Psalm 94:11 kjv
The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
Psalm 94:11 nkjv
The LORD knows the thoughts of man, That they are futile.
Psalm 94:11 niv
The LORD knows all human plans; he knows that they are futile.
Psalm 94:11 esv
the LORD ? knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath.
Psalm 94:11 nlt
The LORD knows people's thoughts;
he knows they are worthless!
Psalm 94 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Job 42:2 | I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. | God's unthwartable purpose contrasted with man's. |
| Ps 33:10 | The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans... | God nullifies human schemes. |
| Ps 33:11 | The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations. | Divine plans are eternal. |
| Ps 139:2 | You know my sitting down and my rising up; you understand my thoughts afar off. | God's omniscience over thoughts. |
| Ps 147:5 | Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. | God's boundless understanding. |
| Prov 15:3 | The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. | God observes all things, including thoughts. |
| Prov 19:21 | Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. | Human plans are subject to divine will. |
| Prov 21:30 | No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD. | Futility of human opposition to God. |
| Isa 55:8-9 | For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD... | God's thoughts transcend human thoughts. |
| Jer 17:10 | “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways...” | God probes the inner man for judgment. |
| Dan 2:28 | there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. | God alone reveals the future; man's limited knowledge. |
| Mal 3:16 | Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them... | God listens to the thoughts of the faithful. |
| Lk 16:15 | He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts.” | God discerns inner motives despite outward appearance. |
| 1 Cor 1:19 | For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” | God renders human wisdom useless. |
| 1 Cor 3:19-20 | For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” | Direct New Testament echo of Ps 94:11. |
| Rom 8:27 | And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints... | God knows the mind and thoughts of all. |
| Heb 4:12-13 | For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword... discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. | God's word exposes internal human state. |
| 1 Jn 3:20 | For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. | God's all-encompassing knowledge. |
| Rev 2:23 | I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart... | God's omniscience as basis for judgment. |
Psalm 94 verses
Psalm 94 11 Meaning
Psalm 94:11 proclaims God's perfect and comprehensive knowledge of human thoughts. It asserts that all the inner musings, plans, and intentions of humankind, when considered apart from God, are ultimately transient, vain, and unproductive. God sees and understands the deepest recesses of the human mind, discerning the true emptiness of intentions that do not align with His eternal purposes.
Psalm 94 11 Context
Psalm 94 is a fervent prayer and a prophetic warning addressed to God regarding the pervasive injustice inflicted by the wicked within Israel. The psalmist calls upon the "God of vengeance" to arise and judge those who oppress the righteous, scoffing that "the LORD does not see" and "the God of Jacob does not perceive" (Ps 94:7). Against this backdrop of arrogant disregard for divine oversight, verse 11 stands as a powerful counter-assertion. It dismantles the false security of oppressors by declaring God's absolute omniscience. Historically and culturally, a common pagan belief or a self-deceptive comfort was that deities were distant or uninterested in human affairs, especially hidden wrongs. This psalm, therefore, delivers a direct polemic, affirming Yahweh's active and comprehensive awareness of every human intention, even those kept secret. This understanding sets the stage for His inevitable, righteous judgment, ensuring that no hidden evil escapes His notice.
Psalm 94 11 Word analysis
- The LORD (יהוה - YHWH): The covenant name of God, indicating His sovereign, personal, and eternal nature. It signifies His absolute authority and unchanging character as the one true God, distinct from any idols or limited deities. His knowledge is inherent to His divine being.
- knows (יודע - yodêa‘): A verb implying a complete and intimate understanding, not mere awareness. It denotes profound comprehension and full apprehension, suggesting active insight into the nature, purpose, and potential outcome of what is known. God’s knowledge is perfect and exhaustive.
- the thoughts (מחשבות - maḥšěvôṯ): Refers to inner deliberations, plans, intentions, schemes, or designs of the mind. It encompasses mental activities ranging from fleeting ideas to well-formed strategies. These are not merely superficial ideas but the deep-seated workings of the human heart.
