Psalm 94 21

Psalm 94:21 kjv

They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.

Psalm 94:21 nkjv

They gather together against the life of the righteous, And condemn innocent blood.

Psalm 94:21 niv

The wicked band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.

Psalm 94:21 esv

They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.

Psalm 94:21 nlt

They gang up against the righteous
and condemn the innocent to death.

Psalm 94 verses

Psalm 94 21 Meaning

Psalm 94:21 profoundly illustrates the perversion of justice when the ungodly hold sway. It depicts a united front of oppressors who actively conspire and plot to eradicate the very existence of those who uphold righteousness, culminating in their judicial pronouncement of a death sentence upon the demonstrably innocent. The verse reveals not just isolated acts of malice, but organized wickedness that seeks to destroy the blameless through seemingly legitimate, yet profoundly corrupted, legal means.

Psalm 94 21 Context

Psalm 94 is a fervent prayer and communal lament appealing for God’s judgment against unrighteous oppressors. It opens with an earnest cry for God, the avenging Judge, to act (v. 1-2), detailing the boasts and atrocities of the wicked (v. 3-7). The psalmist challenges the oppressors’ ignorance and foolishness in denying God’s omniscient oversight (v. 8-11), contrasting it with the blessing given to those disciplined by the Lord (v. 12-15).

Verse 21 is situated within the latter half of the Psalm, which strengthens the resolve and confidence in God’s eventual justice. It directly follows verse 20, which asks, "Can wicked rulers be allied with you, those who frame injustice by statute?" Verse 21 then specifies how these wicked rulers "frame injustice"—by conspiring and unjustly condemning. This setup highlights a systemic problem where injustice is not accidental but orchestrated, often under the guise of legal process. The verse anticipates the powerful affirmation of God's refuge and retribution in verses 22-23: "But the LORD has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge. He will bring back on them their iniquity and wipe them out for their wickedness; the LORD our God will wipe them out." Historically, this Psalm likely reflects periods in Israel's history when its leadership or the dominant social forces were deeply corrupt, allowing injustice to flourish through perverted legal systems, a recurring theme in prophetic literature.

Psalm 94 21 Word analysis

• They band together (יָגוֹדּוּ - yagodu): Derived from the root גדד (gadad), which means "to cut, incise," but in its various forms can signify "to gather in bands, to invade, to attack." Here, it strongly implies a deliberate, collective, and hostile assembly or confederation. It's not a singular act of evil but a concerted effort, highlighting a deep-seated conspiracy and unified malice among the oppressors. This denotes an organized and strategic intent.

• against the life (עַל נֶפֶשׁ - al nefesh):

  • נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh): While often translated "soul," nefesh broadly refers to "life, being, person, vital breath." Here, it signifies the very existence of an individual. The target of their banded efforts is not merely reputation or property, but the fundamental being, implying a deadly intention and a desire to completely annihilate.

• of the righteous (צַדִּיק - tzaddiq): Signifies one who is "just, innocent, upright, blameless," aligned with divine law and truth. The choice of victims—those who are morally upright—underscores the perverse nature of the aggressors. They target virtue itself. This highlights the profound irony and injustice: those who should be protected are instead attacked.

• and condemn (וְיַרְשִׁיעוּ - veyarshiu): From the root רשׁע (rasha), meaning "to be wicked." In the Hiphil stem (causative), it means "to declare wicked, to find guilty, to condemn, to render unrighteous." This word strongly suggests a formal, judicial process, a court setting, where a verdict is pronounced. It emphasizes that the injustice is carried out under the facade of legal authority, not simply by raw violence.

• the innocent (דָּם נָקִי - dam naqi): Literally "blood of the innocent."

  • דָּם (dam): "Blood," often used as a metonym for life itself or, critically, for a violent death leading to the shedding of blood. Its inclusion points explicitly to the ultimate consequence of their condemnation: murder.
  • נָקִי (naqi): Means "clean, innocent, blameless, free from guilt." This term reinforces the absolute blamelessness of the victim in contrast to the unjust verdict. It implies moral and legal innocence. The combination "blood of the innocent" (דָּם נָקִי) is a strong biblical phrase found elsewhere, emphasizing a grave offense that defiles.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "They band together against the life of the righteous": This phrase denotes premeditated and unified malevolence. It is an organized assault on virtue itself, targeting those whose moral standing is a stark rebuke to the oppressors. This reveals the collective nature of evil.
  • "and condemn the innocent to death": This highlights the judicial corruption and the ultimate tragic outcome. The legal process, which should serve justice, is twisted to sanction murder. The victims are defined by their absolute innocence, making the judgment against them purely malicious and utterly without legal or moral foundation. This isn't an execution due to crime, but an execution due to uprightness.

Psalm 94 21 Bonus section

This verse vividly portrays a recurring biblical theme: the suffering of the righteous at the hands of the wicked, often facilitated by corrupt legal or governing systems. It directly reflects a common lament of God's people in both Old and New Testaments. Notably, it finds its ultimate, most tragic fulfillment in the unjust trial and condemnation of Jesus Christ, the perfectly "Righteous One" and "Innocent One" (Acts 3:14, 1 Pet 2:22-24). The powers that be, religious and political, "banded together" against Him, fabricating charges and condemning Him to death despite His manifest innocence. The concept of shedding "innocent blood" (דָּם נָקִי) is a grave sin in the Bible, carrying national consequences, emphasizing the severity of the acts described in this verse (Deut 21:8, 2 Ki 24:4).

Psalm 94 21 Commentary

Psalm 94:21 exposes the depths of depravity when those in positions of power or influence become agents of injustice. It's not a random act of violence, but a systematic, concerted effort (implied by "band together") against the righteous. The chosen targets are "the righteous" and "the innocent," demonstrating that their ungodly oppressors despise goodness itself. The phrase "condemn the innocent to death" carries immense weight, pointing to a judicial murder, where the very institutions meant to protect are used to destroy. This illustrates a profound perversion of divine order, akin to calling good evil and evil good. This verse resonates with countless biblical narratives where God's faithful are persecuted by those in authority who twist truth and justice (e.g., Joseph by his brothers, David by Saul, prophets by corrupt kings, Jesus by the Sanhedrin and Pilate). The psalmist's lament here acts as a strong condemnation of all forms of institutionalized wickedness and a reminder that God, the ultimate Judge, sees and will redress such egregious abuses of power against His blameless ones.