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Psalms 17:8

New American Standard Bible (NASB ©1995) [2]
— Keep me as the apple of the eye; Hide me in the shadow of Your wings
King James Version (KJV 1769) [2]
— Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
English Revised Version (ERV 1885)
— Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
American Standard Version (ASV 1901) [2]
— Keep me as the apple of the eye; Hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
Webster's Revision of the KJB (WEB 1833)
— Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shade of thy wings.
Darby's Translation (DBY 1890)
— Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
Rotherham's Emphasized Bible (EBR 1902)
— Guard me, as the pupil of the eye,—Under the shadow of thy wings, wilt thou hide me:
Young's Literal Translation (YLT 1898)
— Keep me as the apple, the daughter of the eye; In shadow of Thy wings thou dost hide me.
Douay-Rheims Challoner Revision (DR 1750)
— From them that resist thy right hand keep me, as the apple of thy eye. Protect me under the shadow of thy wings.
Geneva Bible (GNV 1560)
— Keepe me as the apple of the eye: hide me vnder the shadowe of thy wings,
Original King James Bible (AV 1611) [2]
— Keepe me as the apple of the eye: hide mee vnder the shadowe of thy wings,
Lamsa Bible (1957)
— Keep me as the apple of the eye; protect me under the shadow of thy wings,
Brenton Greek Septuagint (LXX, Restored Names)
— Keep me as the apple of the eye from those that resist thy right hand: thou shalt screen me by the covering of thy wings,
Full Hebrew Names / Holy Name KJV (2008) [2] [3]
— Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

Strong's Numbers & Hebrew NamesHebrew Old TestamentColor-Code/Key Word Studies
Keep 8104
{8104} Prime
שָׁמַר
shamar
{shaw-mar'}
A primitive root; properly to hedge about (as with thorns), that is, guard; generally to protect, attend to, etc.
z8798
<8798> Grammar
Stem - Qal (See H8851)
Mood - Imperative (See H8810)
Count - 2847
me as the apple 380
{0380} Prime
אִישׁוֹן
'iyshown
{ee-shone'}
Diminutive from H0376; the little man of the eye; the pupil or ball; hence the middle (of night).
x1323
(1323) Complement
בַּת
bath
{bath}
From H1129 (as feminine of H1121); a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively).
of the eye, 5869
{5869} Prime
עַיִן
`ayin
{ah'-yin}
Probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy a fountain (as the eye of the landscape).
y1323
[1323] Standard
בַּת
bath
{bath}
From H1129 (as feminine of H1121); a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively).
hide 5641
{5641} Prime
סָתַר
cathar
{saw-thar'}
A primitive root; to hide (by covering), literally or figuratively.
z8686
<8686> Grammar
Stem - Hiphil (See H8818)
Mood - Imperfect (See H8811)
Count - 4046
me under the shadow 6738
{6738} Prime
צֵל
tsel
{tsale}
From H6751; shade, whether literally or figuratively.
of thy wings, 3671
{3671} Prime
כָּנָף
kanaph
{kaw-nawf'}
From H3670; an edge or extremity; specifically (of a bird or army) a wing, (of a garment or bed clothing) a flap, (of the earth) a quarter, (of a building) a pinnacle.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary

Psalms 17:8

_ _ Similar figures, denoting the preciousness of God’s people in His sight, in Deuteronomy 32:10, Deuteronomy 32:11; Matthew 23:37.

Matthew Henry's Commentary

Psalms 17:8-15

_ _ We may observe, in these verses,

_ _ I. What David prays for. Being compassed about with enemies that sought his life, he prays to God to preserve him safely through all their attempts against him, to the crown to which he was anointed. This prayer is both a prediction of the preservation of Christ through all the hardships and difficulties of his humiliation, to the glories and joys of his exalted state, and a pattern to Christians to commit the keeping of their souls to God, trusting him to preserve them to his heavenly kingdom. He prays,

_ _ 1. That he himself might be protected (Psalms 17:8): “Keep me safe, hide me close, where I may not be found, where I may not be come at. Deliver my soul, not only my mortal life from death, but my immortal spirit from sin.” Those who put themselves under God's protection may in faith implore the benefit of it.

_ _ (1.) He prays that God would keep him, [1.] With as much care as a man keeps the apple of his eye with, which nature has wonderfully fenced and teaches us to guard. If we keep God's law as the apple of our eye (Proverbs 7:2), we may expect that God will so keep us; for it is said concerning his people that whoso touches them touches the apple of his eye, Zechariah 2:8. [2.] With as much tenderness as the hen gathers her young ones under her wings with; Christ uses the similitude, Matthew 23:37. “Hide me under the shadow of thy wings, where I may be both safe and warm.” Or, perhaps, it rather alludes to the wings of the cherubim shadowing the mercy-seat: “Let me be taken under the protection of that glorious grace which is peculiar to God's Israel.” What David here prays for was performed to the Son of David, our Lord Jesus, of whom it is said (Isaiah 49:2) that God hid him in the shadow of his hand, hid him as a polished shaft in his quiver.

