Psalm 94:20 kjv
Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?
Psalm 94:20 nkjv
Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law, Have fellowship with You?
Psalm 94:20 niv
Can a corrupt throne be allied with you? a throne that brings on misery by its decrees?
Psalm 94:20 esv
Can wicked rulers be allied with you, those who frame injustice by statute?
Psalm 94:20 nlt
Can unjust leaders claim that God is on their side ?
leaders whose decrees permit injustice?
Psalm 94 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 5:4-5 | For You are not a God who delights in wickedness; Evil may not dwell... | God's absolute opposition to evil. |
| Hab 1:13 | You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on iniquity... | God cannot tolerate sin or injustice. |
| 2 Cor 6:14-16 | What fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion... | Direct NT echo: no unity between light and darkness. |
| 1 Pet 1:16 | ...because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” | God's nature is holy; evil is separate. |
| Isa 10:1-2 | Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, who write misfortune... | Condemns rulers who legislate injustice. |
| Psa 58:1-2 | Do you indeed speak righteousness, you silent ones? Do you judge uprightly...? | Challenge to unjust rulers and their judgments. |
| Mic 3:9-11 | ...you who despise justice and pervert all that is straight... | Corrupt leaders perverting justice for gain. |
| Amos 5:7 | You who turn justice into wormwood, and throw righteousness to the ground... | Condemns turning justice into bitter injustice. |
| Jer 22:13 | “Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness... | Judgment for building on injustice. |
| Prov 17:15 | He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both... | Condemns perversion of justice. |
| Prov 24:23-24 | ...It is not good to show partiality in judgment. He who says... | Condemns judicial bias. |
| Psa 94:3-7 | O LORD, how long will the wicked, how long will the wicked exult? | Immediate context: Psalm's lament against oppressors. |
| Prov 28:15-16 | Like a roaring lion...is a wicked ruler over poor people. A ruler who lacks... | Depicts destructive nature of wicked rule. |
| Eccl 5:8 | If you see the oppression of the poor and the violent perversion... | Observes perversion of justice in the land. |
| Isa 1:23 | Your princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; everyone loves... | Leaders accepting bribes, neglecting justice. |
| Luke 23:23-24 | ...their voices and the chief priests' prevailed. So Pilate gave sentence... | Human legal authority yielding to unjust demands. |
| Dan 6:7-9 | All the governors of the kingdom...have consulted together to establish a royal statute... | Example of a law crafted to entrap the righteous. |
| Psa 7:11 | God is a righteous judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day. | God as the ultimate righteous judge. |
| Psa 9:7-8 | But the LORD shall endure forever; He has prepared His throne for judgment. | God's enduring reign and righteous judgment. |
| Rom 12:19 | Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath... | God reserves ultimate judgment. |
| Rev 19:11-16 | Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat... | Christ's return to execute righteous judgment. |
| John 3:19-20 | And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world... | Darkness cannot tolerate or join with light. |
Psalm 94 verses
Psalm 94 20 Meaning
Psalm 94:20 rhetorically questions the possibility of fellowship between God's righteous throne and any seat of power founded on iniquity, especially one that systematically legislates evil. It declares the absolute incompatibility between divine justice and human authority that perverts law to devise mischief and oppression. The verse implies a resounding "no," affirming that God cannot condone or align with unjust legal systems that legitimize wickedness.
Psalm 94 20 Context
Psalm 94 is a prayer to God for justice against the wicked and oppressive rulers. The psalmist describes a situation where the wicked freely boast, crush God's people, murder the innocent, and mock God, believing He does not see or care (vv. 3-7). This lament culminates in a rhetorical question challenging the oppressors' understanding of God's power and knowledge (vv. 8-11). Verse 20 directly follows the psalmist's affirmation of God's active involvement in human affairs and His ultimate justice (vv. 12-19), asserting that God is the Helper against evildoers. The historical context reflects times in Israel when rulers or legal systems deviated significantly from God's Law, enforcing decrees that caused hardship, violated covenant principles, and even sanctioned the persecution of the righteous. This was not uncommon under various monarchies within Israel itself, or under foreign imperial rule.
