Psalms 94:6
Psalms 94:6 in Multiple Translations
They kill the widow and the foreigner; they murder the fatherless.
They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.
They slay the widow and the sojourner, And murder the fatherless.
They put to death the widow and the guest, they take the lives of children who have no father;
They kill widows and foreigners; they murder orphans.
They slay the widowe and the stranger, and murder the fatherlesse.
Widow and sojourner they slay, And fatherless ones they murder.
They kill the widow and the alien, and murder the fatherless.
They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.
Come let us adore and fall down: and weep before the Lord that made us.
They murder widows and orphans and people from other countries who think it is safe to live in our land.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 94:6
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 94:6 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
אַ֭לְמָנָה
וְ/גֵ֣ר
יַהֲרֹ֑גוּ
וִֽ/יתוֹמִ֣ים
יְרַצֵּֽחוּ
אַ֭לְמָנָה
ʼalmânâh
H490
widow
N-fs
וְ/גֵ֣ר
gêr
H1616
sojourner
Conj | N-ms
יַהֲרֹ֑גוּ
hârag
H2026
to kill
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
וִֽ/יתוֹמִ֣ים
yâthôwm
H3490
orphan
Conj | N-mp
יְרַצֵּֽחוּ
râtsach
H7523
to murder
V-Piel-Imperf-3mp
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 94:6
אַ֭לְמָנָה
ʼalmânâh
H490
"widow"
N-fs
A widow is a woman whose husband has died, often left alone and vulnerable. The Bible teaches care and compassion for widows, as seen in the stories of Ruth and Naomi. God commands his people to look out for them.
Definition: widow
Usage: Occurs in 54 OT verses. KJV: desolate house (palace), widow. See also: Genesis 38:11; Job 29:13; Psalms 68:6.
וְ/גֵ֣ר
gêr
H1616
"sojourner"
Conj | N-ms
A sojourner is a foreigner or temporary resident, lacking inherited rights, but often given concessions in Israel. This term appears in the Bible to describe outsiders living among God's people.
Definition: 1) sojourner 1a) a temporary inhabitant, a newcomer lacking inherited rights 1b) of foreigners in Israel, though conceded rights
Usage: Occurs in 83 OT verses. KJV: alien, sojourner, stranger. See also: Genesis 15:13; Deuteronomy 10:19; Psalms 39:13.
יַהֲרֹ֑גוּ
hârag
H2026
"to kill"
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
To kill or slay with intent, as seen in the Bible when God instructs the Israelites to destroy certain nations. This word is used in various forms, including to murder or destroy. It appears in books like Exodus and Deuteronomy.
Definition: 1) to kill, slay, murder, destroy, murderer, slayer, out of hand 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to kill, slay 1a2) to destroy, ruin 1b) (Niphal) to be killed 1c) (Pual) to be killed, be slain
Usage: Occurs in 158 OT verses. KJV: destroy, out of hand, kill, murder(-er), put to (death), make (slaughter), slay(-er), [idiom] surely. See also: Genesis 4:8; 2 Kings 8:12; Psalms 10:8.
וִֽ/יתוֹמִ֣ים
yâthôwm
H3490
"orphan"
Conj | N-mp
This Hebrew word refers to an orphan or a child without a father, like in Exodus where God commands the Israelites to care for the fatherless.
Definition: an orphan, fatherless
Usage: Occurs in 42 OT verses. KJV: fatherless (child), orphan. See also: Exodus 22:21; Psalms 10:18; Psalms 10:14.
יְרַצֵּֽחוּ
râtsach
H7523
"to murder"
V-Piel-Imperf-3mp
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to murder or kill someone, like Cain killing Abel in Genesis. It emphasizes the intentional act of taking a human life. This word is about premeditated killing.
Definition: 1) to murder, slay, kill 1a)(Qal) to murder, slay 1a1) premeditated 1a2) accidental 1a3) as avenger 1a4) slayer (intentional) (participle) 1b) (Niphal) to be slain 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to murder, assassinate 1c2) murderer, assassin (participle) (subst) 1d) (Pual) to be killed
Usage: Occurs in 40 OT verses. KJV: put to death, kill, (man-) slay(-er), murder(-er). See also: Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 22:26; Psalms 62:4.
Study Notes — Psalms 94:6
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 94:6 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 94:6
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 94:6
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 94:6
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 94:6
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 94:6
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 94:6
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 94:6
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 94:6
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 94:6
- Sermons on Psalms 94:6
Context — The LORD Will Not Forget His People
4They pour out arrogant words; all workers of iniquity boast.
5They crush Your people, O LORD; they oppress Your heritage.
6They kill the widow and the foreigner; they murder the fatherless.
7They say, “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob pays no heed.” 8Take notice, O senseless among the people! O fools, when will you be wise?Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 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. |
| 2 | 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. |
| 3 | 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, |
| 4 | 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. |
| 5 | 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. |
| 6 | Isaiah 13:15–18 | Whoever is caught will be stabbed, and whoever is captured will die by the sword. Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes, their houses will be looted, and their wives will be ravished. Behold, I will stir up against them the Medes, who have no regard for silver and no desire for gold. Their bows will dash young men to pieces; they will have no mercy on the fruit of the womb; they will not look with pity on the children. |
Psalms 94:6 Summary
Psalms 94:6 tells us that it's very wrong to hurt people who can't defend themselves, like widows, foreigners, and children who don't have parents. The Bible says that God loves and cares for these people, and He wants us to love and care for them too (as seen in James 1:27 and Exodus 22:22). We can show God's love by being kind and helping those in need, and by standing up for what's right, even if it's hard. By doing so, we can reflect God's heart for the marginalized and demonstrate our trust in His sovereignty, as seen in Romans 12:19.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the Bible emphasize the importance of caring for widows, foreigners, and fatherless children?
