Psalm 94:10 kjv
He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?
Psalm 94:10 nkjv
He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct, He who teaches man knowledge?
Psalm 94:10 niv
Does he who disciplines nations not punish? Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge?
Psalm 94:10 esv
He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke? He who teaches man knowledge ?
Psalm 94:10 nlt
He punishes the nations ? won't he also punish you?
He knows everything ? doesn't he also know what you are doing?
Psalm 94 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 139:1-4 | O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. | God's intimate knowledge of thoughts and actions. |
| Prov 15:3 | The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. | God's pervasive observation. |
| Heb 4:13 | And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. | Divine omniscience, accountability for all creation. |
| 1 Jn 3:20 | For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. | God's absolute knowledge, transcending human understanding. |
| Job 35:11 | who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the air? | God as the ultimate teacher, granting understanding. |
| Isa 40:13-14 | Who has measured the Spirit of the LORD, or what man shows him his counsel? Whom did he consult... and instructed him in the path of justice? | God's unsearchable wisdom and source of all instruction. |
| Jas 1:5 | If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach... | God as the giver of wisdom and knowledge. |
| John 6:45 | It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— | God directly teaching His people. |
| 1 Cor 2:11 | For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. | Divine knowledge known only by God's Spirit. |
| Isa 48:17 | Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you for your profit..." | God instructs for benefit, as a divine guide. |
| Jer 10:10 | But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth trembles... | God's wrath and power over nations. |
| Isa 10:5-7 | Ah, Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff in their hands is my fury!... to carry off plunder and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. | God using nations as instruments of discipline. |
| Ps 2:4-5 | He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath... | God's judgment and derision of rebellious nations. |
| Rev 19:15 | From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations... he will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God... | Christ's final judgment and discipline of nations. |
| Jer 18:7-10 | If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it... | God's sovereign right to discipline and overthrow nations. |
| Ps 94:7-8 | They say, “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive.” Understand, O dullest of the people! Fools, when will you be wise? | The direct context: addressing the wicked's ignorance. |
| Prov 1:7 | The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. | God-given knowledge linked to reverence for Him. |
| Rom 1:21-22 | For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, | Consequences of rejecting God's knowledge. |
| Deut 4:6 | Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ | God's law as a source of national wisdom. |
| 1 Sam 2:3 | Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. | God's perfect knowledge and righteous judgment. |
| Matt 10:29-30 | Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father... even the hairs of your head are all numbered. | God's meticulous, all-encompassing knowledge. |
| Luke 12:7 | Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. | Reinforces God's intimate, personal knowledge. |
| Job 12:13 | With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding. | Attributes of God: ultimate wisdom and power. |
Psalm 94 verses
Psalm 94 10 Meaning
Psalm 94:10 asserts God's omniscient knowledge and judicial authority through two rhetorical questions. It fundamentally declares that if God is the source of all discipline for nations and the giver of knowledge to humanity, then He supremely possesses these very attributes. This directly refutes the misconception held by the wicked that God is oblivious to their actions or incapable of rendering justice. It is an argument from the greater to the lesser, proclaiming God's inherent perfection and active governance over all creation and all deeds, ensuring accountability.
Psalm 94 10 Context
Psalm 94 is a fervent prayer and prophetic warning, characterized by a plea for divine vengeance against oppressive rulers and a confident affirmation of God's sovereignty and justice. The psalmist witnesses rampant injustice and violence committed by the wicked who openly scoff at God's presence and power (vv. 1-7). These oppressors believe God neither sees nor cares about their evil deeds. Verse 10 directly confronts this delusion, acting as a crucial rhetorical counter-argument to the wicked's scoffing in verses 7-8. It firmly establishes that the God who orders and disciplines the entire world, and who grants intellect and understanding to humans, is certainly not blind or ignorant of their actions. The historical backdrop often points to a period when Israel faced internal corruption or external Gentile oppression, leading the psalmist to appeal to God's inherent attributes as the foundation for future justice and restoration.
