Psalm 138:6 kjv
Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
Psalm 138:6 nkjv
Though the LORD is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar.
Psalm 138:6 niv
Though the LORD is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar.
Psalm 138:6 esv
For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.
Psalm 138:6 nlt
Though the LORD is great, he cares for the humble,
but he keeps his distance from the proud.
Psalm 138 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 57:15 | For thus says the High and Exalted One Who lives forever... "I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly..." | God's transcendence and dwelling with the humble. |
| Jas 4:6 | "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." | Direct statement on God's posture to humble/proud. |
| 1 Pet 5:5 | ...clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. | Reiterates God's opposition to pride. |
| Prov 3:34 | Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the afflicted. | God's response to different heart postures. |
| Luke 1:52 | He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble. | Magnificat: God reversing fortunes based on humility. |
| Luke 18:14 | "Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted." | Jesus' teaching on humility's reward. |
| Isa 66:2 | "To this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit..." | God's specific regard for the humble. |
| Mic 6:8 | He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God? | Command to walk humbly. |
| Zep 2:3 | Seek the LORD, All you humble of the earth Who have carried out His ordinances... | Call to seek the Lord in humility. |
| Job 5:11 | So that He sets on high those who are lowly, And those who mourn are lifted to safety. | God's uplifting of the lowly. |
| Ps 113:5-6 | Who is like the LORD our God, Who is enthroned on high, Who humbles Himself to behold the things in heaven and on earth? | God's highness yet humility to observe. |
| Ps 113:7-8 | He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the ash heap... | God's elevation of the humble. |
| Prov 16:5 | Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Assuredly, he will not be unpunished. | God's abomination of pride and impending judgment. |
| Prov 8:13 | The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverted mouth, I hate. | God hates pride directly. |
| Prov 15:25 | The LORD will tear down the house of the proud, But He will establish the boundary of the widow. | God's action against the proud, contrasted with care for vulnerable. |
| Dan 4:37 | "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven... for He is able to humble those who walk in pride." | God's power to humble the proud, demonstrated. |
| Obadiah 1:3-4 | The arrogance of your heart has deceived you... Though you build your nest as high as the eagle's... I will bring you down... | God bringing down the proud and arrogant. |
| Jer 49:16 | As for the terror of you, The arrogance of your heart has deceived you... I will bring you down... | God's promise to bring down pride. |
| Isa 2:12 | For the LORD of hosts will have a day of reckoning Against everyone who is proud and lofty And against everyone who is lifted up... | Coming judgment on pride. |
| Ps 10:4 | The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him. All his thoughts are: "There is no God." | Pride associated with not seeking God. |
| Matt 23:12 | "Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted." | Christ's principle of humility and exaltation. |
| Phil 2:8 | ...He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. | Christ as the ultimate example of humility. |
Psalm 138 verses
Psalm 138 6 Meaning
Psalm 138:6 reveals a profound aspect of God's character: despite His supreme exaltation, He actively and intimately engages with those who are humble. Conversely, the proud are recognized by Him but kept at a distance, implying a knowing that leads to judgment or disfavor rather than close communion. This verse establishes a fundamental principle of God's righteous governance, distinguishing between His warm embrace of humility and His active opposition to arrogance.
Psalm 138 6 Context
Psalm 138 is a psalm of thanksgiving by King David, expressing deep gratitude for God's faithfulness and answered prayer. It begins with personal worship before heavenly beings and earthly kings, recognizing God's enduring love and truth. The surrounding verses speak of God's glory, His answering prayer, and His upholding strength in the midst of trouble. Verse 6 directly flows from the acknowledgment of God's universal glory, revealing the specific nature of His interaction with humanity. Historically, earthly rulers were often exalted and might dismiss the lowly. This verse offers a stark contrast, portraying Yahweh as a King who values a contrite spirit above all worldly status, setting a foundational truth for His righteous reign and His response to the heart posture of His people.
Psalm 138 6 Word analysis
"Though the LORD is on high" (
כִּי רָם יְהוָה, ki ram Yahweh):כִּי(ki): "Though," "for," or "indeed." Here, it sets up a concessive clause, emphasizing the surprising nature of the following truth in light of God's elevation.רָם(ram): Hebrew for "high," "exalted," "lofty." It signifies God's absolute transcendence, His dwelling place above all creation, His supreme majesty and authority, reinforcing His unapproachable holiness and power.יְהוָה(Yahweh): The personal, covenant name of God, indicating His faithful and powerful presence. Despite His supreme position, He is intimately involved.
