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Study This Verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Psalms 17:8–15. His four-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
We may observe, in these verses,
I.What David prays for.
Being compassed about with enemies that sought his life, he prays to God to preserve him safely through all their attempts against him, to the crown to which he was anointed. This prayer is both a prediction of the preservation of Christ through all the hardships and difficulties of his humiliation, to the glories and joys of his exalted state, and a pattern to Christians to commit the keeping of their souls to God, trusting him to preserve them to his heavenly kingdom. He prays,
1.That he himself might be protected (Psa 17:8): "Keep me safe, hide me close, where I may not be found, where I may not be come at. Deliver my soul, not only my mortal life from death, but my immortal spirit from sin." Those who put themselves under God's protection may in faith implore the benefit of it.
(1.)He prays that God would keep him,
[1.]With as much care as a man keeps the apple of his eye with, which nature has wonderfully fenced and teaches us to guard. If we keep God's law as the apple of our eye (Pro 7:2), we may expect that God will so keep us; for it is said concerning his people that whoso touches them touches the apple of his eye, Zac 2:8.
[2.]With as much tenderness as the hen gathers her young ones under her wings with; Christ uses the similitude, Mat 23:37. "Hide me under the shadow of thy wings, where I may be both safe and warm." Or, perhaps, it rather alludes to the wings of the cherubim shadowing the mercy-seat: "Let me be taken under the protection of that glorious grace which is peculiar to God's Israel." What David here prays for was performed to the Son of David, our Lord Jesus, of whom it is said (Isa 49:2) that God hid him in the shadow of his hand, hid him as a polished shaft in his quiver.
(2.)David further prays, "Lord, keep me from the wicked, from men of the world," [1.] "From being, and doing, like them, from walking in their counsel, and standing in their way, and eating of their dainties." [2.] "From being destroyed and run down by them. Let them not have their will against me; let them not triumph over me."
2.That all the designs of his enemies to bring his either into sin or into trouble might be defeated (Psa 17:13): "Arise, O Lord! appear for me, disappoint him, and cast him down in his own eyes by the disappointment." While Saul persecuted David, how often did he miss his prey, when he thought he had him sure! And how were Christ's enemies disappointed by his resurrection, who thought they had gained their point when they had put him to death!
II.What he pleads for the encouraging of his own faith in these petitions, and his hope of speeding. He pleads,
1.The malice and wickedness of his enemies: "They are such as are not fit to be countenanced, such as, if I be not delivered from them by the special care of God himself, will be my ruin. Lord, see what wicked men those are that oppress me, and waste me, and run me down." (1.) "They are very spiteful and malicious; they are my deadly enemies, that thirst after my blood, my heart's blood - enemies against the soul," so the word is. David's enemies did what they could to drive him to sin and drive him away from God; they bade him go serve other gods (Sa1 26:19), and therefore he had reason to pray against them. Note, Those are our worst enemies, and we ought so to account them, that are enemies to our souls. (2.) "They are very secure and sensual, insolent and haughty (Psa 17:10): They are enclosed in their own fat, wrap themselves, hug themselves, in their own honour, and power, and plenty, and then make light of God, and set his judgments at defiance, Psa 73:7; Job 15:27. They wallow in pleasure, and promise themselves that tomorrow shall be as this day. And therefore with their mouth they speak proudly, glorying in themselves, blaspheming God, trampling upon his people, and insulting them." See Rev 13:5, Rev 13:6. "Lord, are not such men as these fit to be mortified and humbled, and made to know themselves? Will it not be for thy glory to look upon these proud men and abase them?" (3.) "They are restless and unwearied in their attempts against me: They compass me about, Psa 17:9. They have now in a manner gained their point; they have surrounded us, they have compassed us in our steps, they track us wherever we go, follow us as close as the hound does the hare, and take all advantages against us, being both too many and too quick for us. And yet they pretend to look another way, and set their eyes bowing down to the earth, as if they were meditating, retired into themselves, and thinking of something else;" or (as some think), "They are watchful and intent upon it, to do us a mischief; they are down-looked, and never let slip any opportunity of compassing their design." (4.) "The ringleader of them (that was Saul) is in a special manner bloody and barbarous, politic and projecting (Psa 17:12), like a lion that lives by prey and is therefore greedy of it." It is as much the meat and drink of a wicked man to do mischief as it is of a good man to do good. He is like a young lion lurking in secret places, disguising his cruel designs. This is fitly applied to Saul, who sought David on the rocks of the wild goats (Sa1 24:2) and in the wilderness of Ziph (Psa 26:2), where lions used to lurk for their prey.
