Psalm 94:21
New International Version
The wicked band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.

New Living Translation
They gang up against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.

English Standard Version
They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.

Berean Standard Bible
They band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.

King James Bible
They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.

New King James Version
They gather together against the life of the righteous, And condemn innocent blood.

New American Standard Bible
They band themselves together against the life of the righteous And condemn the innocent to death.

NASB 1995
They band themselves together against the life of the righteous And condemn the innocent to death.

NASB 1977
They band themselves together against the life of the righteous, And condemn the innocent to death.

Legacy Standard Bible
They band themselves together against the life of the righteous And condemn the innocent to death.

Amplified Bible
They band themselves together against the life of the righteous And condemn the innocent to death.

Christian Standard Bible
They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.

American Standard Version
They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, And condemn the innocent blood.

Contemporary English Version
who gang up to murder innocent victims.

English Revised Version
They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They join forces to take the lives of righteous people. They condemn innocent people to death.

Good News Translation
who plot against good people and sentence the innocent to death.

International Standard Version
They gather together against the righteous, condemning the innocent to death.

Majority Standard Bible
They band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.

NET Bible
They conspire against the blameless, and condemn to death the innocent.

New Heart English Bible
They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.

Webster's Bible Translation
They assemble themselves against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.

World English Bible
They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
They decree against the soul of the righteous, "" And declare innocent blood wicked.

Young's Literal Translation
They decree against the soul of the righteous, And innocent blood declare wicked.

Smith's Literal Translation
They shall break in upon the soul of the just one, and they shall condemn innocent blood.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
They will hunt after the soul of the just, and will condemn innocent blood.

Catholic Public Domain Version
They will hunt down the soul of the just, and they will condemn innocent blood.

New American Bible
Those who conspire against the just and condemn the innocent to death?

New Revised Standard Version
They band together against the life of the righteous, and condemn the innocent to death.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
They lay snares to trap the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they lay wait to trap the soul of the righteous and they condemn the blood of the innocent!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, And condemn innocent blood.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
They will hunt for the soul of the righteous, and condemn innocent blood.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The LORD Will Not Forget His People
20Can a corrupt throne be Your ally—one devising mischief by decree? 21They band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. 22But the LORD has been my stronghold, and my God is my rock of refuge.…

Cross References
Isaiah 59:4-8
No one calls for justice; no one pleads his case honestly. They rely on empty pleas; they tell lies; they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity. / They hatch the eggs of vipers and weave a spider’s web. Whoever eats their eggs will die; crack one open, and a viper is hatched. / Their cobwebs cannot be made into clothing, and they cannot cover themselves with their works. Their deeds are sinful deeds, and acts of violence are in their hands. ...

Micah 7:3
Both hands are skilled at evil; the prince and the judge demand a bribe. When the powerful utters his evil desire, they all conspire together.

Proverbs 17:15
Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous—both are detestable to the LORD.

Isaiah 10:1-2
Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and issue oppressive decrees, / 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.

Habakkuk 1:4
Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.

Jeremiah 5:26-28
For among My people are wicked men; they watch like fowlers lying in wait; they set a trap to catch men. / Like cages full of birds, so their houses are full of deceit. Therefore they have become powerful and rich. / They have grown fat and sleek, and have excelled in the deeds of the wicked. They have not taken up the cause of the fatherless, that they might prosper; nor have they defended the rights of the needy.

Amos 5:12
For I know that your transgressions are many and your sins are numerous. You oppress the righteous by taking bribes; you deprive the poor of justice in the gate.

Exodus 23:7
Stay far away from a false accusation. Do not kill the innocent or the just, for I will not acquit the guilty.

Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: / haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, / a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, ...

Isaiah 5:23
who acquit the guilty for a bribe and deprive the innocent of justice.

Matthew 23:28
In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

Luke 11:39-42
Then the Lord said, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. / You fools! Did not the One who made the outside make the inside as well? / But give as alms the things that are within you, and behold, everything will be clean for you. ...

Matthew 27:1
When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people conspired against Jesus to put Him to death.

Acts 7:52
Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers—

John 11:53
So from that day on they plotted to kill Him.


Treasury of Scripture

They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.

gather

Psalm 2:1-3
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? …

Psalm 22:16
For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

Psalm 59:3
For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.

condemn

Exodus 23:7
Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.