Psalm 94 10 Word analysis
He who disciplines (הֲלוֹא יוֹסֵר - Halo yoser): The Hebrew term yoser (יוֹסֵר) means "to discipline, instruct, correct, chasten, admonish." It carries the connotation of parental discipline aimed at moral guidance and training, not merely punitive action. Applied to God and nations, it signifies His sovereign rule in shaping the destiny and behavior of national entities, often through judgment, war, or social upheaval, for the purpose of instruction or correction. This implies God's active involvement in the world.
the nations (גּוֹיִם - goyim): This plural noun refers to peoples or nations, particularly non-Israelite nations in many biblical contexts. Here, it highlights God's universal sovereignty and authority, extending beyond Israel to encompass all humanity and all political entities. This refutes any localized or limited view of God's power.
will He not rebuke? (הֲלֹא יֹוכִיחַ - Halo yokhiach): The verb yokhiach (יֹוכִיחַ) means "to reprove, rebuke, convict, settle a dispute, decide, judge." The rhetorical question structure "Halo... halo..." expects a strong affirmative answer ("Surely He will..."). If God disciplines, which often involves confronting error, He must also possess the authority and insight to pinpoint wrong and pass judgment or deliver justice. This is a direct challenge to those who assume their actions go unnoticed by the divine.
He who teaches (הַמְלַמֵּד - hamelammed): The participle hamelammed (from לָמַד, lamad) means "the one who teaches, instructs, learns." This emphasizes God as the ultimate source of all intellectual and moral understanding, the fount of wisdom for humanity.
man (אָדָם - adam): Refers to humanity in general, both individuals and the collective. It signifies that any capacity for learning or acquiring knowledge originates from the Creator.
knowledge (דַּעַת - da'at): This word signifies "knowledge, understanding, discernment, wisdom." It's not just factual information but a deeper apprehension, including moral and spiritual discernment. God not only imparts factual understanding but also the ability to discern good from evil.
will He not know? (וְלֹא יֵדָע? - wəlo yeda'): The verb yada' (יֵדָע) means "to know, perceive, understand." The rhetorical question (initiated by "welo?") posits the self-evident truth that if God imparts knowledge, He Himself must possess perfect, absolute knowledge. It underscores God's omniscience – His total and infinite awareness of everything, past, present, and future, including every hidden thought and action of humans. It logically follows that the one who grants the faculty of knowledge to others cannot Himself be ignorant.
Psalm 94 10 Bonus section
The Hebrew use of repeated negative rhetorical questions ("Halo... halo..." and "welo?") is a powerful stylistic choice designed to convey emphatic affirmation. It forces the audience to agree with the self-evident truth presented. This construction is a polemic against the worldview prevalent among those who practice injustice—that the gods are either indifferent, ignorant, or weak. The psalm combats this by elevating Yahweh far above such limited pagan deities or philosophical ideas of an absentee god. It asserts His unique attributes as the all-seeing, all-knowing, and actively engaged Sovereign over all creation, demonstrating that divine justice is not merely an abstract concept but a living reality rooted in God's very character. This understanding serves as a deep comfort for the persecuted and a stark warning for the wicked throughout all generations.
Psalm 94 10 Commentary
Psalm 94:10 delivers a profound theological punch by employing a powerful a fortiori (from the greater to the lesser) argument. The psalmist, through two piercing rhetorical questions, challenges the absurd notion that God, the architect of discipline and the ultimate source of knowledge, could somehow be unaware or unable to act. The first part, "He who disciplines the nations, will He not rebuke?" connects divine governance with divine judgment. If God holds the power to shape and correct entire nations, sometimes through severe means, then surely He has the insight and authority to address individual or collective wrongdoings and bring offenders to account. He sees the oppression and hears the cries, and His nature necessitates a response. The second part, "He who teaches man knowledge, will He not know?" is an equally devastating blow to the wicked's delusion. Humanity’s capacity for reason, discernment, and understanding is a gift from God. How, then, could the Giver of knowledge be devoid of it Himself? It's logically incoherent to imagine a fountain that imparts water yet is dry. God is the supreme intellect, the wellspring of all wisdom; therefore, His omniscience is absolute. This verse serves as a foundational declaration against practical atheism or deism, asserting God's active, knowing, and just involvement in the world. For the believer, it offers solace that no injustice is overlooked. For the oppressor, it stands as an ominous warning of inevitable accountability.