Psalm 94:5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 94:1-11

In these verses we have, I. A solemn appeal to God against the cruel oppressors of his people, Ps. 94:1, 2. This speaks terror enough to them, that they have the prayers of God's people against them, who cry day and night to him to avenge them of their adversaries; and shall he not avenge them speedily? Luke 18:3, 7. Observe here, 1. The titles they give to God for the encouraging of their faith in this appeal: O God! to whom vengeance belongeth; and thou Judge of the earth. We may with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 94:5

They break in pieces thy people, O Lord ,.... Not the Israelites, as Kimchi; but the church of Christ, by their anathemas, cruel edicts, and persecutions; by confiscating their goods, imprisoning their persons, putting them to cruel deaths; and by such means think to "wear out" the saints of the most High, the Lord's covenant and peculiar people; which is mentioned as an aggravation of their sin, and as an argument with the Lord to arise on their behalf: and afflict thine heritage ; the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 94:5

They break in pieces thy people - This was true af the Babylonians. Nehuchadnezzar slew many; carried the rest into captivity; ruined Jerusalem; overturned the temple; sacked, pillaged, and destroyed all the country. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 94:5

Verse 5 5They break in pieces thy people, O Jehovah! Having spoken of their discourse or language as vain-glorious and shameless, he proceeds to speak of their deeds, in cruelly persecuting the Church. It is hard that even the subjects of heathen princes should be subjected to unjust persecution, but a more intolerable thing still, that those who are God’s own people, his peculiar inheritance, should be trampled under the foot of tyranny. The prayer before us is one which, as I have already... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 94:1-7

The cry for vengeance. Israel is suffering oppression—not, however, from foreign enemies, but from domestic tyrants ( Psalms 94:4-6 ). Innocent blood is shed; the widow and the orphan are trodden down. God, it is supposed, will not see or will not regard ( Psalms 94:7 ). The psalmist, therefore, cries out to God to manifest himself by taking signal vengeance on the evil doers ( Psalms 94:1 , Psalms 94:2 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 94:1-23

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 94:1-23

Divine retribution certain. The psalm may be distributed under the following heads. I. A PRAYER FOR THE PUNISHMENT OF WICKED OPPRESSORS . ( Psalms 94:1 , Psalms 94:2 .) Probably in anticipation of the Assyrian invasion. II. THE GROUND OF THE PRAYER — THE INSOLENT AND ATHEISTIC SPIRIT OF THEIR CRUEL WORK . ( Psalms 94:3-7 .) They murder the fatherless, and say, "Jehovah seeth not?" III. THE BLINDNESS AND CONTEMPT OF GOD ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 94:5

They break in pieces thy people, O Lord; or, "crush," "oppress" (comp. Isaiah 3:15 ; Proverbs 22:22 , where the verb is evidently used, not of foreign foes, but of domestic oppressors). And afflict thine heritage; or, "thine inheritance"—those whom thou hast taken to be thy "peculiar people" ( Deuteronomy 14:2 ), thine own exclusive possession. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 94:5

They break in pieces thy people - They tread down; they grind; they crush. The Hebrew word is often used as meaning to crush under foot; to trample on; and hence, it means to oppress. Lamentations 3:34; Isaiah 3:15.And afflict - To wit, by oppression and wrong. If this refers to foreigners, it means that they did this by invasion and by the ravages of war.Thine heritage - Thy people, regarded as an inheritance or possession. See Psalms 28:9, note; Psalms 33:12, note; Psalms 68:9, note; Psalms... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 94:5-7

Psalms 94:5-7. They afflict thy heritage Those righteous persons whom thou hast chosen for thy portion or inheritance. They slay the widow, &c. Whom common humanity obliged them to spare, pity, and relieve. Yet they say, The Lord shall not see Their meeting with impunity and prosperity in their impious and barbarous practices makes them ready to doubt, or to deny, the providence of God in the government of his church and of the world. Neither doth the God of Jacob regard it Though... read more

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