Psalm 10:11 kjv
He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.
Psalm 10:11 nkjv
He has said in his heart, "God has forgotten; He hides His face; He will never see."
Psalm 10:11 niv
He says to himself, "God will never notice; he covers his face and never sees."
Psalm 10:11 esv
He says in his heart, "God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it."
Psalm 10:11 nlt
The wicked think, "God isn't watching us!
He has closed his eyes and won't even see what we do!"
Psalm 10 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| God's Omniscience/All-Seeing Nature | ||
| Gen 16:13 | So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, "You are a God who sees." | God sees and knows us. |
| 2 Chr 16:9 | For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth... | God is actively observing all actions. |
| Job 34:21 | For His eyes are on the ways of a man, And He sees all his steps. | God's constant observation of human conduct. |
| Psa 33:13-15 | The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men... | God surveys all humanity. |
| Prov 15:3 | The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good. | God's constant watchfulness over morality. |
| Jer 23:24 | Can anyone hide himself in secret places, So I shall not see him? | God's omnipresence and inability to be hidden from. |
| Zec 4:10 | For these seven are the eyes of the Lord, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth. | Symbolic representation of God's watchfulness. |
| Heb 4:13 | And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open... | Nothing can be concealed from God. |
| Wicked's Delusion/Denial of God's Awareness | ||
| Psa 14:1 | The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." | General denial of God's existence and authority. |
| Psa 53:1 | The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." | Repeats the foolish rejection of God. |
| Psa 73:11 | And they say, "How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?" | The wicked questioning God's awareness. |
| Isa 29:15 | Woe to those who seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord... | Those who attempt to deceive God. |
| Ezek 8:12 | Then He said to me, "Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the room of his idols? For they say, 'The Lord does not see us; the Lord has forsaken the land.'" | Similar sentiment of God's unawareness. |
| Ezek 9:9 | Then He said to me, "The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great, and the land is full of bloodshed, and the city full of perversity; for they say, 'The Lord has forsaken the land, and the Lord does not see.'" | The people rationalize their sin by denying God's sight. |
| Zeph 1:12 | And it shall come to pass at that time that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and punish the men who are settled in their dregs, who say in their heart, 'The Lord will not do good, Nor will He do evil.' | Indifference to God's judgment, denial of His active role. |
| God Does Not Forget | ||
| Isa 49:15-16 | "Can a woman forget her nursing child... Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands..." | God's steadfast memory and remembrance. |
| Mal 3:16 | Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, And the Lord listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him... | God keeps a record, not forgetting His people or deeds. |
| Consequences for Such Denial/God's Judgment | ||
| Rom 2:2-3 | But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things... | God's righteous judgment against unrighteousness. |
| Eccl 12:14 | For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing... | All deeds, hidden or open, will face judgment. |
| 2 Tim 4:1 | I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom... | Affirmation of Christ's role as judge. |
Psalm 10 verses
Psalm 10 11 Meaning
Psalm 10:11 captures the self-deceptive rationale of the wicked man, who presumes God is oblivious or indifferent to his actions. In his corrupted inner being, he confidently asserts that God has forgotten the evil deeds, turned away His divine gaze, and will never truly observe or intervene in the wrongdoing. This internal conviction fuels his boldness and apparent impunity in sin.
Psalm 10 11 Context
Psalm 10 portrays the unbridled arrogance and oppressiveness of the wicked. It opens with the Psalmist's lament about God's seeming distance amidst the rampant evil. The wicked man is depicted as a hunter preying on the poor and helpless (v. 2-10). Verse 11 reveals the core theological misconception of the wicked that empowers their malicious deeds. They operate under the profound delusion that God is either oblivious, uncaring, or has withdrawn from the world, thereby ensuring their immunity from divine retribution. This internal thought-process is pivotal as it underpins their behavior, providing a psychological and spiritual justification for their unrighteousness. The Psalm then moves from describing the wicked to appealing to God for intervention, trusting in God's ultimate justice despite present appearances. Historically, such sentiments would have been common among those in power who exploited the vulnerable, dismissing the traditional Israelite belief in a just and observant Yahweh.
Psalm 10 11 Word analysis
- He says: (Hebrew: אָמַר, 'āmar) This is not merely a passing thought but a deeply rooted conviction or settled declaration within oneself. It implies an active embrace of this belief as truth, rather than a fleeting doubt. It highlights the internal conversation and justification the wicked engage in.
- in his heart: (Hebrew: בְּלִבּוֹ, belibbow) The "heart" in Hebrew anthropology signifies not just emotions, but the seat of intellect, will, decision, and the inner moral core. Thus, this conviction is deeply embedded in the wicked man's entire being, shaping his actions and worldview. It shows a fundamental corruption of the inner person.
- God has forgotten: (Hebrew: שָׁכַח אֵל, shākhaḥ 'ēl) This phrase expresses the wicked's belief that God is no longer aware or paying attention to their evil deeds. 'Ēl is a general term for deity, implying a cosmic forgetfulness. This is a direct challenge to God's attribute of omniscience and His active governance of the world.
- He has hidden His face: (Hebrew: הִסְתִּיר פָּנָיו, histīr pānāw) "Hiding the face" of God often denotes divine displeasure or a withdrawal of His presence or favor. However, in the context of the wicked, they interpret God's perceived non-intervention not as a test or consequence, but as a deliberate act of concealment, making Him unable to see their transgressions. This undermines God's omnipresence and constant vigilance.
- He will never see it: (Hebrew: לֹא יִרְאֶה לָנֶצַח, lō' yir'eh lānetzaḥ) This is a powerful, absolute negation. 'Lānetzaḥ' means "forever" or "eternally." The wicked man assures himself that God will permanently remain blind to his actions. This statement reflects ultimate hubris and self-delusion, confidently asserting their immunity from divine judgment and denying God's attribute of perfect perception and sovereign intervention.
Psalm 10 11 Bonus section
The profound self-deception exhibited by the wicked in Psalm 10:11 is not merely an intellectual mistake but a moral and spiritual one. This denial of God's omniscience and omnipresence functions as a key psychological mechanism for silencing conscience and justifying wickedness. It demonstrates that hardened hearts invent theological rationalizations to sustain their chosen sinful paths. This theme echoes throughout the scriptures, indicating that those who refuse to acknowledge God's truth often end up fabricating their own distorted reality where God is absent, impotent, or irrelevant to their lives. Their perceived "freedom" from God's sight ironically enslaves them further to their own destructive desires. The Psalmist, in subsequent verses, then implicitly prays against this delusion, asking God to demonstrate His presence and His seeing eye through intervention and justice.
Psalm 10 11 Commentary
Psalm 10:11 provides a crucial insight into the deceptive mindset of those who oppose God and oppress others. It reveals that the core of the wicked's impunity lies in their profound theological error: the denial of God's active involvement, awareness, and eventual judgment. This is not mere agnosticism, but an active, willful conviction within their innermost being. By convincing themselves that God "forgets," "hides His face," and "will never see," they dismantle any moral accountability to a higher power, freeing themselves to pursue their selfish and cruel desires without restraint. This inner monologue is a form of self-blinding, a judicial hardening of the heart that suppresses truth. The verse starkly contrasts the reality of an all-seeing, all-knowing God with the distorted perception of the ungodly, highlighting that their actions flow from a deep-seated spiritual rebellion that distorts God's very character. For instance, a corrupt official might rationalize bribery by believing "God doesn't really care about this minor stuff" or "He's busy with bigger things." A gossiper might think, "My words aren't really harming anyone, and God won't notice my hidden thoughts."