Psalms 73:11
Psalms 73:11 in Multiple Translations
The wicked say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?”
And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
And they say, How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?
And they say, How will the Lord see this? is there knowledge in the Most High?
“God won't find out,” they say. “The Most High doesn't even know what's going on!”
And they say, Howe doeth God know it? or is there knowledge in the most High?
And they have said, 'How hath God known? And is there knowledge in the Most High?'
They say, “How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High?
Why dost thou turn away thy hand: and thy right hand out of the midst of thy bosom for ever?
Wicked people say to themselves, “God will certainly not [RHQ] know what we have done; people say that he is greater than any other god, but he does not know everything.”
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 73:11
BAB
Word Study
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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 73:11 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְֽ/אָמְר֗וּ
אֵיכָ֥ה
יָדַֽע
אֵ֑ל
וְ/יֵ֖שׁ
דֵּעָ֣ה
בְ/עֶלְיֽוֹן
וְֽ/אָמְר֗וּ
ʼâmar
H559
to say
Conj | V-Qal-Perf-3cp
אֵיכָ֥ה
ʼêyk
H349
how?
Part
יָדַֽע
yâdaʻ
H3045
to know
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
אֵ֑ל
ʼêl
H410
god
N-ms
וְ/יֵ֖שׁ
yêsh
H3426
there
Conj | Part
דֵּעָ֣ה
dêʻâh
H1844
knowledge
N-fs
בְ/עֶלְיֽוֹן
ʻelyôwn
H5945
high
Prep | Adj
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 73:11
וְֽ/אָמְר֗וּ
ʼâmar
H559
"to say"
Conj | V-Qal-Perf-3cp
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Definition: 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Usage: Occurs in 4337 OT verses. KJV: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. See also: Genesis 1:3; Genesis 18:23; Genesis 25:32.
אֵיכָ֥ה
ʼêyk
H349
"how?"
Part
In the Bible, this word means 'how' or 'where', like in Genesis when God asks Adam 'where are you'. It's also used to express surprise or excitement.
Definition: interrog adv how?
Usage: Occurs in 74 OT verses. KJV: how, what. See also: Genesis 26:9; Ecclesiastes 2:16; Psalms 11:1.
יָדַֽע
yâdaʻ
H3045
"to know"
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
The Hebrew word for to know means to ascertain by seeing, and is used in many senses, including to learn, perceive, and recognize, as seen in various KJV translations.
Definition: 1) to know 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to know 1a1a) to know, learn to know 1a1b) to perceive 1a1c) to perceive and see, find out and discern 1a1d) to discriminate, distinguish 1a1e) to know by experience 1a1f) to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess 1a1g) to consider 1a2) to know, be acquainted with 1a3) to know (a person carnally) 1a4) to know how, be skilful in 1a5) to have knowledge, be wise 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed 1b2) to make oneself known 1b3) to be perceived 1b4) to be instructed 1c) (Piel) to cause to know 1d) (Poal) to cause to know 1e) (Pual) 1e1) to be known 1e2) known, one known, acquaintance (participle) 1f) (Hiphil) to make known, declare 1g) (Hophal) to be made known 1h) (Hithpael) to make oneself known, reveal oneself Aramaic equivalent: ye.da (יְדַע "to know" H3046)
Usage: Occurs in 874 OT verses. KJV: acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-) norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, [phrase] be learned, [phrase] lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, [idiom] prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), [idiom] will be, wist, wit, wot. See also: Genesis 3:5; Leviticus 5:4; Judges 21:12.
אֵ֑ל
ʼêl
H410
"god"
N-ms
In the Bible, 'el means strength or power, and is often used to refer to God or false gods. It describes something or someone as mighty or powerful, like the Almighty. This concept is central to understanding the Bible's view of God.
Definition: : god 1) god, god-like one, mighty one 1a) mighty men, men of rank, mighty heroes 1b) angels 1c) god, false god, (demons, imaginations) 1d) God, the one true God, Jehovah 2) mighty things in nature 3) strength, power Also means: ": power" (el אֵל H0410L)
Usage: Occurs in 235 OT verses. KJV: God (god), [idiom] goodly, [idiom] great, idol, might(-y one), power, strong. Compare names in '-el.' See also: Genesis 14:18; Job 33:14; Psalms 5:5.
וְ/יֵ֖שׁ
yêsh
H3426
"there"
Conj | Part
This Hebrew word means 'there is' or 'there are', used to show existence or being. It appears in various forms, like 'to be' or 'to have'. In the Bible, it's used in Genesis and Psalms to describe God's presence.
