Psalm 94 Study Notes
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94:1 Vengeance (“retribution, vindication”) generally describes God’s judgment on the nations; rarely does the term apply to Israel. The expression parallels Jr 51:56, in which the Lord executed final judgment on destructive peoples and powers (Is 35:4; 66:6). The psalmist requested an epiphany, the Lord’s return to rescue his people.
94:2 The Lord is Judge of the earth, especially the nations (7:8; 58:11; 76:8; 82:8; 96:10; 98:9).
94:3 On how long, see note at 13:1-2.
94:4 To pour out speech is figurative for the empty, incessant babbling of the arrogant and deceitful.
94:5-6 The enemy seeks to obliterate God’s people (143:3). The evildoers target the most vulnerable groups in society, whom the Lord will defend (see note at 68:5-6; cp. 146:8-9; Ex 22:21-22).
94:7-11 These are not atheists but blasphemers. The proud, gloating wicked are also fools, as vv. 8-11 point out.
94:12-13 God will discipline those he loves, correcting and instructing them in order to bring them back into relationship with him (Heb 12:3-13). God recognizes humanity’s inherent weaknesses. Anyone of v. 12 is blessed by a degree of peace in troubled times until the wicked are removed.
‘anah
| Hebrew pronunciation | [ah NAH] |
| CSB translation | afflict, humble, rape |
| Uses in Psalms | 15 |
| Uses in the OT | 79 |
| Focus passage | Psalm 94:5 |
‘Anah in the intensive means carry out raids against (Nm 24:24), oppress (Gn 15:13), mistreat (Ex 22:22), or overwhelm (Ps 88:7). It is a homonym of ‘anah meaning “answer.” God humbled people (Dt 8:2) or broke their strength (Ps 102:23). He used affliction to do so (Dt 8:2-16). Israelites practiced self-denial (Lv 23:29) or denied themselves (Is 58:3) in order to become humble (Lv 16:29). ‘Anah is make helpless (Jdg 16:5) or hurt (Ps 105:18). Sexually, it implies violating (Dt 22:24). One rapes and abuses others (Jdg 20:5; 19:24), disgracing them (2Sm 13:12,22). A passive infinitive connotes hardship (Ps 132:1). Reflexives mean humble oneself (Ex 10:3) or suffer (1Kg 2:26). The regular verb indicates be subdued (Is 31:4). It, along with passive verbs, denotes be afflicted (Ps 119:107) or suffer affliction (Ps 107:17). Causatives involve humiliating others (Ps 55:19), silencing songs (Is 25:5), or submitting to authority (Gn 16:9).
94:14-15 Compare v. 14 with v. 5. If the Lord were to abandon his people, injustice would reign over them forever.
94:16-19 The Lord sustains the righteous in their battle with the wicked.
94:20 Corrupt rulers enact legislation that persecutes the righteous and enables wickedness, which is clearly contrary to God’s will.