2.The power God had over them, to control and restrain them. He pleads, (1.) "Lord, they are thy sword; and will any father suffer his sword to be drawn against his own children?" As this is a reason why we should patiently bear the injuries of men, that they are but the instruments of the trouble (it comes originally from God, to whose will we are bound to submit), so it is an encouragement to us to hope both that their wrath shall praise him and that the remainder thereof he will restrain, that they are God's sword, which he can manage as he pleases, which cannot move without him, and which he will sheathe when he has done his work with it. (2.) "They are thy hand, by which thou dost chastise thy people and make them feel thy displeasure." He therefore expects deliverance from God's hand because from God's hand the trouble came. Una eademque manus vulnus opemque tulit - The same hand wounds and heals. There is no flying from God's hand but by flying to it. It is very comfortable, when we are in fear of the power of man, to see it dependent upon and in subjection to the power of God; see Isa 10:6, Isa 10:7, Isa 10:15.
3.Their outward prosperity (Psa 17:14): "Lord, appear against them, for," (1.) "They are entirely devoted to the world, and care not for thee and thy favour. They are men of the world, actuated by the spirit of the world, walking according to the course of this world, in love with the wealth and pleasure of this world, eager in the pursuits of it (making them their business) and at ease in the enjoyments of it - making them their bliss. They have their portion in this life; they look upon the good things of this world as the best things, and sufficient to make them happy, and they choose them accordingly, place their felicity in them, and aim at them as their chief good; they rest satisfied with them, their souls take their ease in them, and they look no further, nor are in any care to provide for another life. These things are their consolation (Luk 6:24), their good things (Luk 16:25), their reward (Mat 6:5), the penny they agreed for, Mat 20:13. Now, Lord, shall men of this character be supported and countenanced against those who honour thee by preferring thy favour before all the wealth in this world, and taking thee for their portion?" Psa 16:5. (2.) They have abundance of the world. [1.] They have enlarged appetites, and a great deal wherewith to satisfy them: Their bellies thou fillest with thy hidden treasures. The things of this world are called treasures, because they are so accounted; otherwise, to a soul, and in comparison with eternal blessings, they are but trash. They are hidden in the several parts of the creation, and hidden in the sovereign disposals of Providence. They are God's hidden treasures, for the earth is his and the fulness thereof, though the men of the world think it is their own and forget God's property in it. Those that fare deliciously every day have their bellies filled with these hidden treasures; and they will but fill the belly (Co1 6:13); they will not fill the soul; they are not bread for that, nor can they satisfy, Isa 55:2. They are husks, and ashes, and wind; and yet most men, having no care for their souls, but all for their bellies, take up with them. [2.] They have numerous families, and a great deal to leave to them: They are full of children, and yet their pasture is not overstocked; they have enough for them all, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes, to their grand-children; and this is their heaven, it is their bliss, it is their all. "Lord," said David, "deliver me from them; let me not have my portion with them. Deliver me from their designs against me; for, they having so much wealth and power, I am not able to deal with them unless the Lord be on my side."
4.He pleads his own dependence upon God as his portion and happiness. "They have their portion in this life, but as for me (Psa 17:15) I am none of them, I have but little of the world. Nec habeo, nec careo, nec curo - I neither have, nor need, nor care for it. It is the vision and fruition of God that I place my happiness in; that is it I hope for, and comfort myself with the hopes of, and thereby distinguish myself from those who have their portion in this life." Beholding God's face with satisfaction may be considered, (1.) As our duty and comfort in this world. We must in righteousness (clothed with Christ's righteousness, having a good heart and a good life) by faith behold God's face and set him always before us, must entertain ourselves from day to day with the contemplation of the beauty of the Lord; and, when we awake every morning, we must be satisfied with his likeness set before us in his word, and with his likeness stamped upon us by his renewing grace. Our experience of God's favour to us, and our conformity to him, should yield us more satisfaction than those have whose belly is filled with the delights of sense. 2. As our recompence and happiness in the other world. With the prospect of that he concluded the foregoing psalm, and so this. That happiness is prepared and designed only for the righteous that are justified and sanctified. They shall be put in possession of it when they awake, when the soul awakes, at death, out of its slumber in the body, and when the body awakes, at the resurrection, out of its slumber in the grave. That blessedness will consist in three things: - [1.] The immediate vision of God and his glory: I shall behold thy face, not, as in this world, through a glass darkly. The knowledge of God will there be perfected and the enlarged intellect filled with it. [2.] The participation of his likeness. Our holiness will there be perfect. This results from the former (Jo1 3:2): When he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. [3.] A complete and full satisfaction resulting from all this: I shall be satisfied, abundantly satisfied with it. There is no satisfaction for a soul but in God, and in his face and likeness, his good-will towards us and his good work in us; and even that satisfaction will not be perfect till we come to heaven.