_ _ (2.) David further prays, “Lord, keep me from the wicked, from men of the world,” [1.] “From being, and doing, like them, from walking in their counsel, and standing in their way, and eating of their dainties.” [2.] “From being destroyed and run down by them. Let them not have their will against me; let them not triumph over me.”

_ _ 2. That all the designs of his enemies to bring his either into sin or into trouble might be defeated (Psalms 17:13): “Arise, O Lord! appear for me, disappoint him, and cast him down in his own eyes by the disappointment.” While Saul persecuted David, how often did he miss his prey, when he thought he had him sure! And how were Christ's enemies disappointed by his resurrection, who thought they had gained their point when they had put him to death!

_ _ II. What he pleads for the encouraging of his own faith in these petitions, and his hope of speeding. He pleads,

_ _ 1. The malice and wickedness of his enemies: “They are such as are not fit to be countenanced, such as, if I be not delivered from them by the special care of God himself, will be my ruin. Lord, see what wicked men those are that oppress me, and waste me, and run me down.” (1.) “They are very spiteful and malicious; they are my deadly enemies, that thirst after my blood, my heart's blood — enemies against the soul,” so the word is. David's enemies did what they could to drive him to sin and drive him away from God; they bade him go serve other gods (1 Samuel 26:19), and therefore he had reason to pray against them. Note, Those are our worst enemies, and we ought so to account them, that are enemies to our souls. (2.) “They are very secure and sensual, insolent and haughty (Psalms 17:10): They are enclosed in their own fat, wrap themselves, hug themselves, in their own honour, and power, and plenty, and then make light of God, and set his judgments at defiance, Psalms 73:7; Job 15:27. They wallow in pleasure, and promise themselves that tomorrow shall be as this day. And therefore with their mouth they speak proudly, glorying in themselves, blaspheming God, trampling upon his people, and insulting them.” See Revelation 13:5, Revelation 13:6. “Lord, are not such men as these fit to be mortified and humbled, and made to know themselves? Will it not be for thy glory to look upon these proud men and abase them?” (3.) “They are restless and unwearied in their attempts against me: They compass me about, Psalms 17:9. They have now in a manner gained their point; they have surrounded us, they have compassed us in our steps, they track us wherever we go, follow us as close as the hound does the hare, and take all advantages against us, being both too many and too quick for us. And yet they pretend to look another way, and set their eyes bowing down to the earth, as if they were meditating, retired into themselves, and thinking of something else;” or (as some think), “They are watchful and intent upon it, to do us a mischief; they are down-looked, and never let slip any opportunity of compassing their design.” (4.) “The ringleader of them (that was Saul) is in a special manner bloody and barbarous, politic and projecting (Psalms 17:12), like a lion that lives by prey and is therefore greedy of it.” It is as much the meat and drink of a wicked man to do mischief as it is of a good man to do good. He is like a young lion lurking in secret places, disguising his cruel designs. This is fitly applied to Saul, who sought David on the rocks of the wild goats (1 Samuel 24:2) and in the wilderness of Ziph (Psalms 26:2), where lions used to lurk for their prey.

_ _ 2. The power God had over them, to control and restrain them. He pleads, (1.) “Lord, they are thy sword; and will any father suffer his sword to be drawn against his own children?” As this is a reason why we should patiently bear the injuries of men, that they are but the instruments of the trouble (it comes originally from God, to whose will we are bound to submit), so it is an encouragement to us to hope both that their wrath shall praise him and that the remainder thereof he will restrain, that they are God's sword, which he can manage as he pleases, which cannot move without him, and which he will sheathe when he has done his work with it. (2.) “They are thy hand, by which thou dost chastise thy people and make them feel thy displeasure.” He therefore expects deliverance from God's hand because from God's hand the trouble came. Una eademque manus vulnus opemque tulitThe same hand wounds and heals. There is no flying from God's hand but by flying to it. It is very comfortable, when we are in fear of the power of man, to see it dependent upon and in subjection to the power of God; see Isaiah 10:6, Isaiah 10:7, Isaiah 10:15.

