Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 94:10
He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, [shall not he know]?
10. He that instructeth the nations, shall not he rebuke?] The word rendered chastiseth in A.V. includes the ideas of instruction, admonition, discipline, chastisement (LXX , Vulg. qui corripit, Jer. qui erudit). That rendered correct means to reprove, rebuke, call to account, punish (Psa 50:21). This noteworthy passage stands almost by itself in the O.T. in its explicit assertion that there is a divine education of the nations, analogous to the divine education of Israel (Deu 8:5, &c.), an education which must involve fatherly correction and chastisement (Pro 3:12). It anticipates the teaching of St Paul in Rom 1:20; Rom 2:14-15. Yet long before this, Amos had implicitly taught that a measure of moral knowledge is possessed by the heathen, for the right use of which they are responsible (Amos 1, 2). Cp. also Psa 65:2, and the general purport of the Book of Jonah.
he that teacheth &c.] We expect a question such as A.V. supplies, to complete the sentence, shall not he know? But instead of putting the question the poet breaks off abruptly, and substitutes the comprehensive affirmation of Psa 94:11. It is prosaic to render as R.V., “even he that teacheth &c.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
He that chastiseth the heathen – More literally, Shall not the Reprover of nations – shall he not chastise – he that teaches man knowledge? The idea is, that God exercises a government over the nations of the earth; that he has them under his control; that he brings heavy judgments on them; that he thus conveys great lessons to man. And shall not such a Being, in individual cases, reprove and correct for sin? It is assumed here that God, in fact, brings judgments on nations; that he does this by fire, flood, famine, pestilence; that these things are proofs that he presides over the nations of the earth; and the question here is, whether he that does this on the large scale must not be expected to do it in individual cases, so that the offender will not escape.
Shall not he correct? – Shall he not chastise, or bring judgments on offenders?
He that teacheth man knowledge … – The idea in our translation, that he who imparts knowledge to mankind must himself possess intelligence, is a true one, but it is probably not that which is in the original. The sense is probably merely that God is the great Teacher, and this is the impression which it is intended should be impressed on the mind, leaving the consequences of this to be supplied by the reader: He that teaches man all the knowledge that he has! – reflect on the consequences of this, or what must follow from this! Such a Being cannot be ignorant; he must understand all things; he must, therefore, see human conduct everywhere as it is. The consequence – the result – of this is staffed in the next verse, that he must see the thoughts of man, and understand his real character.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 10. He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct?] YOU, who are heathens, and heathens of the most abandoned kind.
He that teacheth man knowledge] We here supply shall not he know? But this is not acknowledged by the original, nor by any of the Versions. Indeed it is not necessary; for either the words contain a simple proposition, “It is he who teacheth man knowledge,” or this clause should be read in connexion with Ps 94:11: “Jehovah, who teacheth man knowledge, knoweth the devices of man, that they are vanity.” As he teaches knowledge to man, must he not know all the reasonings and devices of the human heart?
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? He who, when he pleaseth, can and doth punish the Gentiles or nations of the world, is he not able to punish you for your wicked speeches and actions? Or, He that instructeth or teacheth (as this word signifies, Pro 9:7; Isa 8:11, &c.) the nations, (not only the Jews, but all other people, all mankind, as this clause is explained by the next, he that teacheth man knowledge.) shall not he correct or reprove? and therefore must not he discern and know all your hard speeches and wicked actions? Thus the consequent seems to be put for the antecedent, as is frequent in Scripture, and that not without emphasis, to imply that God does not know their sins with a simple or speculative knowledge, but so as to proceed upon that knowledge to judge and punish them.
He that teacheth man knowledge, by giving him understanding, and the knowledge of many excellent things by the light of nature, shall not he know? to wit, mens thoughts, of which see Psa 94:11; and their words and actions, of which he spoke Psa 94:6,7. These words are not in the Hebrew text, but are easily understood out of the foregoing clause. And the like defects we find elsewhere, as 2Sa 5:8, compared with 1Ch 11:6, especially in vehement commotions of the mind, when a mans passion stops his speech, as it is here, and Psa 6:3, and in other authors.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
He that chastiseth the Heathen,…. As he did the old world, by bringing a flood upon it, and sweeping away its inhabitants at once; and Sodom and Gomorrah, by raining fire and brimstone upon them, and consuming them from off the earth; and the old inhabitants of Canaan, by ejecting them out of their land for their abominations, with other similar instances:
shall he not correct? such audacious wretches, guilty of such atrocious crimes, such horrid murders, and gross atheism? certainly he will, as he has both a right and power to do it. The Targum is,
“is it possible that he should give the law to his people, and, when they have sinned, should they not be corrected?”
and if these are corrected and chastised, then surely such daring and insolent wretches shall not go unpunished: or, “he that instructeth the Heathen” d; by the light of nature in things civil and moral, and therefore has a right to punish such who act contrary to it; see Ro 2:12,
he that teacheth man knowledge; that has given him the light of nature; inspired him with reason and understanding; taught him more than the beasts of the field, and made him wiser than the fowls of the heaven; from whom he has the knowledge of all arts and sciences, liberal and mechanic, those of the lower as well as of the higher class; see Joh 1:9. The Targum is,
“has not the Lord taught the first man knowledge?”
that more perfect knowledge of things, which Adam had in innocence, was from the Lord; and therefore,
shall not he know? all persons and things? verily he does; he is a God of knowledge, of all knowledge; his knowledge and understanding is infinite; it reaches to all persons, and to all their thoughts, words, and actions: this clause is not in the Hebrew text; but is understood, and rightly supplied; see 2Sa 5:8, compared with 1Ch 11:6.