Definition: 1) being, existence, substance, there is or are 1a) substance 1b) existence 1c) there is or are Aramaic equivalent: i.tay (אִיתַי "there is" H0383)
Usage: Occurs in 129 OT verses. KJV: (there) are, (he, it, shall, there, there may, there shall, there should) be, thou do, had, hast, (which) hath, (I, shalt, that) have, (he, it, there) is, substance, it (there) was, (there) were, ye will, thou wilt, wouldest. See also: Genesis 18:24; Nehemiah 5:2; Psalms 7:4.
דֵּעָ֣ה
dêʻâh
H1844
"knowledge"
N-fs
This term refers to knowledge of God, emphasizing a deep understanding of His nature. It highlights the importance of knowing God in a personal way.
Definition: knowledge (of God)
Usage: Occurs in 6 OT verses. KJV: knowledge. See also: 1 Samuel 2:3; Isaiah 11:9; Psalms 73:11.
בְ/עֶלְיֽוֹן
ʻelyôwn
H5945
"high"
Prep | Adj
The Most High, a name for God emphasizing His supreme power and authority. It appears in Psalm 57:2, where David cries out to the Most High God for help, showing trust in God's power. This name highlights God's lofty position above all things.
Definition: adj 1) high, upper 1a) of Davidic king exalted above monarchs
Usage: Occurs in 53 OT verses. KJV: (Most, on) high(-er, -est), upper(-most). See also: Genesis 14:18; Psalms 47:3; Psalms 7:18.
Study Notes — Psalms 73:11
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 73:11 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 73:11
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 73:11
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 73:11
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 73:11
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 73:11
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 73:11
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 73:11
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 73:11
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 73:11
- Sermons on Psalms 73:11
Context — Surely God Is Good to Israel
9They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongues strut across the earth.
10So their people return to this place and drink up waters in abundance.
11The wicked say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?”
12Behold, these are the wicked— always carefree as they increase their wealth. 13Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure; in innocence I have washed my hands.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hosea 7:2 | But they fail to consider in their hearts that I remember all their evil. Now their deeds are all around them; they are before My face. |
| 2 | Zephaniah 1:12 | And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish the men settled in complacency, who say to themselves, ‘The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.’ |
| 3 | Job 22:13–14 | Yet you say: ‘What does God know? Does He judge through thick darkness? Thick clouds veil Him so He does not see us as He traverses the vault of heaven. ’ |
| 4 | Psalms 94:7 | They say, “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob pays no heed.” |
| 5 | Psalms 44:21 | would not God have discovered, since He knows the secrets of the heart? |
| 6 | Psalms 139:1–6 | O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down; You are aware of all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, O LORD. You hem me in behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. |
| 7 | Psalms 73:9 | They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongues strut across the earth. |
| 8 | Psalms 10:11 | He says to himself, “God has forgotten; He hides His face and never sees.” |
| 9 | Ezekiel 8:12 | “Son of man,” He said to me, “do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? For they are saying, ‘The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land.’” |
Psalms 73:11 Summary
[Psalms 73:11 shows us that the wicked often doubt God's knowledge and involvement in the world, thinking they can act without consequences. However, as Romans 1:20 reminds us, God's existence and nature are clearly seen in creation, and we are all accountable to Him. We must trust in God's sovereignty and knowledge, even when we do not see immediate justice or judgment, and remember that He is a God of patience and mercy, as seen in 2 Peter 3:9.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the attitude of the wicked in Psalms 73:11?
The wicked express doubt about God's knowledge and involvement in the world, questioning His ability to know their actions, as seen in Psalms 73:11, which is similar to the mindset of those in Psalms 14:1 who say 'there is no God'
Why do the wicked think God does not have knowledge?
The wicked think God does not have knowledge because they do not see immediate judgment for their sins, as mentioned in Ecclesiastes 8:11, which can lead them to believe they can act with impunity
Is the idea that God does not know our actions a new concept?
No, the idea that God does not know our actions is not new, as seen in Job 22:13, where the wicked say 'How can God judge through the thick darkness?'
What is the result of the wicked's attitude towards God's knowledge?
The result of the wicked's attitude towards God's knowledge is that they become more bold in their sin, as seen in Psalms 73:12, where they are 'always carefree as they increase their wealth'
Reflection Questions
- What are some times when I have doubted God's knowledge or involvement in my life, and how did I respond?
- How does the idea that God is all-knowing and all-seeing impact my daily decisions and actions?
- In what ways can I cultivate a deeper trust in God's sovereignty and knowledge, even when I do not see immediate justice or judgment?
