Psalm 135:14 kjv
For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants.
Psalm 135:14 nkjv
For the LORD will judge His people, And He will have compassion on His servants.
Psalm 135:14 niv
For the LORD will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants.
Psalm 135:14 esv
For the LORD will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants.
Psalm 135:14 nlt
For the LORD will give justice to his people
and have compassion on his servants.
Psalm 135 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 32:36 | For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants… | God's judgment leads to relenting/mercy. |
| Heb 10:30 | For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me… The Lord shall judge his people. | Direct NT echo, God as final Judge. |
| Ps 50:4 | He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people. | God convenes creation for judgment of His people. |
| Isa 11:3-4 | …with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity… | The Messiah's righteous judgment. |
| Ps 7:8 | The LORD shall judge the people… | God's righteous judgment among nations. |
| Jer 31:33 | …I will be their God, and they shall be my people. | God's covenant relationship. |
| Ex 19:5 | Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then… | God's people as peculiar treasure, conditional. |
| 1 Pet 2:9-10 | But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood… not a people, but now the people of God. | New Testament identity of God's people. |
| Rom 9:25-26 | I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. | God extending His people beyond Israel. |
| Joel 2:13 | …for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. | God's character of compassion and relenting. |
| Ps 106:45 | And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies. | God relents due to His covenant love. |
| Jonah 3:10 | And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil… | God relents from intended judgment based on repentance. |
| Ex 32:14 | And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people. | God relents from wrath against Israel. |
| Jer 26:19 | If ye kill me, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves… But the LORD repented… | God's change of action based on repentance. |
| Ps 78:38 | But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not… | God's compassion prevents full destruction. |
| Isa 49:13 | …for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted. | God's comforting mercy towards His own. |
| Heb 12:6 | For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. | God's judgment as corrective discipline for His loved ones. |
| Prov 3:11-12 | My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD… For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth. | Discipline as an act of fatherly love. |
| John 5:24 | Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word… shall not come into condemnation. | Believers are spared condemnatory judgment. |
| Rom 8:33-34 | Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth… | God vindicates His chosen, not condemns. |
| 2 Cor 5:10 | For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ… | Believers are judged, but for works, not salvation. |
Psalm 135 verses
Psalm 135 14 Meaning
Psalm 135:14 declares God's unwavering faithfulness and just engagement with His covenant people. It states that the LORD will actively govern, vindicate, and apply justice among His people, distinguishing between the righteous and the unrighteous. Crucially, even in this process of judgment, He will display profound compassion and relent concerning any severe punitive action toward His faithful servants. This verse underscores the dynamic interplay of divine justice and mercy within God's covenant relationship with His own.
Psalm 135 14 Context
Psalm 135 is a hymn of praise and adoration to the LORD, often sung in temple worship. The psalm calls for all of God's people, including the priests and Levites, to bless and praise the LORD (Ps 135:1-3, 19-21). It extols God's unique greatness, highlighting His sovereignty over creation (Ps 135:6-7) and His mighty historical acts on behalf of Israel, specifically referencing the Exodus, the defeat of powerful kings (Sihon and Og), and the inheritance of the land (Ps 135:8-12). In stark contrast, the psalm explicitly exposes the vanity and impotence of idols made by human hands (Ps 135:15-18). Verse 14 is strategically placed within this larger celebration of God's power and distinction, asserting that this mighty, living God actively interacts with His people, unlike the lifeless gods of the nations who cannot judge, help, or feel compassion.
Psalm 135 14 Word analysis
- For (כִּי, ki): This Hebrew conjunction introduces a reason or explanation, tying this verse's truth about God's active involvement to the preceding statements of His power and superiority over idols.
- the LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): The covenantal, personal Name of God, often translated "LORD" (in small capitals). It signifies God's self-existence, eternal presence, and faithful engagement in His promises and relationship with His people.