- of man (אדם - ’āḏām): Used generically for humanity, humankind, or mankind. It refers to people collectively, emphasizing the common human condition rather than specific individuals, indicating that this truth applies to all human beings.
- that they are (כי הם - kî hēm): "That" introduces the substance of what is known about these thoughts. "They" refers back to "thoughts," affirming this characteristic belongs inherently to them.
- futile (הבל - hevel): A key term meaning vanity, breath, vapor, meaninglessness, or emptiness. It implies transience, unsubstantiality, and ultimate worthlessness when detached from God's eternal purposes. This word powerfully connects to the book of Ecclesiastes, where "hevel" (vanity) summarizes all human endeavors under the sun apart from God.
Words-group analysis:
- The LORD knows: This phrase emphasizes God's omniscient nature. His knowledge is active, absolute, and not limited by space, time, or the hidden nature of human inner life. It's a statement of divine prerogative and power.
- the thoughts of man: This specifies the object of God's perfect knowledge—the intricate, often concealed, workings of the human mind. It underscores the transparency of human interiority before God. This applies universally to all humanity.
- that they are futile: This declarative statement about human thoughts is profoundly sobering. It reveals God's ultimate assessment: human plans, intentions, and wisdom, when separated from divine wisdom and purpose, are revealed as insubstantial, transient, ultimately accomplishing nothing of eternal value. Their end is emptiness.
Psalm 94 11 Bonus section
The profound declaration that "The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile" serves as a fundamental principle of biblical wisdom, guiding humanity to place its reliance and hope in divine counsel rather than human shrewdness. It implicitly challenges intellectual pride and self-sufficiency, often highlighting the contrast between the eternal, unerring purposes of God and the transient, fallible designs of humankind. This verse acts as a bridge between wisdom literature, prophetic pronouncements against ungodliness, and personal laments for justice, showing how God's omniscient character is foundational to His role as Judge and Redeemer. It provides assurance that even the most elaborate human plots conceived in secrecy will ultimately fail if they oppose God's will. Conversely, righteous thoughts and humble reliance on God are precisely what leads to true, enduring purpose.
Psalm 94 11 Commentary
Psalm 94:11 is a potent declaration of God's perfect omniscience and a stark assessment of humanity's intellectual vanity. Amidst the psalmist's plea for justice against wicked oppressors who wrongly assume divine ignorance, this verse thunders that no hidden thought or secret intention escapes God's knowing eye. God does not merely observe outward actions; He pierces through to the deepest wellsprings of the human heart—its thoughts, plans, and motivations. The profound truth revealed here is not only that God knows all human thoughts but also what He knows them to be: "futile."
The Hebrew word hevel (futile) is richly significant, echoing through the book of Ecclesiastes to describe everything "under the sun"—human striving, wisdom, pleasure, and work—when disconnected from the eternal perspective of God. It means vapor, breath, emptiness, something insubstantial that passes away without leaving a lasting impact. Thus, the verse implies that human ingenuity, cleverness, and ambitious plans, especially those conceived independently of God or in defiance of His will, ultimately amount to nothing. They lack substance, durability, and eternal worth. This applies especially to the wicked whose plots, though seemingly formidable, will be rendered void by God's overarching sovereignty. It also speaks to general human folly and short-sightedness.
This truth has profound implications. For the wicked, it serves as a stern warning that their secret schemes are utterly exposed before the Judge of all the earth, and their plans, destined for ultimate failure, will not escape divine judgment. For the righteous, it offers immense comfort, knowing that God discerns not only their prayers but also their unuttered groanings and the injustices they suffer in secret. It reinforces the wisdom of aligning one's thoughts and plans with God's perfect will, for only then do human intentions gain lasting meaning and avoid the pitfall of hevel. It urges humility, acknowledging that true wisdom and lasting purpose are found not in human intellect alone, but in God.