Historical interpretation
Two Centuries of Reception
5 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
Select a marker to jump to its quote. Markers stagger vertically where authors wrote within a few decades of each other.
The written words say that God has wings.… But we will not on that account say that God’s spiritual and indestructible essence is winged.… What, then, are we to understand by the wings? The help, security, shelter, defense and unconquerable aid that God gives us.
"Keep Me, O Lord, as the apple of Your eye": which seems very little and minute: yet by it is the sight of the eye directed, whereby the light is distinguished from the darkness; as by Christ's humanity, the divinity of the Judgment distinguishing between the righteous and sinners. "In the covering of Your wings protect Me." In the defence of Your love and mercy protect Me.
His prayer is to enjoy such protection as does the apple of the eye, which has eyelids as a kind of rampart and eyelashes for a palisade; it also has eyebrows as mounds, conducting the stream of sweat to the temples and warding off from the faculty of sight any harm from that source.
This should be the careful consideration of wise people, that since the days of this life are short and the time uncertain, death should never be unexpected for those who are to die. Those who know that they are mortal should not come to an unprepared end. Therefore this, which has been proclaimed by the voice of the prophet, should be taken up in the hearts of those praying, so that it may be said, not with the lips only but also with the heart.… For we are always in need of divine help. This is the unconquerable courage of human devotion, that we always have a protector without whom we are not able to be brave.
The Father’s protection is compared to wings. Mercy and love are, so to speak, the wings of the Father with which he asks to be protected. This comparison is drawn from the example of birds who guard their own dear offspring by spreading out their wings.
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Summary
Psalms 17:8 is a fervent and intimate plea from David, seeking God's comprehensive and meticulous protection amidst intense personal danger and opposition from his adversaries. David appeals to the Lord to guard him with the same precise and vigilant care reserved for something supremely precious, likening himself to the "apple of the eye." He further implores God to shelter him under the protective "shadow of thy wings," evoking a powerful image of secure refuge and comforting presence, thereby underscoring his complete reliance on God as his ultimate defender and sovereign haven.
Context
Literary Context
Psalm 17 is a deeply personal individual lament, a heartfelt prayer of David for deliverance from his enemies and for divine vindication. The psalm opens with a confident appeal to God's justice and a declaration of David's own integrity, sharply contrasting his blameless conduct with the malicious intentions of his foes (e.g., David's plea for justice and integrity in Psalms 17:1-5). He asserts his unwavering commitment to God's commandments, distinguishing himself from those who relentlessly pursue him. Verse 8, "Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings," marks a pivotal shift from general appeals for justice to an intensely personal and intimate request for divine safeguarding. This verse encapsulates the psalmist's profound vulnerability and his absolute trust in God as his sole refuge, forming the emotional and theological core of his plea for protection that continues into the subsequent verses describing his determined adversaries (e.g., David's description of his enemies in Psalms 17:9-12).
Historical & Cultural Context
As king and warrior, David frequently faced existential threats, both from external enemies and internal conspiracies, making appeals for divine protection a recurring and vital theme throughout his psalms. The vivid imagery employed in Psalms 17:8 draws upon common ancient Near Eastern experiences and universally understood metaphors. The "apple of the eye" (the pupil) was, and remains, instinctively recognized as the most delicate, vital, and fiercely guarded part of the human body, protected by rapid, involuntary reflexes. Similarly, the "shadow of thy wings" evokes the familiar and comforting sight of a mother bird diligently shielding her vulnerable chicks from predators, harsh weather, or the scorching sun. This powerful symbol of nurture and security would have resonated profoundly with an agrarian society intimately familiar with both human anatomy and the protective instincts observed in the natural world, providing vivid and relatable illustrations of God's meticulous, tender, and comprehensive care for His people in a world perpetually fraught with danger and instability.