_ _ 3. Their outward prosperity (Psalms 17:14): “Lord, appear against them, for,” (1.) “They are entirely devoted to the world, and care not for thee and thy favour. They are men of the world, actuated by the spirit of the world, walking according to the course of this world, in love with the wealth and pleasure of this world, eager in the pursuits of it (making them their business) and at ease in the enjoyments of it — making them their bliss. They have their portion in this life; they look upon the good things of this world as the best things, and sufficient to make them happy, and they choose them accordingly, place their felicity in them, and aim at them as their chief good; they rest satisfied with them, their souls take their ease in them, and they look no further, nor are in any care to provide for another life. These things are their consolation (Luke 6:24), their good things (Luke 16:25), their reward (Matthew 6:5), the penny they agreed for, Matthew 20:13. Now, Lord, shall men of this character be supported and countenanced against those who honour thee by preferring thy favour before all the wealth in this world, and taking thee for their portion?” Psalms 16:5. (2.) They have abundance of the world. [1.] They have enlarged appetites, and a great deal wherewith to satisfy them: Their bellies thou fillest with thy hidden treasures. The things of this world are called treasures, because they are so accounted; otherwise, to a soul, and in comparison with eternal blessings, they are but trash. They are hidden in the several parts of the creation, and hidden in the sovereign disposals of Providence. They are God's hidden treasures, for the earth is his and the fulness thereof, though the men of the world think it is their own and forget God's property in it. Those that fare deliciously every day have their bellies filled with these hidden treasures; and they will but fill the belly (1 Corinthians 6:13); they will not fill the soul; they are not bread for that, nor can they satisfy, Isaiah 55:2. They are husks, and ashes, and wind; and yet most men, having no care for their souls, but all for their bellies, take up with them. [2.] They have numerous families, and a great deal to leave to them: They are full of children, and yet their pasture is not overstocked; they have enough for them all, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes, to their grand-children; and this is their heaven, it is their bliss, it is their all. “Lord,” said David, “deliver me from them; let me not have my portion with them. Deliver me from their designs against me; for, they having so much wealth and power, I am not able to deal with them unless the Lord be on my side.”

_ _ 4. He pleads his own dependence upon God as his portion and happiness. “They have their portion in this life, but as for me (Psalms 17:15) I am none of them, I have but little of the world. Nec habeo, nec careo, nec curoI neither have, nor need, nor care for it. It is the vision and fruition of God that I place my happiness in; that is it I hope for, and comfort myself with the hopes of, and thereby distinguish myself from those who have their portion in this life.” Beholding God's face with satisfaction may be considered, (1.) As our duty and comfort in this world. We must in righteousness (clothed with Christ's righteousness, having a good heart and a good life) by faith behold God's face and set him always before us, must entertain ourselves from day to day with the contemplation of the beauty of the Lord; and, when we awake every morning, we must be satisfied with his likeness set before us in his word, and with his likeness stamped upon us by his renewing grace. Our experience of God's favour to us, and our conformity to him, should yield us more satisfaction than those have whose belly is filled with the delights of sense. 2. As our recompence and happiness in the other world. With the prospect of that he concluded the foregoing psalm, and so this. That happiness is prepared and designed only for the righteous that are justified and sanctified. They shall be put in possession of it when they awake, when the soul awakes, at death, out of its slumber in the body, and when the body awakes, at the resurrection, out of its slumber in the grave. That blessedness will consist in three things: — [1.] The immediate vision of God and his glory: I shall behold thy face, not, as in this world, through a glass darkly. The knowledge of God will there be perfected and the enlarged intellect filled with it. [2.] The participation of his likeness. Our holiness will there be perfect. This results from the former (1 John 3:2): When he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. [3.] A complete and full satisfaction resulting from all this: I shall be satisfied, abundantly satisfied with it. There is no satisfaction for a soul but in God, and in his face and likeness, his good-will towards us and his good work in us; and even that satisfaction will not be perfect till we come to heaven.

John Wesley's Explanatory Notes

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Geneva Bible Translation Notes

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Cross-Reference Topical ResearchStrong's Concordance
apple:

Deuteronomy 32:10 He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.
Proverbs 7:2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.
Zechariah 2:8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.

hide:

Psalms 36:7 How excellent [is] thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
Psalms 57:1 [[To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave.]] Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until [these] calamities be overpast.
Psalms 61:4 I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.
Psalms 63:7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
Psalms 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalms 91:4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth [shall be thy] shield and buckler.
Ruth 2:12 The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [thou] that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under [her] wings, and ye would not!
Luke 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen [doth gather] her brood under [her] wings, and ye would not!
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Chain-Reference Bible SearchCross References with Concordance

Dt 32:10. Ru 2:12. Ps 36:7; 57:1; 61:4; 63:7; 91:1, 4. Pv 7:2. Zc 2:8. Mt 23:37. Lk 13:34.

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