1 Kings 21:19
And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.

Proverbs 17:15
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.

Jump to Previous
Assemble Band Banded Blood Condemn Death Decisions Declare Decree Gather Innocent Life Righteous Soul Themselves Together Upright Wicked Wrong
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Assemble Band Banded Blood Condemn Death Decisions Declare Decree Gather Innocent Life Righteous Soul Themselves Together Upright Wicked Wrong
Psalm 94
1. The prophet, calling for justice, complains of tyranny and impiety.
8. He teaches God's providence
12. He shows the blessedness of affliction
16. God is the defender of the afflicted.














They band together against the righteous
This phrase highlights the collective opposition faced by the righteous, often seen throughout biblical history. The righteous, those who live according to God's laws, frequently encounter resistance from those who oppose divine principles. This opposition can be seen in the story of Daniel, who faced conspiracies from his peers (Daniel 6:4-9). The phrase also reflects the broader theme of spiritual warfare, where forces of evil unite against God's people. In the New Testament, Jesus warned His followers of persecution (John 15:18-20), indicating that such opposition is a recurring challenge for believers.

and condemn the innocent to death.
This part of the verse underscores the grave injustice faced by the innocent, a theme prevalent in both the Old and New Testaments. The condemnation of the innocent is a direct violation of God's justice, as seen in the wrongful execution of Naboth (1 Kings 21) and the trial of Jesus Christ, who was sinless yet condemned to death (Matthew 27:24-26). This phrase also points to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, the innocent Lamb of God, who was condemned to bring salvation to humanity (Isaiah 53:7-8). The cultural context of ancient Israel, where legal systems were often manipulated by the powerful, further illustrates the vulnerability of the innocent. This verse serves as a reminder of God's ultimate justice and the hope of vindication for the righteous.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Righteous
Refers to those who live according to God's laws and seek to follow His will. In the context of the Psalms, the righteous are often those who are oppressed or persecuted by the wicked.

2. The Wicked
Those who oppose God's ways and often seek to harm the righteous. In this verse, they are described as banding together to carry out injustice.

3. The Innocent
Individuals who are blameless or without guilt, yet find themselves condemned by the wicked. This can be seen as a reference to those who suffer unjustly.

4. The Psalmist
Traditionally attributed to David, the psalmist often speaks from a place of personal experience with persecution and injustice.

5. The Assembly of the Wicked
This refers to the collective group of those who plot against the righteous, highlighting the organized nature of their opposition.
Teaching Points
The Reality of Persecution
Believers should not be surprised by opposition or persecution. The Bible consistently teaches that the righteous will face challenges from the wicked.

God's Justice Prevails
While the wicked may seem to triumph temporarily, God's justice will ultimately prevail. Believers can find comfort in knowing that God sees and will act.

Stand Firm in Righteousness
In the face of opposition, Christians are called to stand firm in their faith and continue to live righteously, trusting in God's protection and vindication.

The Power of Unity
Just as the wicked band together, believers are encouraged to unite in prayer, support, and encouragement to withstand trials.

The Call to Intercede
Christians are called to pray for those who are persecuted and to seek justice for the innocent, reflecting God's heart for righteousness.(21) They gather--i.e., possibly, They crowd into the courts of law to take part in the unjust condemnation of the just, or more generally, "They attack the life of the righteous." LXX., "they hunt." (Comp. Psalm 35:15.)

Verse 21. - They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood (comp. 2 Kings 21:16; 2 Kings 24:4; Psalm 10:8; Proverbs 6:17; Isaiah 1:21; Isaiah 59:3, 7; Jeremiah 7:6; Jeremiah 22:3, 17, etc.). A Messianic allusion is possible, but not necessary.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
They band together
יָ֭גוֹדּוּ (yā·ḡō·w·dū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1413: To crowd, to gash

against
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the righteous
צַדִּ֑יק (ṣad·dîq)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6662: Just, righteous

and condemn
יַרְשִֽׁיעוּ׃ (yar·šî·‘ū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7561: To be, wrong, to disturb, violate

the innocent
נָקִ֣י (nā·qî)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 5355: Clean, free from, exempt

to death.
וְדָ֖ם (wə·ḏām)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1818: Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed


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OT Poetry: Psalm 94:21 They gather themselves together against the soul (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 94:20
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