d “an erudiens gentes”, Cocceius.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
10. He that chastiseth the nations, shall not he correct? He would have them argue from the greater to the less, that if God did not spare even whole nations, but visits their iniquity with punishment, they could not imagine that he would suffer a mere handful of individuals to escape with impunity. The comparison intended, however, may possibly be between the Gentiles and the Jews. If God punished the heathen nations, who had not heard his word, with much severity, the Jews might expect that they, who had been familiarised to instruction in his house, would receive still sharper correction, and that he would vindicate his justice most in that nation over which he had chosen to preside. Still the former sense of the passage appears to me preferable, That it is folly in any number of individuals to flatter themselves with impunity, when they see God inflicting public punishment upon collective people. Some think there is an exclusive allusion to the signal and memorable instances of Divine judgment recorded in Scripture, as in the destruction of Sodom with fire from heaven, (Gen 19:0.) and of the whole human family by the flood, (Gen 7:0.) But the simpler meaning is best, That it were the height of madness in individuals to think that they could escape when nations perish. In adding that God teacheth men knowledge, (22) the Psalmist glances at the overweening confidence of such as despise God, and pride themselves in their acuteness and shrewdness, as we find Isaiah denouncing a woe against those crafty enemies of God who dig deep, that they may hide themselves from his sight, (Isa 29:15.) It is a disease prevalent enough in the world still. We know the refuges under covert of which both courtiers and lawyers take occasion to indulge in shameless mockery of God. (23) It is as if the Psalmist had said — You think to elude God through the confidence which you have in your acute understandings, and would pretend to dispute the knowledge of the Almighty, when, in truth, all the knowledge which is in the world is but as a drop from his own inexhaustible fullness.
(22) In our English Bible, the words shall not he know ? are added. “But this is not acknowledged by the original nor by any of the versions. Indeed it is not necessary; for, either the words contain a simple proposition, ‘It is he who teacheth man knowledge;’ or this clause should be read in connection with verse 11, ‘Jehovah, who teacheth man knowledge, he knoweth the devices of man, that they are vanity.’ As he teaches knowledge to man, must He not know all the reasonings and devices of the human heart?” — Dr Adam Clarke.
(23) “ Mais nous voyons avec quelles couvertures tant les courtisans que les gens de justice obscurcissent leurs entendemens afin que sans aucune vergongne ils osent bien se moquer de Dieu.” — Fr.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(10) He that chastiseth.Or, He who instructeth. The thought to some extent anticipates St. Pauls teaching about the divine education of the heathen, in Romans 1.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
10. He that chastiseth the heathen That is, It is admitted by you Hebrews that God chastiseth the nations for their idolatry, and shall he not correct his own people also for the same sin?
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 94:10. He that chastiseth the heathen, &c. Or, He who instructs the nations, he who teacheth man knowledge, shall not he rebuke? Mudge renders this and the following verse thus: He that instructeth the nations, shall not he find them out? He that teacheth man knowledge, (Psa 94:11.) The Lord knoweth the devices of man, &c. “He who instructeth the nations, and supplieth them with all the knowledge they have, can he want means of discovering what they are about, and of finding them out? Will not he be able to trace them out in all their machinations? Yes; he that teacheth man knowledge, knoweth, &c.”
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Psa 94:10 He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, [shall not he know]?
Ver. 10. He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? ] Qui totis gentibus non parcit, vos non redarguet? He that punisheth profane nations that know him not, shall he spare you? Amo 3:2 . Shall not tribulation and anguish be upon the Jew first? Rom 2:9 . The Chaldee thus paraphraseth, He that gave a law to his people, shall he not punish them when they transgress it?
He that teacheth man knowledge
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
heathen = nations.
man. Hebrew. ‘adam, App-14.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
chastiseth: Psa 9:5, Psa 10:16, Psa 44:2, Psa 135:8-12, Psa 149:7, Isa 10:12, Isa 37:36, Jer 10:25, Eze 39:21
he correct: Isa 10:5, Isa 10:6, Amo 3:2, Hab 1:12, Hab 3:12
teacheth man: Psa 25:8, Psa 25:9, Psa 119:66, Job 35:11, Pro 2:6, Isa 2:3, Isa 28:26, Isa 54:13, Joh 6:45
Reciprocal: Job 36:22 – who Psa 94:22 – But Eze 35:12 – I have heard Rev 3:19 – many
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 94:10. He that chastiseth Or, He that instructeth, or teacheth, or reproveth (as the word , jasar, often signifies, and is rendered Pro 9:7; Isa 8:11, &c.) the heathen, the Gentiles, or nations of the world: not only the Jews, but all other people, all mankind, as the next clause explains it; shall not he correct? He who, when he pleases, can and does punish the nations of the world, is he not able to punish you for your wicked speeches and actions? Or, He that reproveth, and therefore discerneth their evil words and works, shall he not discern and reprove yours, who sin against greater light, and more privileges and advantages, and whose sins therefore are more aggravated? He that teacheth man knowledge That giveth him understanding, and the knowledge of many excellent things by the light of nature; shall not he know Namely, mens thoughts, as in the next verse, and of consequence their whole conduct? These words are not in the Hebrew text, but are easily understood out of the foregoing clause. The meaning of the verse, in substance, is, He that instructeth the nations, and supplieth them with all the knowledge they have, can he want means of discovering what they are contriving and doing, or of finding them out? Will not he be able to trace them out in all their machinations? Or, as Dr. Horne paraphraseth the words, It is God who hath instructed the world, by his revelations, in religious knowledge, and, consequently, without all doubt, he cannot be ignorant of the use and abuse which men make of that unspeakable gift.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
94:10 He that chastiseth the {g} heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, [shall not he know]?
(g) If God punishes whole nations for their sins, it is mere folly for any one man or else a few to think that God will spare them.