English Standard Version
Psalms 73:11
11And they say, "How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?"
Psalms 73:11 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
- New International Version (NIV)They say, “How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?”
- New King James Version (NKJV)And they say, “How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?”
- New Living Translation (NLT)“What does God know?” they ask. “Does the Most High even know what’s happening?”
Context of Psalms 73:11
9They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth. 10Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them. And they say, "How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?" 12Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. 13All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.
Read all of Psalms 73Psalms 73:11 word by word
וְֽאָמְר֗וּ אֵיכָ֥ה יָדַֽע־אֵ֑ל וְיֵ֖שׁ דֵּעָ֣ה בְעֶלְיֽוֹן׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 73:11
- Psalms 73:9They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth.
- Psalms 10:11He says in his heart, "God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it."
- Psalms 94:7and they say, "The Lord does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive."
- Job 22:13But you say, 'What does God know? Can he judge through the deep darkness?
- Ezekiel 8:12Then he said to me, "Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in his room of pictures? For they say, 'The Lord does not see us, the Lord has forsaken the land.'"
- Zephaniah 1:12At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are complacent, those who say in their hearts, 'The Lord will not do good, nor will he do ill.'
- Psalms 44:21would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart.
- Psalms 139:1O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
- Hosea 7:2But they do not consider that I remember all their evil. Now their deeds surround them; they are before my face.
Commentaries on Psalms 73:11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11They say, How doth God know? - My people are so stumbled with the prosperity of the wicked, that they are ready in their temptation to say, "Surely, God cannot know these things, or he would never dispense his favors thus." Others consider these words as the saying of the wicked: "We may oppress these people as we please, and live as we list; God knows nothing about it."Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11And they say - His people say. The connection demands this interpretation. The meaning is, that his people, as they return again and again to this subject Psalm 73:10, are constrained to put this question. They are compelled by these facts to start such painful inquiries about God; and distressing as the inquiries are, and as are the doubts which they involve, these thoughts will pass through their mind, even though to avoid giving needless pain to those…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-12The psalmist gives an exaggerated picture of the happiness of the wicked (compare Psalm 1).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 10-1210-12. Hence God's people are confounded, turned hither (or back) and thither, perplexed with doubts of God's knowledge and care, and filled with sorrow.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 73:11
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 73
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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