Key Themes
Psalms 17:8 contributes significantly to several overarching themes central to the Psalter and broader biblical theology. Foremost is the theme of Divine Protection and Refuge, portraying God as the ultimate and unfailing guardian against all threats, whether seen or unseen. It powerfully highlights the Preciousness of the Believer to God, asserting that those who seek Him are held in the highest regard, cherished with an intimate, fierce, and unwavering love. The verse also underscores the theme of Absolute Dependence on God, as David, despite his royal status and military prowess, acknowledges his own helplessness and places his entire hope for deliverance and preservation in the Lord alone. These themes collectively reinforce the biblical understanding of God's unwavering faithfulness and His active, sovereign involvement in the lives of His covenant people, offering profound solace and enduring strength to all who trust in Him, much like the comprehensive message of divine security found in Psalm 91.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This word, a diminutive from the root meaning "man," literally refers to "the little man of the eye" or the pupil. It is the tiny reflection one sees of oneself when looking into another's eye. As the most delicate and vital part of the eye, it is instinctively protected by rapid reflexes. The use of ʼîyshôwn here powerfully conveys the idea of something supremely precious, guarded with the utmost vigilance and care, signifying God's meticulous and fierce protection over His beloved.
Derived from a root meaning "to be shady," tsêl refers to literal shade or shadow, but often carries the figurative meaning of protection, defense, or refuge. In the context of divine protection, it speaks of a covering that provides relief from heat, danger, or exposure, symbolizing God's comforting and encompassing presence that shields His people from harm.
This term denotes an edge or extremity, specifically the wing of a bird. In biblical imagery, wings often symbolize protection, shelter, and swift action. When associated with God, as in the phrase "shadow of thy wings," it evokes the powerful and tender image of a mother bird gathering her young under her wings, providing comprehensive security, warmth, and refuge from all external threats and adversities.
Verse Breakdown
"Keep me as the apple of the eye"
This opening imperative is a profound and urgent plea for God's most intimate and vigilant protection. David asks God to guard him with the same instinctive, meticulous, and fierce care that one would extend to the most vital and vulnerable part of their own body – the pupil. It speaks to the extraordinary value and preciousness David believes he holds in God's sight, implying that his well-being is of paramount importance to the Divine Protector, who cherishes His own with unparalleled devotion.
"hide me under the shadow of thy wings"
This second clause expands upon the theme of divine refuge, employing a vivid and comforting avian metaphor. David seeks not merely protection, but a complete envelopment within God's protective presence, much like a chick nestled securely under its mother's wings. This imagery conveys a sense of absolute security, warmth, comfort, and shelter from all external dangers, adversities, and threats, emphasizing God's comprehensive, tender, and all-encompassing care.
Literary Devices
Psalms 17:8 is profoundly enriched by its masterful use of Imagery and Metaphor, which are central to its powerful communication. The phrase "apple of the eye" is a striking Metaphor for something supremely precious and meticulously guarded, drawing on the universal human experience of instinctively protecting one's sight. This specific type of metaphor also functions as an Idiom, conveying a meaning that transcends the literal interpretation of its individual words. The subsequent phrase, "under the shadow of thy wings," employs another potent Metaphor, likening God's protective care to that of a mother bird sheltering her vulnerable young. This evokes profound feelings of warmth, safety, comfort, and security, creating a strong emotional resonance. The entire verse functions as a Supplication, a humble and earnest prayer, characterized by its direct address to God and its urgent, dependent plea for divine intervention. The skillful deployment of these literary devices transforms abstract theological concepts into tangible, comforting, and deeply relatable images, making David's appeal intensely personal and emotionally compelling.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Psalms 17:8 profoundly articulates the biblical truth of God's intimate, unwavering, and personal care for His people. It reveals a God who is neither distant nor indifferent, but actively involved in the lives of those who trust Him, valuing them as His most precious possession. This verse underscores the covenantal relationship, where God commits to meticulously protecting and preserving His chosen ones, providing a secure and inviolable refuge amidst life's most formidable trials. It speaks to the believer's deep reliance on divine sovereignty and boundless love, recognizing that true security, peace, and deliverance are found exclusively in God's protective embrace. This foundational theological truth resonates throughout the entirety of Scripture, affirming God's tender guardianship over His children in every generation.
