Psalms 94:2

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Assert yourself as judge of the earth! Pay back the proud as they deserve!

Berean Standard Bible:

Rise up, O Judge of the earth; render a reward to the proud.

American Standard Version:

Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: Render to the proudtheir desert.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Lift up{H5375}{H8734)} thyself, thou judge{H8199}{H8802)} of the earth{H776}: render{H7725}{H8685)} a reward{H1576} to the proud{H1343}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Psalms 7:6

  • Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me [to] the judgment [that] thou hast commanded.

2 Corinthians 5:10

  • For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad.

Psalms 31:23

  • O love the LORD, all ye his saints: [for] the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.

Genesis 18:25

  • That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

John 5:22

  • For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

John 5:23

  • That all [men] should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

1 Peter 5:5

  • ¶ Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

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Commentary for Psalms 94:2

Psalm 94:2, which reads, "Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud," is part of a larger psalm that is often categorized as a lament, a type of psalm that expresses distress and seeks divine intervention. This particular verse is a direct address to God, calling upon the Almighty to rise up and take action against the wicked who oppress the righteous. The theme here is one of justice and divine retribution.

The psalmist is urging God, who is referred to as the "judge of the earth," to assert His authority over the earthly realm where injustice prevails. The call for God to "lift up" Himself suggests an appeal for divine presence and power to be made manifest. Furthermore, the request for God to "render a reward to the proud" is an appeal for God to hold accountable those who are arrogant and act as if they are above the moral law. In the historical context of the ancient Near East, the proud and the wicked often referred to those who abused their power, disregarded the poor, and flouted the traditions of justice and righteousness that were seen as divinely ordained.

The verse reflects a common theme in the Psalms and the broader wisdom literature of the Bible, where the righteous struggle against the seeming prosperity of the wicked and call upon God to right these apparent wrongs. It speaks to the enduring human hope for divine justice and the belief that ultimately, the moral order of the universe, as established by God, will prevail over human injustice.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H5375
    There are 611 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָשָׂא
    Transliteration: nâsâʼ
    Pronunciation: naw-saw'
    Description: or נָסָה; (Psalm 4:6 (אֲבַד)), a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative; accept, advance, arise, (able to, (armor), suffer to) bear(-er, up), bring (forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable ([phrase] man), lade, lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, [idiom] needs, obtain, pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare, stir up, [phrase] swear, take (away, up), [idiom] utterly, wear, yield.
  2. Strong's Number: H8199
    There are 182 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁפַט
    Transliteration: shâphaṭ
    Pronunciation: shaw-fat'
    Description: a primitive root; to judge, i.e. pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by extenssion, to govern; passively, to litigate (literally or figuratively); [phrase] avenge, [idiom] that condemn, contend, defend, execute (judgment), (be a) judge(-ment), [idiom] needs, plead, reason, rule.
  3. Strong's Number: H776
    There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֶרֶץ
    Transliteration: ʼerets
    Pronunciation: eh'-rets
    Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.
  4. Strong's Number: H7725
    There are 952 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שׁוּב
    Transliteration: shûwb
    Pronunciation: shoob
    Description: a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again; ((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, [idiom] certainly, come again (back), [idiom] consider, [phrase] continually, convert, deliver (again), [phrase] deny, draw back, fetch home again, [idiom] fro, get (oneself) (back) again, [idiom] give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, [idiom] needs, be past, [idiom] pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, [phrase] say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, [idiom] surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw.
  5. Strong's Number: H1576
    There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: גְּמוּל
    Transliteration: gᵉmûwl
    Pronunciation: ghem-ool'
    Description: from גָּמַל; treatment, i.e. an act (of good or ill); by implication, service or requital; [phrase] as hast served, benefit, desert, deserving, that which he hath given, recompense, reward.
  6. Strong's Number: H1343
    There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: גֵּאֶה
    Transliteration: gêʼeh
    Pronunciation: gay-eh'
    Description: from גָּאָה; lofty; figuratively, arrogant; proud.