- will judge (יָדִין, yadin): From the verb דִּין (din), meaning to judge, govern, vindicate, or set things right. For God's people, this "judgment" primarily denotes His active governance and involvement in their affairs, which includes:
- Vindication: Clearing their name, defending them against adversaries.
- Discipline/Correction: Removing evil or impurities within His people.
- Discrimination: Distinguishing between the righteous and the wicked among His people, ensuring justice. It's not primarily a judgment of condemnation leading to destruction for His own.
- his people (עַמּוֹ, amow): Refers to Israel, the nation with whom God established a covenant. This emphasizes God's unique, exclusive relationship and commitment to those He has chosen as His own.
- and have compassion (וְעַל־עֲבָדָיו יִתְנֶחָם, ve'al-avadav yitnachem): The Hebrew verb נָחַם (nacham) has a broad semantic range including "to regret," "to comfort oneself," "to console," "to be sorry," or "to relent." In the context of God, it means He relents from an intended course of action (especially anger or punitive judgment), thus expressing profound sympathy, tender care, or comforting mercy towards His people. It signifies His compassionate nature rather than a change in His immutable essence.
- on his servants (עֲבָדָיו, avadav): This term highlights those within "His people" who are dedicated to serving Him. While "His people" broadly encompasses the nation of Israel (or, in the New Testament, the Church), "His servants" can denote a more specific faithful remnant or those who demonstrate active obedience and devotion, for whom God's compassion is particularly manifested.
- "the LORD will judge his people": This phrase emphasizes God's sovereign involvement and active rule within His covenant community. Unlike passive idols, Yahweh intervenes, maintaining justice and order, discerning right from wrong, and upholding His covenant. This judgment serves as both protection and purification.
- "and have compassion on his servants": This phrase beautifully balances the "judgment." It highlights that God's justice is always tempered with mercy for those who belong to Him. His "relenting" or showing "compassion" signifies that even when His people face correction or hardship, His ultimate intention is not destruction but restoration, demonstrating His steadfast love and enduring faithfulness to those who serve Him. The parallel structure showcases the harmonious interplay between God's righteousness and His enduring loving-kindness.
Psalm 135 14 Bonus section
The juxtaposition of "judge" and "have compassion/relent" is critical. It implies that God's judgment of His people is often a corrective and purifying process, which ultimately leads to an expression of His profound mercy. He judges not to eradicate, but to save. His justice ensures the sanctity of the covenant, and His compassion ensures its continuity and His enduring love for the elect. This reflects a consistent biblical theme that even when God's wrath is stirred, especially towards His chosen, His character includes an innate inclination to show mercy when there is a pathway for reconciliation or repentance. This concept of God "relenting" (yitnachem) is not a change in His divine mind or essence, but a change in His course of action towards His people, always aligned with His unchanging nature of love and justice. This dynamism illustrates God's active, responsive, and personal engagement in His relationship with His creation, particularly those whom He has called His own.
Psalm 135 14 Commentary
Psalm 135:14 concisely portrays the covenant LORD as an active, just, and compassionate ruler over His people. The "judgment" signifies His direct involvement in their affairs, ensuring justice within the community and often bringing vindication against external foes. It is a judgment distinct from final condemnation; for His own, it implies righteous governance, discipline, and defense. This is perfectly complemented by "compassion," signifying that God, even after justly administering discipline, or in the very act of judging, will relent from full severity and demonstrate His deep mercy towards those who faithfully serve Him. This divine balance ensures that His people are purified, not annihilated, and are ultimately cared for. It presents a strong polemic against pagan idols, which are lifeless and unable to perform such living acts of judgment or mercy for their devotees. The living God actively secures His people's well-being through both justice and tenderness.For practical usage, this verse provides assurance that God's disciplinary hand (judgment) is ultimately an act of love, designed to refine, not destroy. When facing difficulties, believers can rest knowing God is justly working on their behalf or correcting them, yet always with a heart of compassion and with their ultimate good in mind. It calls for faithfulness (as "servants") in response to such a gracious Lord.