"He regards the lowly" (
וְשָׁפָל יִרְאֶה, ve-shafal yireh):וְשָׁפָל(ve-shafal): "And lowly," "humble," "abased," "depressed" in condition or spirit. It refers to those who are poor, oppressed, meek, or, crucially, possess a humble attitude. This lowliness is not merely social status but a posture of heart: a recognition of one's own limitations and a dependency on God.יִרְאֶה(yireh): "He sees," "He beholds," "He looks upon," "He regards." This word implies more than mere sight; it denotes active attention, consideration, favor, care, and a protective watchfulness. It conveys a personal, intimate engagement.
"But the proud" (
וְגָבֹהַּ, ve-gavoah):וְגָבֹהַּ(ve-gavoah): "And the haughty," "the proud," "the lofty." This directly contrasts shafal. It describes an arrogant attitude, self-sufficiency, self-exaltation, disdain for God, or contempt for others. It represents a spiritual posture of independence from God.
"He knows from afar" (
מִמֶּרְחָק יְיֵדָע, mim-merchak yiyeda):מִמֶּרְחָק(mim-merchak): "From afar," "from a distance." This phrase indicates spatial and, more significantly, relational distance. God's perspective on the proud is not one of close communion or favor.יְיֵדָע(yiyeda): "He knows," "He perceives." While God has absolute knowledge of all things (including the proud),yiyedain this context, coupled with "from afar," signifies a knowing for different purposes. It suggests a non-intimate, observant knowledge that might lead to opposition, judgment, or active non-favor, rather than fellowship. It highlights a conscious non-engagement from a benevolent perspective.
Words-group Analysis (Thematic Contrast):
- "Though the LORD is on high, He regards the lowly" vs. "But the proud He knows from afar": This forms a powerful antithetical parallelism, the hallmark of biblical wisdom literature. It contrasts God's intimate, favorable regard for the humble with His distant, judgmental knowledge of the proud. It showcases a paradox: God, being infinitely high, stoops to commune with the humble but holds the arrogant at arm's length, even though He knows them fully. This structure highlights the foundational principle of divine justice and interaction.
Psalm 138 6 Bonus section
The spiritual "lowliness" favored by God is primarily an inward posture, distinct from mere social or economic status. While it often correlates with material poverty or affliction, its essence lies in recognizing one's smallness before God's greatness, confessing need, and submitting to His will. Pride, on the other hand, is considered the root of much sin, a rebellious spirit that asserts self-sufficiency against God's sovereignty. The active verb "knows" (יְיֵדָע) when applied to God often denotes intimate knowledge and choice; however, when qualified by "from afar" in relation to the proud, it denotes knowledge for a purpose of judgment or separation, rather than for a purpose of blessed relationship. This serves as a critical counter-cultural truth, challenging earthly values that often exalt strength and arrogance while disdaining meekness.
Psalm 138 6 Commentary
Psalm 138:6 presents a profound truth about God's character and His governance of the world. It’s a divine paradox: The Most High God, transcendent and utterly beyond human reach, actively chooses to focus His attentive, favoring gaze upon the humble. This humility is not merely a social status but a posture of the heart that acknowledges dependence on God, demonstrating lowliness of spirit. This principle is fundamental to the entire biblical narrative, showing that closeness with God is not achieved through human achievement or self-exaltation but through recognizing one's place before a sovereign God.
Conversely, the proud, who walk in self-sufficiency and arrogance, are "known from afar" by God. This does not mean God is ignorant of them; rather, His knowledge of them is distinct from His intimate regard for the humble. "From afar" signifies a deliberate, relational distance and non-intimacy, implying divine disapproval and potentially active opposition or impending judgment. While God knows everything, His knowing the proud "from afar" suggests a lack of benevolent fellowship, contrasting sharply with His tender watch over the lowly. This verse offers both comfort to the meek and a solemn warning to the arrogant, defining the essential prerequisite for divine favor: humility before God.