and press it to a ruling. He is asked to plead for the widow and the poor: to argue their case to judgment. And He pleads His own controversy with His people.

Bring It Home

To ‘plead’ is what a lawyer does — not plead for mercy, but argue the case, contend the matter, press it to a verdict. When the Psalmist cries ‘plead my cause,’ he wants the Judge to enter the fight and argue it. And Yahuah pleads for the defenseless the same way: taking their suit and arguing it to judgment.

Courtroom Roles

Yahuah (the One who pleads) argues the cause of the defenseless, and His own controversy.
The party (the litigant) whose case is argued before the bench.
The cause (the case) the controversy pleaded toward a verdict.

Where It Sits

IThere Is a Court

IIThe Court Runs on One Code

IIIYou Are Named on the Docket

IVThe Acquittal

VYour Life Is the Testing

VIIt Is All Entered as Evidence

VIIThe Bench Convenes

Movement VII — The Bench Convenes. The ruling is read, and each party is paid exactly what the record assigns.