Bible Strands
Psalms 94:3
How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked exult?
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses Yahweh directly, asking when the period of unchecked wickedness will end. This plea occurs within a communal lament that immediately follows a command for the Judge of the earth to rise and reward the proud.
The words — The repeated phrase מָתַי עַד־ (ma.Tai 'ad-) literally renders "how long until?" to mark the duration of the delay. The verb יַעֲלֹזוּ (ya.'a.Lo.zu) specifically means "will they exult" or "boast," describing the active triumph of the רְשָׁעִים (wicked).
The thread — This identical cry for delayed justice appears in Revelation 6:10, where the martyrs ask how long until God judges the earth. The same rhetorical structure regarding the timing of divine response runs through Jeremiah 12:1.
Why it lands — The text demands that the reader place their impatience with current injustice directly before God rather than acting independently. It requires the reader to accept that the timeline for judgment belongs to the Judge, not to the petitioners.
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
Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?
Cross-references
- Revelation 6:10 And they cried out in a loud voice, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge those who dwell upon the earth and avenge our blood?”
- Job 20:5 the triumph of the wicked has been brief and the joy of the godless momentary?
- Jeremiah 12:1 Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead before You. Yet about Your judgments I wish to contend with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?
- Psalms 43:2 For You are the God of my refuge. Why have You rejected me? Why must I walk in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?
- Psalms 73:8 They mock and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
- Psalms 80:4 O LORD God of Hosts, how long will Your anger smolder against the prayers of Your people?
- Esther 7:10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the fury of the king subsided.
- Psalms 74:9 There are no signs for us to see. There is no longer any prophet. And none of us knows how long this will last.
- Psalms 79:5 How long, O LORD? Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy burn like fire?
- Psalms 89:46 How long, O LORD? Will You hide Yourself forever? Will Your wrath keep burning like fire?