Reflection and Application
Psalms 17:8 offers profound encouragement and a timeless model for prayer in our own lives. In a world often filled with uncertainty, danger, and pervasive fear, this verse assures us that we are never alone and that we are, in fact, incredibly precious to the Creator of the universe. It invites us to approach God with the same confident vulnerability as David, trusting implicitly that He sees our struggles, hears our cries, and is both willing and supremely able to extend His meticulous and comprehensive protection over us. When we feel exposed, overwhelmed, or threatened by the adversities of life, we can find profound solace in the imagery of being the "apple of His eye" and finding refuge "under the shadow of His wings." This powerful reminder calls us to draw near to Him, seeking His comforting and omnipotent presence as our ultimate safe haven for both physical and spiritual well-being. This verse compels us to cultivate a deep, abiding reliance on God's sovereign care and unfailing love, knowing with certainty that He is our impregnable stronghold and faithful deliverer in every conceivable circumstance.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "apple of the eye" mean in a biblical context?
In a biblical context, "apple of the eye" (Hebrew: _ʼîyshôwn bat ‘ayin'_) refers to the pupil, the most delicate and vital part of the eye. It signifies something supremely precious, meticulously guarded, and instinctively protected. When God is described as guarding someone as the "apple of His eye," as in Deuteronomy 32:10 or Zechariah 2:8, it conveys His meticulous, vigilant, and fierce protection over His beloved people, treating them as His most cherished possession. Any harm inflicted upon them is seen as a direct affront to God Himself, touching Him at His most sensitive point.
How does "shadow of thy wings" convey God's protection?
The phrase "shadow of thy wings" is a beautiful and pervasive biblical metaphor that vividly portrays God's protective care. It evokes the tender and powerful image of a mother bird spreading her wings to shelter her vulnerable chicks from predators, harsh weather, or the scorching sun. This imagery, found in passages like Psalm 36:7 and Psalm 91:4, signifies a place of absolute security, profound comfort, warmth, and ultimate refuge. It speaks to God's omnipotent and comforting presence, providing complete safety and rest to those who seek shelter in Him, covering them entirely with His divine power and boundless love.
Is Psalms 17:8 only about physical protection?
While Psalms 17:8 certainly encompasses a plea for physical protection from enemies and tangible dangers, its meaning extends far beyond the purely physical realm. The "apple of the eye" and "shadow of thy wings" metaphors also imply comprehensive protection for one's spiritual well-being, moral integrity, and divine destiny. David's adversaries often sought to undermine his faith, his character, and his covenantal relationship with God, not merely his physical life. Therefore, the verse can be understood as a holistic prayer for God's safeguarding against all forms of harm—physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual—preserving the believer's entire being and purpose in perfect alignment with God's sovereign will. It speaks to God's all-encompassing care for His children, protecting their very essence and divine calling.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Psalms 17:8 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the perfect embodiment of God's meticulous care and protective presence, the very "apple of God's eye" through whom all believers are now cherished and held in divine esteem. In His earthly ministry, Jesus consistently demonstrated God's protective love by healing the sick, casting out demons, and offering refuge to the marginalized and downtrodden, inviting all who are weary and burdened to find profound rest in Him, as He promised in Matthew 11:28. The imagery of the "shadow of thy wings" is powerfully realized in Christ's atoning work on the cross, where He became our ultimate and eternal shelter from the righteous wrath of God and the destructive power of sin and death. Through His perfect sacrifice, we are hidden in Him, covered by His righteousness, and granted everlasting security (e.g., Colossians 3:3). Just as a hen longs to gather her chicks under her wings, Jesus lamented Jerusalem's unwillingness to be gathered under His protective care (e.g., Matthew 23:37). He is our Good Shepherd, who willingly lays down His life for His sheep, ensuring that none can snatch them out of His hand or the Father's hand (e.g., John 10:28-29). Thus, in Christ, we experience the perfect, complete, and eternal fulfillment of God's promise to "keep us as the apple of His eye" and "hide us under the shadow of His wings," providing comprehensive and everlasting salvation and security.