Psalm 94:1 kjv
O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.
Psalm 94:1 nkjv
O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongs? O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth!
Psalm 94:1 niv
The LORD is a God who avenges. O God who avenges, shine forth.
Psalm 94:1 esv
O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth!
Psalm 94:1 nlt
O LORD, the God of vengeance,
O God of vengeance, let your glorious justice shine forth!
Psalm 94 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 32:35 | "Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; Their foot shall slip in due time..." | God's exclusive claim over vengeance. |
| Rom 12:19 | "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord." | New Testament affirmation of God's sole right to vengeance. |
| Heb 10:30 | For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay," says the Lord. | Reinforces God's authority over retribution. |
| Nahum 1:2 | The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; The Lord is an avenger and full of wrath. The Lord takes vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies... | Describes God's attribute as an avenging God. |
| Ps 50:2 | Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God will shine forth. | God 'shining forth' associated with His appearance for judgment/salvation. |
| Isa 60:1 | Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. | God's glory "shining forth" in a salvific context. |
| Zech 9:14 | Then the Lord will be seen over them, And His arrow will go forth like lightning. The Lord God will blow the trumpet... | God appearing for battle/deliverance. |
| Hab 3:3-4 | God came from Teman, The Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, And the earth was full of His praise. His brightness was like the light... | God's majestic and fearful appearance. |
| Gen 18:25 | "Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked... Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" | Abraham acknowledges God as the righteous Judge. |
| Ps 7:11 | God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day. | God's consistent attribute as a just judge. |
| Ps 50:6 | Let the heavens declare His righteousness, For God Himself is Judge. Selah. | The declaration of God's role as Judge. |
| Ps 9:8 | He shall judge the world in righteousness, And He shall minister judgment to the peoples in uprightness. | God's universal and righteous judgment. |
| Jer 51:56 | For the plunderer comes against her, against Babylon, And her mighty men are captured; Every one of their bows is broken; For the Lord is the God of recompense; He will surely repay. | God's specific promise to repay Babylon's evil. |
| 2 Thess 1:6 | ...since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you... | God's righteous repayment for oppression in the NT. |
| Rev 6:10 | And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" | A plea from martyrs for God's delayed but certain vengeance. |
| Rev 16:7 | And I heard another from the altar saying: "Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments." | Affirmation of the justice of God's judgments. |
| Ps 82:8 | Arise, O God, judge the earth; For You shall inherit all nations. | A similar prayer for God to rise and judge the earth. |
| Isa 61:2 | ...to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God... | God's "day of vengeance" alongside the "year of the Lord." |
| Matt 16:27 | For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. | Jesus' return bringing ultimate judgment and reward. |
| Phil 4:6-7 | Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God... | Calls to bring all requests, including for justice, to God in prayer. |
Psalm 94 verses
Psalm 94 1 Meaning
Psalm 94:1 is a passionate and urgent prayer, directly appealing to God as the sole proprietor of vengeance and ultimate justice. It is a fervent plea for the Almighty, referred to as the Lord God, to reveal Himself in power and decisively intervene against the rampant wickedness and injustice observed in the world. The repetition underscores the exclusive right of God to execute justice and His absolute authority in retribution against evildoers. It is a cry for divine manifestation and an end to oppression.
Psalm 94 1 Context
Psalm 94 opens a new section within the book of Psalms, forming part of a series (Psalms 93-99) often characterized by the theme of God's kingship and ultimate rule. This particular psalm begins with an earnest and immediate cry for divine justice, setting the tone for the entire composition. It presents a stark contrast between the arrogant and oppressive actions of the wicked—who seem to act with impunity and even deny God's awareness or care—and the righteous character of God. The psalmist expresses deep anguish over the persecution of the vulnerable, widows, and orphans. Through this powerful invocation in verse 1, the psalmist establishes the theological premise that only God, the sovereign and just ruler, possesses the authority and capacity to judge the earth rightly and bring retribution upon those who defy His moral order. Historically, the psalm likely arose from a period of intense suffering or moral decline, where the wicked prospered and the faithful questioned divine inaction, prompting this direct appeal for God to "shine forth" and visibly demonstrate His power and justice.
Psalm 94 1 Word analysis
- O Lord God (יְהֹוָה אֵל - Yahweh El):
- Yahweh: The covenant name of God, revealing His personal, unchanging, and faithful nature, specifically in His relationship with Israel. It emphasizes His being, His existence, and His power to act in history.
