Psalms 94:9-10
He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see? He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke? He who teaches man knowledge—
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse challenges us to consider the sheer absurdity of denying God's ability to see and hear. It's not just about God having eyes and ears, but about recognizing that the very creation of these senses in us points to the Creator's perfect, inherent capacity for perception.
The Psalmist is addressing a people who are acting as if God doesn't see or care about their wickedness, particularly the cruelty and injustice of their rulers. To counter this dangerous delusion, he appeals to God's creative power, reminding them that the one who designed the human ear must surely be able to hear, and the one who formed the eye must surely be able to see. This is a foundational argument for God's omniscience and His ultimate role as a just judge.
When you think about how intricate your ear is, or how amazing your eye functions, who do you think deserves the credit? The Psalmist points to a truth that's both simple and profound.
An Argument from Design
The verse draws a powerful argument from the natural world to reveal God's nature. It asks a series of rhetorical questions:
This isn't just about God having physical senses like ours. It's about His perfect knowledge. Just as He created us with these abilities, He possesses them infinitely, demonstrating His complete awareness of everything. He isn't limited like His creation; His knowledge is perfect and all-encompassing.
The world often acts as if God is unaware or indifferent. But what does the Psalmist say about those who deny God's ability to see and hear?
Denying the Undeniable
The background to this verse, as the surrounding verses show, is that people are acting wickedly, believing they can get away with it. They say, "The LORD shall not see; the God of Jacob shall not regard it" (Psalm 94:7).
This is more than just a casual thought; it's a declaration of practical atheism. They are living as if God doesn't exist, or at least as if He's distant and uninvolved.
Understand the original words
yasar · Hebrew Verb
The act of correcting, training, or instructing through experience, often involving hardship or trial. God uses this to shape His children's character and lead them back to righteousness.
yakach · Hebrew Verb
A strong expression of disapproval, censure, or calling to account for wrong behavior. God rebukes both individuals and nations to demonstrate His holiness and justice.
This passage highlights that humans are created in God's image, implying a shared capacity for senses like sight and hearing, and therefore God, as the ultimate source, must possess these faculties in perfection.
Job 12:7-10Similar to Psalms 94:9, Job uses the created order to argue for God's wisdom and knowledge, asking if the beasts and birds, which God created, don't teach us that God is knowledgeable.
Isaiah 40:28This verse asserts God's everlasting strength and knowledge, directly countering any notion that the Creator of the earth might be weary or unaware, reinforcing the idea that He who made us to perceive must Himself perceive.
Matthew 6:22-23Jesus speaks of the eye as the lamp of the body, implying its function in perception; this echoes the psalm's logic that the One who designed this organ of sight must Himself possess perfect vision.
1 Corinthians 2:10-11This passage explains that just as a man's spirit knows his own thoughts, God's Spirit knows all things, including the thoughts and actions of humanity, underlining His omniscience which is rooted in His very being, much like our senses are rooted in our being.
jfbPsalms 94:9: "He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?"
9-11. The evidence of God's providential government is found in His creative power and omniscience, which also assure us that He can punish the wicked in regard to all their vain purposes.
calvinPsalms 94:7-10: "Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it."
And they have said, God shall not see, the God of Jacob shall not know. 8. Understand, ye stupid [17] among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise? 9. He that planted [18] the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see? 10. He that chastiseth the nations, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge. [19]
And they have said, God shall not see When the Ps…
The verse challenges us to consider the sheer absurdity of denying God's ability to see and hear. It's not just about God having eyes and ears, but about recognizing that the very creation of these senses in us points to the Creator's perfect, inherent capacity for perception.
The Psalmist is addressing a people who are acting as if God doesn't see or care about their wickedness, particularly the cruelty and injustice of their rulers. To counter this dangerous delusion, he appeals to God's creative power, reminding them that the one who designed the human ear must surely be able to hear, and the one who formed the eye must surely be able to see. This is a foundational argument for God's omniscience and His ultimate role as a just judge.
The Psalmist is addressing a people who are acting as if God doesn't see or care about their wickedness, particularly the cruelty and injustice of their rulers. To counter this dangerous delusion, he appeals to God's creative power, reminding them that the one who designed the human ear must surely be able to hear, and the one who formed the eye must surely be able to see. This is a foundational argument for God's omniscience and His ultimate role as a just judge.
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The Psalmist’s argument is clear: If God created the capacity for seeing and hearing, He certainly possesses these abilities in perfect measure. To deny this is to deny the very evidence of creation itself.
"He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see? He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke? He who teaches man knowledge—" — The verse challenges us to consider the sheer absurdity of denying God's ability to see and hear. It's not just about God having eyes and ears, but about recognizing that the very creation of these…
