What does it mean to judge the fatherless? I came across this verse:


  Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. (Isaiah 1:17, KJV)


What does it mean to judge the fatherless?
The KJV uses judge, whereas the others use 'Defend', 'relieve', 'take up the cause of'.

The use of the word judge in the KJV relates ushering them judgments,  similar to a court of law.  Not all judgments are punishment, however.  If you were taking someone to court and won, the judge would rule in your favor. Similarly, when judgments in every day life are done, we judge in thus sense, positive or negative.

Judge, in this case,  indicates helping them.  Do them good, help them get what they can't get on their own, or is harder.  Hence, defend, relieve, and plead the cause of.