Psalms 94 · Verse 1

Psalms 94:1

O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.
Psalms 94:1, King James Version

Psalms 94:1 in other translations

BSBO LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth.
WEBLORD, you God to whom vengeance belongs, you God to whom vengeance belongs, shine out.
ASVO Jehovah, thou God to whom vengeance belongeth, Thou God to whom vengeance belongeth, shine forth.
YLTGod of vengeance--Jehovah! God of vengeance, shine forth.
DARBYOGod of vengeances, Jehovah,God of vengeances, shine forth;
BBEO God, in whose hands is punishment, O God of punishment, let your shining face be seen.
WebsterO LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, show thyself.

What does Psalms 94:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 94:1-2

Psa 94:1-23. The writer, appealing to God in view of the oppression of enemies, rebukes them for their wickedness and folly, and encourages himself, in the confidence that God will punish evildoers, and favor His people.

1-2. God's revenge is His judicial infliction of righteous punishment. show thyself--(Compare Margin).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

An appeal to God against oppressors, Psa 94:1-7. Expostulations with the workers of iniquity, Psa 94:8-11. God's merciful dealings with his followers, Psa 94:12-15; and their confidence in him, Psa 94:16-19. The punishment of the wicked foretold, Psa 94:20-23. This Psalm has no title either in the Hebrew or Chaldee. The Vulgate, Septuagint, Ethiopic, and Arabic, have "A Psalm of David, for the fourth day of the week;" but this gives us no information on which we can rely. In three of Kennicott's MSS. it is written as a part of the preceding. It is probably a prayer of the captives in Babylon for deliverance; and was written by the descendants of Moses, to whom some of the preceding Psalms have been attributed. It contains a description of an iniquitous and oppressive government, such as that under which the Israelites lived in Babylon. Verse 1 O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth - God is the author of retributive justice, as well as of mercy. This retributive justice is what we often term vengeance, but perhaps improperly; for vengeance with us signifies an excitement of angry passions, in order to gratify a vindictive spirit, which supposes itself to have received some real injury; whereas what is here referred to is that simple act of justice which gives to all their due.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 94:1-11
We may with boldness appeal to God; for he is the almighty Judge by whom every man is judged. Let this encourage those who suffer wrong, to bear it with silence, committing themselves to Him who judges righteously. These prayers are prophecies, which speak terror to the sons of violence. There will come a day of reckoning for all the hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against God, his truths, and ways, and people. It would hardly be believed, if we did not witness it, that millions of rational creatures should live, move, speak, hear, understand, and do what they purpose, yet act as if they believed that God would not punish the abuse of his gifts. As all knowledge is from God, no doubt he knows all the thoughts of the children of men, and knows that the imaginations of the thoughts of men's hearts are only evil, and that continually. Even in good thoughts there is a want of being fixed, which may be called vanity. It concerns us to keep a strict watch over our thoughts, because God takes particular notice of them. Thoughts are words to God.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Psalms 94:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אֵל\־'el-O God ofH410
נְקָמ֥וֹתne.ka.Motvengeance<s>H5360
יְהוָ֑הYah.wehO YahwehH3068
אֵ֖ל'elO God ofH410
נְקָמ֣וֹתne.ka.Motvengeance<s>H5360
הוֹפִֽיַע\׃ho.Fi.ya'shine forthH3313

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 94:1

  • Isaiah 35:4

    Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

  • Nahum 1:2

    God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.

  • Hebrews 10:30

    For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

  • Deuteronomy 32:35

    To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.

  • Romans 12:19

    Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

  • 2 Thessalonians 1:8

    In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

  • Deuteronomy 32:41-42

    If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me. I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy.

  • Jeremiah 50:28

    The voice of them that flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the Lord our God, the vengeance of his temple.

  • Isaiah 59:17

    For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.

  • Psalms 80:1

    To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim–Eduth, A Psalm of Asaph. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.

  • Psalms 50:2

    Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 The prophet, calling for justice, complains of tyranny and impiety.
8 He teaches God's providence.
12 He shews the blessedness of affliction.
16 God is the defender of the afflicted.

A.M. 3416. B.C. 588. (Title.)Dr. Delaney supposes that this Psalm was written by David on occasion of his war with the Ammonites, in consequence of the indignities shewn to his messengers; but it is more probable that it was written to bewail the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple.
God, to whom vengeance belongeth. Heb. God of revenges.O God.
De 32:35,41,42; Isa 35:4; 59:17; Jer 50:28; Na 1:2; Ro 12:19
2Th 1:8; Heb 10:30
shew thyself. Heb. shine forth.
80:1

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 94:1

    O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.

  • Psalms 94:2

    Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.

Read all of Psalms 94

Psalms 94:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		JEHOVÁ, Dios de las venganzas, Dios de las venganzas, muéstrate.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		✶Dieu des vengeances, Éternel, ✶Dieu des vengeances! fais luire ta splendeur.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Gott der Rache, Jehova, Gott der Rache, strahle hervor!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Laus cantici ipsi David. Venite, exsultemus Domino; jubilemus Deo salutari nostro;