The Meaning of Psalms 11:4 Explained

Psalms 11:4

KJV: The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.

YLT: Jehovah is in his holy temple: Jehovah -- in the heavens is His throne. His eyes see -- His eyelids try the sons of men.

Darby: Jehovah is in the temple of his holiness; Jehovah, his throne is in the heavens: his eyes behold, his eyelids try the children of men.

ASV: Jehovah is in his holy temple; Jehovah, his throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The LORD  [is] in his holy  temple,  the LORD'S  throne  [is] in heaven:  his eyes  behold,  his eyelids  try,  the children  of men. 

What does Psalms 11:4 Mean?

Verse Meaning

David"s perspective included God"s throne in heaven, the symbol of His royal rule and authority to judge. There he visualized Yahweh sitting in perfect control over the nation He had created and promised to maintain (cf. Habakkuk 2:20). The pagans thought their gods dwelt in heavenly temples, but Yahweh really did. The anthropomorphic description of God"s eyes and eyelids (parallelism) portrays His close scrutiny and precise awareness of all that was going on in Israel. He was not unaware of His people"s plight.

Context Summary

Psalm 11:1-7 - God Our Refuge And Defense
The first of these is a debate between fear and faith, and dates from Saul's persecutions. Timid friends, anxious for David's safety, urged him to flee to the mountains. Such counsels of expediency are frequently given to the servants of God, Nehemiah 6:1-19. Luther's diaries are full of such references. But unless our duty is performed, we must stand our ground; we "can do no other." We must remember that God's love is with us, and that He always exchanges glances of love with His suffering ones. Compare Psalms 11:7 with Exodus 3:7.
The opening words of the next psalm appeal for help in bad and evil days. See Micah 7:2. A double heart is literally "a heart and a heart," Psalms 12:2. Let us be true in act and speech, else we forfeit the Spirit of truth, Ephesians 4:25; Colossians 3:9. Our sighing will make God arise, Acts 7:56. We shall be helped and kept, Psalms 12:7 and Isaiah 54:17. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 11

1  David encourages himself in God against his enemies
4  The providence and justice of God

What do the individual words in Psalms 11:4 mean?

Yahweh [is] in temple His holy of Yahweh in heaven throne [is] His eyes behold His eyelids test the sons of men
יְהוָ֤ה ׀ בְּֽהֵ֘יכַ֤ל קָדְשׁ֗וֹ יְהוָה֮ בַּשָּׁמַ֪יִם כִּ֫סְא֥וֹ עֵינָ֥יו יֶחֱז֑וּ עַפְעַפָּ֥יו יִ֝בְחֲנ֗וּ בְּנֵ֣י אָדָֽם

יְהוָ֤ה ׀  Yahweh  [is] 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
בְּֽהֵ֘יכַ֤ל  in  temple 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: הֵיכָל  
Sense: palace, temple, nave, sanctuary.
קָדְשׁ֗וֹ  His  holy 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: קֹדֶשׁ  
Sense: apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness.
יְהוָה֮  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
בַּשָּׁמַ֪יִם  in  heaven 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַיִם  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
כִּ֫סְא֥וֹ  throne  [is] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: כִּסֵּא 
Sense: seat (of honour), throne, seat, stool.
עֵינָ֥יו  His  eyes 
Parse: Noun, cdc, third person masculine singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
יֶחֱז֑וּ  behold 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: חָזָה  
Sense: to see, perceive, look, behold, prophesy, provide.
עַפְעַפָּ֥יו  His  eyelids 
Parse: Noun, mdc, third person masculine singular
Root: עַפְעַפַּיִם  
Sense: eyelid.
יִ֝בְחֲנ֗וּ  test 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: בָּחַן  
Sense: to examine, try, prove.
בְּנֵ֣י  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אָדָֽם  of  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.