Psalms 94:11

11 The Lord knows our thoughts, that they are but an empty breath.

Psalms 94:11 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 94:11

The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man
He not only hears their words, and sees their actions; but he knows their thoughts, the secret thoughts of their hearts, though he is afar off from them, and, they from him; he is the searcher of the hearts and trier of the reins of the children of men; see ( Psalms 139:2 Psalms 139:23 Psalms 139:24 ) ( Jeremiah 17:9 Jeremiah 17:10 ) , and so is Christ, who is the omniscient God, and is the Jehovah all along spoken to and of in this psalm; he knows the thoughts of men, and is a critical discerner of them, ( Matthew 9:3 Matthew 9:4 ) ( Hebrews 4:12 )

that they are vanity;
either that their thoughts are vanity; the object of them is vanity, the riches and honours of this world, which are all vanity and vexation of spirit; and sinful lusts and pleasures, which are vain and useless, yea, pernicious and hurtful: and so they are in their issue and event; they come to nothing, they are without effect; the Lord disappoints men's devices, and frustrates their designs; they think of this and the other, form schemes, but cannot execute them: or else the sense is, that they themselves are vanity, as man in his best estate is; even every man, whether of high or low degree; see ( Psalms 39:5 Psalms 39:6 ) ( 62:9 ) . The Syriac version is, "for they are a vapour"; with which compare ( James 4:14 ) . Thales, an Heathen philosopher F5, being asked whether men's deeds could be hid from God, answered, no, nor their thoughts.


FOOTNOTES:

F5 Apud Laert. Vit. ejus, Valer. Maxim. l. 7. c. 2. extern. 8.

Psalms 94:11 In-Context

9 He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see?
10 He who disciplines the nations, he who teaches knowledge to humankind, does he not chastise?
11 The Lord knows our thoughts, that they are but an empty breath.
12 Happy are those whom you discipline, O Lord, and whom you teach out of your law,
13 giving them respite from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Heb [the thoughts of humankind]
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.