He says in his heart, “God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The truly chilling part here is that the wicked person isn't just thinking God is absent; they're actively reinterpreting God's apparent inaction as intentional neglect. They see God hiding His face not as a pause for intervention, but as a permanent decision to look away forever.
He says in his heart, “God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse plunges us into the inner thoughts of the wicked, who, seeing no immediate divine judgment, convince themselves that God is either unaware or indifferent to their evil deeds. They believe God has turned a blind eye to their oppression and that He will never intervene or even acknowledge what they are doing. This internal dialogue fuels their arrogance and leads them to despise God, thinking they can get away with anything.
Ever felt like the bad guys get away with it, and God just isn't watching? This verse exposes the hidden thoughts behind that feeling.
This verse reveals the internal monologue of the wicked. It's not just that they don't believe God sees; they actively reason themselves into thinking He has forgotten, intentionally hidden His face, and will never intervene.
The 'Heart' of the Matter
This denial happens in the "heart," which in Scripture refers to the inner self – thoughts, will, and emotions. It's a deep-seated conviction, not just a passing thought.
The Wicked's Logic:
Why does God sometimes seem to hide His face? And what are the devastating consequences when we (or others) misinterpret His silence?
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The phrase "He has hidden His face" is powerful. In the Old Testament, God hiding His face often signified His displeasure or abandonment. However, the wicked here twist this reality.
Misinterpreting God's Patience
The wicked see God's inaction not as patience, but as indifference. They use the apparent withdrawal of God's attention as license for their sin. This demonstrates a profound lack of understanding:
Understand the original words
leb · Hebrew Noun
In biblical usage, the 'heart' represents the center of human personality, encompassing the intellect, the will, and the emotions, and is viewed as the seat of moral choices and spiritual condition.
The psalmist's cry of 'God has forgotten' isn't just a theological statement but a deeply human expression of despair felt during times of intense personal suffering, political upheaval, or national crisis, where the wicked feel emboldened by God's perceived absence.
c. 10th century BC— this verse
David's Reign and Troubles
This psalm, traditionally attributed to David, likely reflects a period during his life when he faced intense opposition and personal danger, possibly from within his own household or from external enemies.
c. 10th century BC
Internal Strife and Rebellions
David's reign was marked by significant challenges, including the rebellion of his son Absalom, which deeply shook his kingdom and his personal faith, leading to periods of despair and perceived divine abandonment.
c. 8th century BC
Assyrian Empire's Rise
The growing power of the Assyrian Empire in the 8th century BC created widespread anxiety and instability in the region, often leading to pleas for divine intervention amidst political turmoil.
c. 6th century BC
Babylonian Exile
The Babylonian conquest and exile of Judah meant the loss of the temple and homeland, a time when many felt God had indeed forgotten His people and hidden His face.
This passage echoes the thought that God is too high to notice earthly affairs, similar to the wicked person in Psalms who believes God will never see their actions.
Isaiah 29:15This verse directly addresses the idea that people try to hide their plans from the Lord, suggesting a deep-seated belief, like in Psalms 10:11, that God is unaware or indifferent.
Ezekiel 8:12Here, the elders of Israel act as if God has hidden His face and does not see their detestable practices, mirroring the core sentiment of the wicked in Psalms 10:11.
Matthew 6:30Jesus contrasts the worry of His followers with the care God has for even the smallest creatures, indirectly addressing the very doubt expressed in Psalms 10:11 that God might forget or neglect His own.
Hebrews 4:13This New Testament passage powerfully refutes the idea from Psalms 10:11 by stating that nothing is hidden from God's sight, as all things are exposed before Him.
calvinPsalms 10:11-13: "He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it."
He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten it: he hideth his face that he may never see it. 12. Arise, O Jehovah God, lift up thine hand: forget not the poor. 13. Why do the wicked despise God? He saith in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.
He hath said in his heart. The Psalmist again points out the source from which the presumption of the ungodly proceeds. Because God seem…
gillPsalms 10:11: "He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it."
He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten,.... Meaning either his own sins, because they are not immediately punished; wherefore he hopes to go on for ever with impunity, but will be mistaken, for God will remember the iniquities of Babylon, and render to her double, Revelation 18:5 ; see Amos 7:17 ; or else the poor ones he oppresses; for though they seem for a while to be forgotten by…
The truly chilling part here is that the wicked person isn't just thinking God is absent; they're actively reinterpreting God's apparent inaction as intentional neglect. They see God hiding His face not as a pause for intervention, but as a permanent decision to look away forever.
This verse plunges us into the inner thoughts of the wicked, who, seeing no immediate divine judgment, convince themselves that God is either unaware or indifferent to their evil deeds. They believe God has turned a blind eye to their oppression and that He will never intervene or even acknowledge what they are doing. This internal dialogue fuels their arrogance and leads them to despise God, thinking they can get away with anything.
This verse plunges us into the inner thoughts of the wicked, who, seeing no immediate divine judgment, convince themselves that God is either unaware or indifferent to their evil deeds. They believe God has turned a blind eye to their oppression and that He will never intervene or even acknowledge what they are doing. This internal dialogue fuels their arrogance and leads them to despise God, thinking they can get away with anything.
"He says in his heart, “God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it.”" — The truly chilling part here is that the wicked person isn't just thinking God is absent; they're actively reinterpreting God's apparent inaction as intentional neglect. They see God hiding His fac…
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Last reviewed October 2026