Bible Strands
Psalms 94:1
O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses Yahweh directly, calling Him the God of vengeance to act in response to the community's oppression. The immediate context in verse 2 frames this as a plea for the Judge of the earth to rise and repay the proud.
The words — The Hebrew נְקָמ֥וֹת (ne.ka.Mot) translates literally to "vengeances" or "acts of retribution" and is doubled for emphasis. The verb הוֹפִֽיַע (ho.Fi.ya') means "shine forth," depicting God making His justice visibly manifest.
The thread — This theme appears in Deuteronomy 32:35, which declares "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay," and in Nahum 1:2, which identifies the LORD as an avenging God full of wrath. Isaiah 35:4 connects the concept by promising God will come with vengeance to strengthen those with anxious hearts.
Why it lands — The text asserts that divine justice will actively intervene against arrogance rather than remaining passive. It requires the reader to cease personal retaliation and wait for God's visible repayment.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 35:4 Say to those with anxious hearts: “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance. With divine retribution He will come to save you.”
- Nahum 1:2 The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and full of wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on His foes and reserves wrath for His enemies.
- Deuteronomy 32:35 Vengeance is Mine; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.”
- Hebrews 10:30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge His people.”
- Deuteronomy 32:41 when I sharpen My flashing sword, and My hand grasps it in judgment, I will take vengeance on My adversaries and repay those who hate Me.
- Romans 12:19 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”
- 2 Thessalonians 1:8 in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
- Isaiah 59:17 He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on His head; He put on garments of vengeance and wrapped Himself in a cloak of zeal.
- Jeremiah 50:28 Listen to the fugitives and refugees from the land of Babylon, declaring in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance for His temple.
- Psalms 80:1 For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” A Psalm of Asaph. Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, who leads Joseph like a flock; You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth