Psalm 94:6

Translations

Modern

They kill the widow and the foreigner; they murder the fatherless.

Traditional

They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.

Literal

The widow and the foreigner they kill, and the fatherless they murder.

Latin

Viduam et advenam interfecerunt, et pupillos occiderunt.

Original

Hebrew

English

They kill the widow and the foreigner; they murder the fatherless.

Notes

Psalms 94:6

widow … foreigner … fatherless: The Lord’s law protects those in need (Deuteronomy 24:17; 27:19), but they remain vulnerable in society.

Psalms 94:1–7

After the community suffers at the hands of the wicked (Psalm 94:5–7), they pray for the Lord to bring justice (see Psalm 7:11; 9:12).

Psalms 94:1–23

This plea for the Lord’s justice includes both communal and individual expressions of sorrow (Psalm 94:1–7, 16–23). The psalmist speaks about the pain and suffering caused by the wicked. He also describes the comfort and stability of the Lord’s protection. He calls on the Lord to avenge the needy against the arrogant and foolish, he rebukes such people for their foolishness (Psalm 94:8–11), and speaks a blessing on the wise (94:12–15).

Psalms 93:1–100:5

These psalms challenge the doubts created by the exile (see Psalm 89) and answer the questions asked in Psalm 90:11, 13. The Lord has established a kingdom (Psalm 93) that is characterized by:

punishment of the wicked (Psalm 94),
respectful obedience among his people (Psalm 95),
justice for the poor (Psalm 96),
celebration in Zion (Psalm 97),
salvation for Israel (Psalm 98),
holiness (Psalm 99), and
praise (Psalm 100).

Theme notes and profiles

David The Creator-King Wisdom Psalms

Related verses

Isaiah 10:2
…to deprive the poor of fair treatment and withhold justice from the oppressed of My people, to make widows their prey and orphans their plunder.
Ezekiel 22:7
Father and mother are treated with contempt. Within your walls the foreign resident is exploited, the fatherless and the widow are oppressed.
Malachi 3:5
“Then I will draw near to you for judgment. And I will be a swift witness against sorcerers and adulterers and perjurers, against oppressors of the widowed and fatherless, and against those who defraud laborers of their wages and deny justice to the foreigner but do not fear Me,” says the LORD of Hosts.
Jeremiah 7:6
…if you no longer oppress the foreigner and the fatherless and the widow, and if you no longer shed innocent blood in this place or follow other gods to your own harm,
Jeremiah 22:3
This is what the LORD says: Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow. Do not shed innocent blood in this place.
Isaiah 13:15–18
Whoever is caught will be stabbed, and whoever is captured will die by the sword.

Glossary

David Imprecatory Psalms Music Orphan Psalms, Book of Widow

Topics

Afflictions and Adversities: Prayer In Character of the Wicked: Murderous Fatherless: The Wicked: Murder Orphan: General Scriptures Concerning Strangers in Israel: The Jews Condemned for Oppressing Wicked (People): Described Widow: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Widows: The Wicked: Slay

Psalm 94:6

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