Psalm 94 20 Word analysis
Can (הֲ): This is an interrogative particle, setting up a rhetorical question. It introduces an inquiry that strongly implies a negative answer, emphasizing the impossibility of what is proposed.
the throne (כִּסֵּא, kisse): Refers to a seat of power, authority, and judgment. It represents a governing entity, a kingdom, or a judicial system.
of iniquity (הַוּוֹת, havvot): Derived from havvah, meaning ruin, destruction, calamity, or wickedness. It signifies more than just isolated acts of sin; it denotes a deep-seated depravity, a state or system that is fundamentally destructive and perverse. It is iniquity woven into the very fabric of its authority.
have fellowship (יַחְבֹּרְךָ, yachborkha): From the root chavar, meaning to join, unite, bind together, or have communion/alliance. The suffix "-kha" refers to "You" (God). The term suggests intimate association, cooperation, or covenant relationship.
with You (referring to God): Implies that God, the supremely holy and just King, would somehow endorse, support, or be in league with such an oppressive power. This is utterly antithetical to His nature.
which devises (וְיֹצֵר, veyotzer): From yatsar, "to form," "to fashion," "to create," "to devise" or "plan." This emphasizes intentionality and active fabrication. It's not accidental injustice but purposefully engineered wrongdoing.
evil (עָמָל, amal): Signifies trouble, mischief, misery, pain, labor, or oppression. Here it highlights the harmful, oppressive consequences of the "devised" acts. It's often associated with the suffering inflicted on the innocent.
by law (עֲלֵי חֹק, alei choq): Literally "upon a statute" or "according to a decree." Choq refers to a fixed custom, ordinance, or statute – a formal law. This phrase is critically important: the wickedness is not in spite of law but through the abuse or manipulation of it, lending a false legitimacy to the oppression. It means legislated injustice.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "throne of iniquity" (כִּסֵּא הַוּוֹת, kisse havvot): This is a powerful metaphor for a corrupt government or judicial system whose very foundation and operation are inherently wicked and destructive. It suggests that injustice is not a deviation but its very core principle.
- "devises evil by law" (יֹצֵר עָמָל עֲלֵי חֹק, yotzer amal alei choq): This phrase pinpoints the unique malevolence: using the instrument meant for justice (law) to create injustice. It is a systematic, institutionalized form of oppression, where human ordinances are enacted to perpetrate harm, creating "legal" grounds for wickedness. This perversion is an affront to God's character as the ultimate Lawgiver and Judge.
Psalm 94 20 Bonus section
The Hebrew word for "law" (choq) in this verse can also imply a "decree" or "fixed ordinance," differentiating it from Torah, which more broadly refers to divine instruction or law. This distinction underscores the verse's specific critique of humanly devised statutes that are antithetical to divine truth and justice. The psalmist is not questioning God's Torah but exposing the hypocrisy of human decrees that attempt to masquerade as just while fostering injustice. This rhetorical question is a form of reductio ad absurdum, highlighting the inherent impossibility of such an alliance by demonstrating its logical and theological absurdity. It anticipates the ultimate judgment God will bring upon all wicked authorities and their perverse decrees.
Psalm 94 20 Commentary
Psalm 94:20 poses a rhetorical question of fundamental theological importance: Can there be any alliance or common ground between God's perfect justice and a system of governance that operates by enacting injustice under the guise of law? The answer is an emphatic "no." God, whose throne is established on righteousness (Psa 89:14), cannot fellowship with a "throne of iniquity." This verse powerfully condemns those in authority who pervert legal and administrative structures to justify and perpetuate oppression. It speaks to the insidious nature of "legalized evil," where malicious acts are clothed in the garb of legitimacy through human statutes. Such systems represent the epitome of rebellion against God, for they attempt to mimic His authority while directly opposing His divine character and holy standard. This verse serves as a crucial reminder for all people, particularly leaders, that true law must align with divine righteousness, and any legislation that enables wickedness or inflicts oppression cannot stand in God's presence. It calls believers to understand that true fellowship with God precludes any endorsement of institutionalized injustice, thereby influencing their engagement with temporal powers.For example, this applies when governments pass laws that directly violate God's commands (e.g., sanctioning abortion, promoting unrighteous behavior as virtue), or when judicial systems exploit the poor, silence the righteous, or condemn the innocent through legal loopholes.