Psalm 17 8

Psalm 17:8 kjv

Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

Psalm 17:8 nkjv

Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,

Psalm 17:8 niv

Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings

Psalm 17:8 esv

Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings,

Psalm 17:8 nlt

Guard me as you would guard your own eyes.
Hide me in the shadow of your wings.

Psalm 17 verses

Psalm 17 8 Meaning

Psalm 17:8 is a heartfelt prayer by David, seeking God's profound and vigilant protection. It appeals to the Lord to guard him with the utmost care, similar to how one protects the most sensitive part of the eye, and to provide complete refuge under His encompassing and shielding presence, like a bird shelters its young under its wings. This verse expresses a deep trust in God's ability and willingness to preserve His servant from danger.

Psalm 17 8 Context

Psalm 17 is a personal prayer of David, a psalm of complaint and petition (tefillah). He pleads with God for justice and deliverance from his adversaries, who are described as cruel, powerful, and numerous (vv. 9-12). David asserts his innocence before God (vv. 1-5), claiming his path has been kept by divine help. In verse 8, he moves from justifying himself to pleading for active divine intervention and protection. The psalm ends with David's confidence that he will be vindicated and see God's face in righteousness (v. 15), satisfied when he awakes in God's likeness. Historically, this prayer is often associated with David's periods of persecution, either by Saul or Absalom, highlighting his profound dependence on God when faced with imminent danger and injustice.

Psalm 17 8 Word analysis

• Keep me (שָׁמְרֵנִי - sham'reini): This is an imperative verb from the root shamar, meaning "to guard," "watch," "preserve," or "keep vigil over." It's a plea for diligent, active, and continuous protection, implying an immediate need for intervention and a sense of vulnerability without divine aid. The "me" is the direct object suffix.
• as the apple of your eye (כְּאִישׁוֹן בַּת־עָיִן - k'ishon bat-ayin): This is a vivid, profound metaphor.
  • כְּ (k') means "as" or "like," a comparative particle.
  • אִישׁוֹן (ishon) literally means "little man" or "manikin." It refers to the pupil of the eye, so called because one sees a small reflection of oneself in it. This tiny, dark spot is critical for sight and exquisitely sensitive to touch.
  • בַּת־עָיִן (bat-ayin) means "daughter of the eye." This is an idiom referring to the pupil, emphasizing its delicate nature as if it were a beloved child of the eye itself.
  • Together, this phrase highlights that God's desired care for David is:
    • Utterly precious: Something of immense value, non-replaceable.
    • Exceedingly sensitive: Demanding the highest level of caution and gentleness.
    • Constantly guarded: Always protected by instinct, reflexes (like blinking), and careful actions.
    • Central and vital: Without which life, or in this case, a relationship with God, would be gravely impaired.
• hide me (תַּסְתִּירֵנִי - tastireini): This verb is in the Hifil stem from the root satar, meaning "to hide" or "to conceal." The Hifil suggests "to cause to be hidden" or "to make inaccessible to view," implying a decisive, protective act by God that completely conceals David from his enemies. The suffix נִי (ni) indicates "me."
• in the shadow of your wings (בְּצֵל כְּנָפֶיךָ - b'tzel k'nafecha): This is another powerful and ancient metaphor for protection and refuge.
  • בְּ (b') means "in" or "under."
  • צֵל (tzel) means "shadow" or "shade." In the hot, arid ancient Near East, shade was a literal source of protection and relief. Figuratively, it denotes shelter, covering, and defense from oppressive forces.
  • כְּנָפֶיךָ (k'nafecha) means "your wings." This imagery typically draws from the natural world (birds sheltering their young from predators or storms) or the sanctuary (the wings of the cherubim over the Ark of the Covenant, representing God's manifest presence and protective holiness).
  • This phrase speaks to:
    • Tender, nurturing care: Like a mother bird providing warmth and safety.
    • Complete and accessible refuge: An immediate, pervasive covering from danger.
    • Divine power: The vast wings suggest a powerful being fully capable of defense.
    • Covenant presence: For Israel, also recalling the cherubim, indicating sacred, inviolable protection from God's holy dwelling.

Psalm 17 8 Bonus section

The intensely personal plea in Psalm 17:8—sham'reini (keep me) and tastireini (hide me)—underscores the individual relationship David has with God. This is not a request for generic protection but a plea for bespoke, tailor-made divine care directed precisely at him. This reflects a foundational tenet of biblical faith: that God is intimately involved in the lives of individual believers.

Furthermore, the juxtaposed metaphors, the "apple of the eye" (a delicate, sensitive spot that reflexively closes at danger) and the "shadow of wings" (an overarching, secure cover that keeps all harm away), present a complete spectrum of protection. One emphasizes intimate, moment-by-moment guarding against the slightest harm, while the other highlights a broad, powerful, and comprehensive shelter against overwhelming dangers. Together, they leave no space for doubt about the totality and efficacy of God's intended protection.

The theological implication is profound: God sees, values, and defends His children with an unparalleled level of commitment and tenderness, actively concealing them from the world's threats under His sovereign power, and keeping them close as His most precious possession. This aligns with New Testament teachings on believers being co-heirs with Christ and "God's own people," cherished and guarded by the Spirit for salvation.

Psalm 17 8 Commentary

Psalm 17:8 is a cry of profound spiritual dependence, articulated through two highly intimate and evocative metaphors for divine protection. David, facing overwhelming external threats, does not pray for mere survival but for God's personal, intense, and comprehensive safeguarding.

The petition "Keep me as the apple of your eye" reflects an understanding of God's deep affection and meticulous care for His own. Just as the pupil is the most vulnerable and essential part of the eye, deserving of the utmost, instinctual protection, so David desires to be guarded by God's direct and unwavering vigilance. This metaphor is not only about safeguarding but also about God's special, cherished relationship with those who trust Him, considering them infinitely precious. It points to God's tender yet fiercely protective nature, instantly reacting to preserve what is dearest to Him.

Complementing this, "hide me in the shadow of your wings" speaks to a complete envelopment and inaccessible sanctuary. This imagery draws from a nurturing parent bird, spreading its wings to cover its vulnerable brood, shielding them from harm. It conveys warmth, security, and an impenetrable haven. Within the Old Testament, the "shadow of wings" also resonates with the cherubim overshadowing the Ark of the Covenant, signifying the immediate and potent presence of God's holy protection. To be hidden in the shadow of His wings means to be brought under His omnipotent authority and covered by His manifest glory, where no enemy can penetrate or harm.

Together, these metaphors paint a picture of God's protection as both acutely personal and immensely powerful. It is not distant oversight but an active, intimate involvement in the life of the supplicant, guarding the beloved and sheltering the vulnerable with perfect love and strength. This prayer ultimately showcases a believer's faith in God as the ultimate Guardian and a secure Refuge against all adversities, finding ultimate safety and peace solely in Him.

Practical Usage:

• When facing personal attacks or false accusations, pray this verse for God's protective vindication.
• In moments of deep vulnerability or fear, utter this verse as an affirmation of God's caring presence and secure refuge.
• For parents, pray this for your children, asking God to protect them with the same intense care.