The Meaning of Psalms 94:5 Explained

Psalms 94:5

KJV: They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage.

YLT: Thy people, O Jehovah, they bruise, And Thine inheritance they afflict.

Darby: They crush thy people, O Jehovah, and afflict thine inheritance;

ASV: They break in pieces thy people, O Jehovah, And afflict thy heritage.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

They break in pieces  thy people,  O LORD,  and afflict  thine heritage. 

What does Psalms 94:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 94:1-5 - The Lord Who Ruleth Over All
Psalms 93:1-5; Psalms 94:1-5
It is thought that these two psalms date from the Assyrian invasion in Hezekiah's time, and that the psalmist compares the strength of Sennacherib and his hosts to the mighty breakers of the sea. But they well befit all times of anxiety and opposition. It is interesting to remember, also, that these and the six psalms which follow have always been applied by the Jews to the days of the Messiah. Surely, then, we may apply them to our own time.
It is an infinite comfort to know that above and beyond all that distresses and hinders the Church or our individual lives, there exists the great fact of our Lord's sovereignty. This encourages us in conflict and makes us steadfast and unmovable. We can almost hear the dash of successive breakers with foam and fury around the throne of God, which, however, stands without a tremor. The miracle of Jesus in quieting the storm has a symbolic and far-reaching meaning. He is in our hearts, in the world, and in His Church, as it is tossed on the surface of the storm-swept water-"and Jesus rules the waves." He must vindicate the law of righteousness and save His people. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 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

What do the individual words in Psalms 94:5 mean?

Your people Yahweh they break in pieces and Your heritage afflict
עַמְּךָ֣ יְהוָ֣ה יְדַכְּא֑וּ וְֽנַחֲלָתְךָ֥ יְעַנּֽוּ

עַמְּךָ֣  Your  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
יְהוָ֣ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
יְדַכְּא֑וּ  they  break  in  pieces 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: דָּכָא  
Sense: to crush, be crushed, be contrite, be broken.
וְֽנַחֲלָתְךָ֥  and  Your  heritage 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: נַחֲלָה  
Sense: possession, property, inheritance, heritage.
יְעַנּֽוּ  afflict 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: עָנָה 
Sense: (Qal) to be occupied, be busied with.