- El: A general Hebrew word for God, denoting strength, power, and might. Its combination with Yahweh presents God as both the personal, covenant-keeping deity and the mighty, powerful sovereign over all creation. The appellation conveys a profound theological weight, addressing God in both His intimate and transcendent aspects. It underscores the belief that this powerful, personal God hears and responds.
- to whom vengeance belongs (נְקָמוֹת לְךָ - neqamot lekha):
- neqamot: Plural of "vengeance" or "retribution." The use of the plural often signifies intensity, totality, or abundance—God's vengeance is not singular but multifaceted and absolute. It conveys the certainty and comprehensiveness of His justice.
- lekha: "to you" or "belongs to you." This possessive phrase strongly asserts that the right and capacity for vengeance belong exclusively to God. This is not human revenge, which is forbidden (Rom 12:19), but divine, righteous judgment. It underscores God's sovereignty over justice, establishing that only He can rightly administer ultimate retribution. The emphasis is on divine prerogative and responsibility, not a human call for arbitrary harm but a plea for ultimate justice according to His perfect standards.
- O God, to whom vengeance belongs (אֱלֹהִים נְקָמוֹת לְךָ - Elohim neqamot lekha):
- The repetition of "to whom vengeance belongs" provides immense rhetorical and theological weight. It emphasizes the absolute certainty and singularity of this divine attribute. It serves as a fervent declaration and reminder, not only to God but to the psalmist and the audience, that vengeance is indeed God's alone. This doubling underscores the unchallengeable truth of His righteous authority.
- Elohim: Another Hebrew word for God, often used to emphasize God's role as Creator, Judge, and ultimate deity. While Yahweh focuses on covenant relationship, Elohim emphasizes His might and universal dominion. This combination with "Yahweh El" from the first phrase elevates the address to the highest possible theological pitch, encompassing all aspects of God's being—personal, powerful, universal, and just.
- shine forth! (הוֹפִיַע - hofiya'):
- A powerful imperative, meaning "appear," "manifest," "cause to shine," "show Yourself." It is a plea for a visible, unmistakable display of God's presence and power. It’s a call for a theophany—a manifestation of God that leaves no doubt about His active involvement and just judgment.
- In biblical context, God "shining forth" often precedes an act of deliverance or judgment (Ps 50:2, Deut 33:2). It is a call for God to arise from His perceived silence or hiddenness and reveal His righteous indignation and formidable might to all. This visual imagery suggests a sudden, brilliant, and overwhelming demonstration of divine power to set things right.
Psalm 94 1 Bonus section
The poetic structure of Psalm 94:1, particularly the repetition of "to whom vengeance belongs," is a significant rhetorical device known as an anaphora or parallelism, enhancing the emotional intensity and emphasizing the central theme. This literary choice serves to ingrain the truth of God's exclusive claim to justice. The psalm presents a crucial distinction between divine vengeance, which is holy, just, and perfect in timing and measure, and human revenge, which is prone to sin, partiality, and exceeding proper boundaries. The psalmist is not advocating for violence or self-help but rather submitting the egregious offenses to the divine arbiter. The "shining forth" is more than just a literal light; it implies the clear discernment of God's will and judgment in the events of the world, where previously, His absence or inaction was seemingly interpreted by the wicked as indifference.
Psalm 94 1 Commentary
Psalm 94:1 is a profound theological statement disguised as an impassioned plea. It establishes that God alone holds the authority and capacity to execute perfect vengeance and ultimate justice. This "vengeance" is not driven by human passion or personal spite but is an attribute of His righteous character, designed to uphold divine law and order. The double assertion, "to whom vengeance belongs," stresses God's sole prerogative and absolute monopoly over this domain. The psalmist appeals to the God of covenant (Yahweh), the mighty God (El), and the universal God (Elohim) to address the deep injustice prevailing. The plea to "shine forth" is a cry for a dramatic, visible manifestation of His presence and power, specifically His judgmental wrath, to rectify the rampant wickedness. It expresses the deep conviction that divine justice, though sometimes delayed, is certain and will ultimately be displayed by God Himself. This verse invites believers to bring their pleas for justice directly to the sovereign God, resting in His ultimate and perfect resolution rather than attempting human retribution.