- How can I balance the reality of God's patience and mercy with the truth of His justice and judgment, as seen in 2 Peter 3:9 and Romans 2:5-6?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 73:11
And they say, how doth God know?.... Owning there is a God, but questioning his knowledge; for the words are not an inquiry about the way and manner of his knowing things; which is not by the senses,
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 73:11
And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? And they say, How doth God know?
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 73:11
They; either, 1. The godly. Or rather, 2. Those wicked ones, whose words and actions he hath been hitherto describing, or the people confederate with them. For these and such-like opinions are oft ascribed to the wicked in Scripture, but never, as far as I know; to any good man. And Job, though he used many intemperate speeches, and though some such expressions as this were charged upon him by his friends, as , yet he utterly disowned them. Is there knowledge in the Most High? seeing these cursed and impudent blasphemers of God, and enemies of all goodness, are crowned with so many blessings, how is it credible that there is a God who sees and orders the affairs of this lower world? for if God did know these things, certainly he neither could nor would suffer them to be thus managed.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 73:11
Psalms 73:11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?Ver. 11. And they say, How doth God know?] Even the godly, through infirmity, are drawn sometimes to doubt God’ s providence and government, because of the inequality of events in human affairs. It had like to have cost the psalmist here a fall, and made him almost cast off all care of religion. Basil, also, was in some doubt of the Divine providence, under the heat of the Arian persecution. For hath the Lord utterly forsaken his Churches? saith he; is it now the last hour? In the next age Salvian (for the satisfaction of some good people) was forced to write eight books, De gubernatione Dei, et de iusto praesentique eius Iudicio, of God’ s governing the world, and the righteousness of his proceedings. Upon a like occasion Austin wrote those twenty-two most excellent and elaborate books, De Civitate Dei.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 73:11
(11-14) The mutual relation of these verses has been the subject of many conflicting opinions. The following is the arrangement that seems preferable— “And people say, How shall God know? And does the Most High take notice of it? Lo! there are wicked men, And yet, always at ease, they amass riches. It is in vain then that I have kept my heart pure. And washed my hands in innocence; For I have been plagued every day, And my punishments (come) every morning.” —this reflection being put into the mouth of the public who are onlookers at the career of these timeservers. But the poet immediately goes on to disclaim it for himself.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 73:11
Verse 11. They say, How doth God know?] My people are so stumbled with the prosperity of the wicked, that they are ready in their temptation to say, "Surely, God cannot know these things, or he would never dispense his favours thus." Others consider these words as the saying of the wicked: "We may oppress these people as we please, and live as we list; God knows nothing about it."
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 73:11
11. The speakers in this verse are not ‘the wicked,’ but the deluded mass of their followers described in Psalms 73:10. They adopt the language of their leaders, and question God’s knowledge of their doings in particular, and even His omniscience in general. Cp. Psalms 10:4; Psalms 10:11; Psalms 10:13. The names of God—El, the Mighty One, ‘Elyôn, the Supreme Ruler of the Universe—are chosen so as to accentuate the blasphemy of their scepticism.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 73:11
And they say - His people say. The connection demands this interpretation. The meaning is, that his people, as they return again and again to this subject Psalms 73:10, are constrained to put this question.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 73:11
11. They say, How doth God know—If these words are supposed to be spoken by God’s people they simply express their wonder, not how God should know, but how his certain knowledge of these outrageous
Sermons on Psalms 73:11
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Discipline and Blessing Part 1 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the desperate times we are living in and the need for people to turn to God. He highlights the serious social and moral problems we are faci |
|
Who Sees Us? Who Will Know? by Thomas Brooks | Thomas Brooks addresses the prevalence of atheism in the hearts of sinners, illustrating how various forms of idolatry replace God in their lives, such as wealth, pleasure, and amb |
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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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Human Heedlessness and Divine Remembrance. by Horatius Bonar | Horatius Bonar emphasizes the gravity of human sin and the certainty of God's remembrance of it, as illustrated in Hosea 7:2. He explains that sin is not merely a mistake or misfor |
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Bible Survey - Zephaniah by Peter Hammond | Peter Hammond preaches on the prophet Zephaniah, who delivered prophecies during the reign of King Josiah, calling for repentance and seeking righteousness and humility. Zephaniah' |
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The Message of Zephaniah by G. Campbell Morgan | G. Campbell Morgan emphasizes the significance of 'the day of the Lord' as revealed in Zephaniah, highlighting God's direct and supernatural judgment upon sin, particularly luxury |
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Exposition on Psalm 44 by St. Augustine | St. Augustine preaches on Psalm 43, highlighting the connection between the suffering of the Martyrs and the Passion of Christ, emphasizing the endurance and faith of believers ami |