Psalms 138:6
For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Even though God is infinitely high and mighty, He doesn't just see the lowly; He respects them, meaning He favors and pays attention to them. For the proud, however, "knowing them from afar" isn't about observation, but distance and disdain – He keeps them at arm's length.
David is celebrating God's faithfulness and promise to him, acknowledging that God's truth and steadfast love are paramount. He's declaring his intention to worship God, even in the presence of other divine beings, and to give thanks for God's incredible actions. This verse then serves as a powerful summary of God's character in relation to humanity, highlighting His attention to the humble versus His awareness of the proud.
The Creator of the universe is impossibly vast and high. How can He possibly notice 'little' people like us?
This verse opens with a powerful statement about God's incredible stature: 'though the LORD is high.' This isn't just about physical height; it speaks to His absolute sovereignty, His infinite wisdom, and His complete transcendence over all creation. He is 'Most High,' far above everything we can imagine.
But here's the astonishing part: His loftiness doesn't create an unbridgeable distance. Instead, from that incredible height, He 'regards the lowly.' This means He notices, pays attention to, and has a gracious interest in those who are humble, who recognize their dependence on Him, and who are considered insignificant by the world's standards. It's a divine gaze that sees value and worth in the humble heart.
What does it mean for God to 'know' someone from afar, especially when it comes to the proud?
The second half of the verse presents a stark contrast: 'but the haughty he knows from afar.' This isn't the same kind of 'knowing' as His regard for the lowly. For the humble, He draws near; for the proud, He keeps His distance.
This 'knowing from afar' signifies a detached, unapproving awareness. God sees the proud, their arrogance, their self-sufficiency, and their disdain for others. But He observes them from a distance, marked by judgment rather than affection. It implies that they are outside the circle of His intimate favor and fellowship. Their pride creates a gulf that God acknowledges by keeping them at bay, not because He can't reach them, but because their attitude repels His presence.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The proper name of the God of Israel, the covenant-keeping God who revealed Himself to Moses. It signifies His eternal, self-existent, and faithful nature.
shaphal · Hebrew Adjective
Refers to those who are humble, afflicted, or in a low state, often contrasting with the proud. In Scripture, God shows special grace to those who acknowledge their need for Him.
gaboah · Hebrew Adjective
Those who are arrogant, proud, or puffed up in their own estimation. They stand in opposition to God and are spiritually distant from His favor.
yada · Hebrew Verb
In this context, to know intimately or to regard with favor and active involvement. When applied to God, it implies a relational commitment, whereas knowing from afar implies a lack of intimate fellowship or judicial distance.
This passage echoes the sentiment of Psalm 138:6 by highlighting God's action of looking upon the lowliness of His servant, contrasting it with His regard for the proud. Mary's song emphasizes that God looks on the humble, while scattering the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
James 4:6This New Testament passage directly quotes the idea from Psalms 138:6, stating 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' It powerfully reinforces the contrast between God's disposition towards the proud and the lowly.
Isaiah 57:15This prophetic passage speaks to God's dwelling place with those who are humble and contrite in spirit. It illustrates the 'respect unto the lowly' mentioned in Psalm 138:6, showing that God's highness doesn't separate Him but draws Him near to the humble.
Proverbs 3:34This proverb directly addresses the fate of the proud, stating, 'Towards the scoffers he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.' This aligns perfectly with Psalm 138:6's depiction of God knowing the proud from afar, implying a stance of opposition and distance.
Matthew 11:25Jesus gives thanks because the Father has hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children, directly mirroring the theme in Psalm 138:6. God's highness is such that He reveals Himself to the humble, not those who rely on their own perceived wisdom.
clarkePsalms 138:6: "Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off."
Though the Lord be high - Infinitely great as God is, he regards even the lowest and most inconsiderable part of his creation; but the humble and afflicted man attracts his notice particularly. But the proud he knoweth afar off - He beholds them at a distance, and has them in utter derision.
gillPsalms 138:6: "Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off."
Though the Lord be high,.... Above all the earth, and all the nations of it, and the highest of men in it; above the heavens, and the angels there, who are his creatures and at his command; above all the blessings and praises of his saints: the perfect knowledge of him is so high as not to be attained; and his thoughts and ways are higher than ours, as the heavens are higher than the…
Even though God is infinitely high and mighty, He doesn't just see the lowly; He respects them, meaning He favors and pays attention to them. For the proud, however, "knowing them from afar" isn't about observation, but distance and disdain – He keeps them at arm's length.
David is celebrating God's faithfulness and promise to him, acknowledging that God's truth and steadfast love are paramount. He's declaring his intention to worship God, even in the presence of other divine beings, and to give thanks for God's incredible actions. This verse then serves as a powerful summary of God's character in relation to humanity, highlighting His attention to the humble versus His awareness of the proud.
David is celebrating God's faithfulness and promise to him, acknowledging that God's truth and steadfast love are paramount. He's declaring his intention to worship God, even in the presence of other divine beings, and to give thanks for God's incredible actions. This verse then serves as a powerful summary of God's character in relation to humanity, highlighting His attention to the humble versus His awareness of the proud.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Psalms 138:6 is available in the Sola app.
"For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar." — Even though God is infinitely high and mighty, He doesn't just see the lowly; He respects them, meaning He favors and pays attention to them. For the proud, however, "knowing them from afar" isn'…
