Psalms 33:18
in Psalms 33Surely the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His loving devotion
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Behold, the eye of Jehovah is upon them that fear him, Upon them that hope in his lovingkindness;
KJV
Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
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This verse in Psalms 33
Commentary
14 notes on this verseHe who does not trust in his own good deeds or expect to be justified by his works has, as his only hope of salvation, the mercies of God. For, when he considers that the expression "Behold the Lord and his reward" refers to each according to his work, and when he ponders his own evil deeds, he fears the punishment and cowers beneath the threats. There is good hope that gazes steadfastly at the mercies and kindness of God lest it be swallowed up by grief.
This site's exposition
the eyes of the LORD are on
on Psalms 33:18-19
Against the horse that cannot save, the psalm sets the eyes of the LORD. Fear and hope stand together in one line, those who fear Him and those who put their hope in His loving devotion. The two dangers named are death and famine.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
"Behold, the Eyes of the Lord are upon them that fear Him:" because if you seek salvation, behold, the love of the Lord is upon them that fear Him. "Upon them that hope in His mercy" [Psalm 33:18]: that hope not in their own strength, but in His mercy.
God is said to watch over the just, that he may maintain and protect them. Watchfulness by his gracious divinity is the function of his relationship with people.
For the eyes of the Lord are not looking on those trusting in their own strength but those hoping in his mercy. He will snatch their spirits from death and shelter them.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Then when he says, "Behold, the eyes of the Lord," the efficacy of divine mercy for saving is shown. And first he sets forth the mercy that saves. Second, the disposition of the saints conceived from this consideration, at "Our soul." Concerning the first he …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
He does not say that he will give them abundance (they have no reason either to desire it or to expect it), but he will keep them alive; they shall not starve; and, when destroying judgments are abroad, it ought to be reckoned a great favour, for it is a very striking one, and lays us under peculiar obligations, to have our lives given us for a prey.
7 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise. 4 For the word of the L ORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. 5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the L ORD .
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:91%@v3-5
The eye - Whosoever therefore would have safety, must expect it only from the watchful eye, and almighty hand of God. That fear - These are the chief objects of his care and favour. Hope - That place their hope and trust, and happiness, not in any creature, but only in God, and in his mercy and blessings.
Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him,....
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
Behold. For this is a greater wonder than hosts and horses, a surer confidence than chariots or shields. The eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him. That eye of peculiar care is their glory and defence. None can take them at unawares, for the celestial watcher foresees the designs of their enemies, and provides against them. They who fear God need not fear anything else; let them fix their eye of faith on him, and his eye of love will always rest upon them. Upon them that hope in his mercy.
Behold. For this is a greater wonder than hosts and horses, a surer confidence than chariots or shields. The eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him. That eye of peculiar care is their glory and defence. None can take them at unawares, for the celestial watcher foresees the designs of their enemies, and provides against them. They who fear God need not fear anything else; let them fix their eye of faith on him, and his eye of love will always rest upon them. Upon them that hope in his mercy. This one would think to be a small evidence of grace, and yet it is a valid one. Humble hope shall have its share as well as courageous faith. Say, my soul, is not this an encouragement to thee? Dost thou not hope in the mercy of God in Christ Jesus? Then the Father's eye is as much upon thee as upon the elder born of the family. These gentle words, like soft bread, are meant for babes in grace, who need infant's food.
Behold, the eye of the Lord - Though all the above are unavailing, yet here is one thing that can never fail; “the eye of the Lord” - the watchful providence of the Most High, “is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy.”
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him - He watches over them, and “he” guards them from danger. His eye is, in fact, upon all men; but it is directed with special attention to those who fear him and trust in him. Their security is in the fact that the eye of God is upon them; that he knows their wants; that he sees their dangers; that he has ample ability to deliver and save them. Upon them that hope in his mercy - Upon the pious; upon his friends. The expression is a very beautiful one. It describes the true state of a pious heart; it in fact characterizes the whole of religion, for we imply all that there is in religion on earth when we say of a man, that - conscious of his weakness and sinfulness - “he hopes in the mercy of God.”
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| הִנֵּ֤ה | hineh | here! | H2009 → | 843 times |
| עֵ֣ין | ʾein | [the] eye of | H5869 → | 887 times |
| יְ֭הוָה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| אֶל־ | ʾel- | [is] to | H413 → | 5510 times |
| יְרֵאָ֑יו | yereav | [those] fearing him | H3373 → | 64 times |
| לַֽמְיַחֲלִ֥ים | lamyachalim | to <the> [those who] hope | H3176 → | 41 times |
| לְחַסְדּֽוֹ׃ | lechasdo | for covenant loyalty his | H2617 → | 247 times |
הִנֵּ֤הhere!
hinehH2009 →843 times
עֵ֣ין[the] eye of
ʾeinH5869 →887 times
יְ֭הוָהYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
אֶל־[is] to
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
יְרֵאָ֑יו[those] fearing him
yereavH3373 →64 times
לַֽמְיַחֲלִ֥יםto <the> [those who] hope
lamyachalimH3176 →41 times
לְחַסְדּֽוֹ׃for covenant loyalty his
lechasdoH2617 →247 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Peter 3:12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
it leads to
- Psalms 34:15–16
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their cry.
- John 9:31
We know that God does not listen to sinners, but He does listen to the one who worships Him and does His will.
- Proverbs 15:29
The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
- Proverbs 15:3
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good.
- Psalms 34:15–16
Through
Hebrews 6:18Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.
it leads to
- Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?
- Titus 1:2
in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.
- 1 Samuel 15:29
Moreover, the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind, for He is not a man, that He should change His mind.”
- 2 Timothy 2:13
if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
- Numbers 23:19
Where this verse is studied
About Psalms
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Psalms; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Arnobius the Younger, COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 33; Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 33; Basil of Caesarea, HOMILIES ON THE PSALMS 15:10 (PS 33); Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 2; John Calvin, Commentary on the Book of Psalms; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Salvian the Presbyter, THE GOVERNANCE OF GOD 2:1 and Thomas Aquinas, Exposition on the Psalms of David.