The Bible teaches that God has a special concern for the vulnerable and marginalized, as seen in Psalms 94:6 and Exodus 22:22, and commands believers to care for them, as in James 1:27.
What is the significance of the phrase 'they murder the fatherless' in Psalms 94:6?
This phrase highlights the severity of the wickedness being described, as taking the life of a defenseless child is a grave sin, and is condemned by God in Exodus 1:17 and Proverbs 24:23.
How can we, as believers, apply the principles of Psalms 94:6 to our own lives?
We can apply these principles by actively seeking to care for and protect the vulnerable, such as volunteering at local organizations that support widows, orphans, and immigrants, as exemplified in Isaiah 1:17 and Matthew 25:31-46.
What does the Bible say about the punishment for those who harm the vulnerable?
The Bible teaches that God will ultimately bring justice to those who harm the vulnerable, as seen in Psalms 94:23 and Proverbs 21:15, and exhorts believers to trust in God's sovereignty and justice, as in Romans 12:19.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways I can demonstrate God's love and care to the vulnerable in my community, such as widows, foreigners, and fatherless children?
- How can I ensure that my actions and attitudes reflect God's heart for the marginalized, as described in Psalms 94:6 and other scriptures?
- What are some specific prayers I can pray for those who are being oppressed or harmed, and how can I intercede on their behalf?
- In what ways can I partner with local organizations or churches to care for the vulnerable, and how can I use my resources to make a positive impact?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 94:6
They slay the widow and the stranger,.... Who are so both in a literal and figurative sense, such who are weak and feeble, helpless and friendless; or who are deprived of their faithful pastors, who
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 94:6
They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless. They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 94:6
Whom common humanity obliged them to spare, and pity, and relieve.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 94:6
Psalms 94:6 They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.Ver. 6. They slay the widow and the stranger] Those sacred persons, thy proper clients; to such a height of hard heartedness are they grown, that they pity not them whom nature and courtesy would show compassion to. Nulla fides, pietasque viris qui castra sequuntur. Let us bless ourselves out of the bloody fingers of barbarous and brutish men, skilful to destroy.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 94:6
(6) Stranger.—The mention of the stranger as one friendless and helpless (Exodus 22:21), under the tyranny of the great, seems to imply that domestic, and not foreign oppression, is the grievance.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 94:6
Verse 6. They slay the widow] Nebuchadnezzar carried on his wars with great cruelty. He carried fire and sword every where; spared neither age, sex, nor condition. The widow, the orphan, and the stranger, persons in the most desolate condition of life, were not distinguished from others by his ruthless sword.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 94:6
6. A proverbial expression for inhumanity and treachery. They do not scruple to murder the most defenceless, and those whose lives, by the traditions of Semitic hospitality, should have been inviolable. “From the earliest times of Semitic life the lawlessness of the desert … has been tempered by the principle that the guest is inviolable.… To harm a guest, or to refuse him hospitality, is an offence against honour, which covers the perpetrator with indelible shame.” Robertson Smith, Rel. of Semites, p. 76. Cp. Exodus 22:21-22; Psalms 10:14; Malachi 3:5.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 94:6
They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless - To do this is everywhere represented as a special crime, and as especially offensive to God from the fact that these classes are naturally feeble and unprotected.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 94:6
6. They slay the widow… stranger… fatherless—Proving that the laws of war and of humanity are set aside. Non-combatants—innocent helpless ones—are murdered. It is a massacre, not a war.
Sermons on Psalms 94:6
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Practical Atheism, in Denying the Agency of Divine Providence, Exposed by Samuel Davies | Samuel Davies preaches about the prevalence of practical atheism in denying the agency of divine providence, exposing the consequences of settling on one's own understanding and ne |
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Pharisees Take Advantage of Poor People by Zac Poonen | Zac Poonen delivers a powerful message on the exploitation of widows by the Pharisees, highlighting how they deceived and took advantage of vulnerable individuals for their own gai |
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God Changeth Not by Joshua Daniel | In this sermon, Joshua Daniel discusses the need for a revival of faith and a return to God's unchanging truth. He emphasizes that while God and the gospel remain constant, it is o |
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I Am the God That Changeth Not by Joshua Daniel | In this sermon, Joshua Daniel emphasizes the importance of recognizing our accountability to God. He warns that without the blessing of God and the guidance of His Word, we are los |
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A Cry Against Wicked Youth! by David Wilkerson | David Wilkerson delivers a powerful sermon titled 'A Cry Against Wicked Youth!' where he draws parallels between the wickedness of Nineveh and the moral decline of modern youth. He |
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Righteousness in the Old Testament by Art Katz | Art Katz explores the concept of righteousness in the Old Testament, emphasizing that it is fundamentally about fulfilling the demands of relationships, particularly with God and t |
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Righteousness Exalts a Nation by Thomas Brooks | Thomas Brooks emphasizes that righteousness is the true foundation for a nation's greatness, contrasting it with the futility of wealth, military power, and political strategy. He |