Read Verse Keyword Strong's
Prev

Psalms 94:20

Next

Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?

Shall the throne {H3678} of iniquity {H1942} have fellowship {H2266}{H8792)} with thee, which frameth {H3335}{H8802)} mischief {H5999} by a law {H2706}?

Can unjust judges be allied with you, those producing wrong in the name of law?

Can a corrupt throne be Your ally— one devising mischief by decree?

Shall the throne of wickedness have fellowship with thee, Which frameth mischief by statute?

Commentary

Psalms 94:20 presents a powerful rhetorical question, asserting the absolute incompatibility between God's righteous character and any form of institutionalized injustice. The psalmist, crying out for divine intervention against oppressors, highlights the abhorrent nature of rulers or systems that not only commit evil but also use the very framework of law to legitimize their wicked deeds.

Context

Psalm 94 is a fervent plea to God, the ultimate Judge, for justice against the wicked who oppress the innocent. The psalmist laments the apparent triumph and impunity of those who exploit the vulnerable (verse 5). Amidst this cry, verse 20 serves as a direct challenge to the notion that God could ever be in league with or condone such evil. It underscores the psalmist's deep conviction that God's nature demands opposition to wickedness, especially when it is cloaked in legality.

Key Themes

  • Divine Righteousness and Justice: The verse emphatically declares God's holy and just nature. His character is utterly opposed to all forms of evil, making fellowship with injustice an impossibility. This aligns with the broader biblical truth that God is just and without iniquity.
  • The Insidious Nature of Institutionalized Evil: The phrase "throne of iniquity" speaks to corrupt authority, while "frameth mischief by a law" describes the most dangerous form of injustice: wickedness that is systematized, legalized, and enforced under the guise of legitimate governance. This is more insidious than individual acts of sin because it perverts the very instruments meant to uphold order and justice.
  • God's Separation from Iniquity: The rhetorical question demands a resounding "No!" God cannot have "fellowship" or partnership with injustice. His purity is such that He "cannot look on iniquity" (Habakkuk 1:13), especially when it is an established system.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase for "throne of iniquity" is kisse' awen (כִּסֵּא אָוֶן), which literally means "seat of wickedness" or "throne of trouble/mischief." This emphasizes the authoritative and systemic nature of the corruption. The second part, "which frameth mischief by a law," translates from yotser 'amal 'ale-choq (יוֹצֵר עָמָל עָלֵי חֹק). Yotser means "to form" or "to fashion," akin to a potter. 'Amal refers to "toil," "trouble," or "misery." And choq denotes a "statute" or "decree." Thus, it vividly paints a picture of rulers deliberately crafting laws that produce suffering and injustice, using legal frameworks to oppress.

Practical Application

Psalms 94:20 serves as a crucial reminder for believers and societies alike:

  • Discernment and Opposition: We are called to discern and stand against systems, policies, or laws that are fundamentally unjust, even if legally enacted. God's people should never passively accept "legalized mischief."
  • Hope in Divine Judgment: This verse provides comfort and hope that God will ultimately judge all forms of injustice, especially that which is institutionalized. No "throne of iniquity" can ultimately stand in fellowship with the Almighty.
  • Call to Righteous Governance: It implicitly calls for leaders to uphold righteousness and justice, recognizing that their authority is meant to reflect God's character, not to pervert it. As Proverbs 16:12 states, "the throne is established by righteousness."
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 10:1 (9 votes)

    ¶ Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness [which] they have prescribed;

  • Psalms 58:2 (9 votes)

    Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.

  • Ecclesiastes 3:16 (6 votes)

    ¶ And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, [that] wickedness [was] there; and the place of righteousness, [that] iniquity [was] there.

  • John 11:57 (6 votes)

    Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew [it], that they might take him.

  • Revelation 13:15 (6 votes)

    And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

  • Revelation 13:17 (6 votes)

    And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

  • Daniel 6:7 (5 votes)

    All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.