would not God have discovered, since He knows the secrets of the heart?
Parallel translations
- WEB won’t God search this out? For he knows the secrets of the heart.
- KJV Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
- NKJV Would not God search this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart.
- NASB Would God not find this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart.
- NLT God would surely have known it, for he knows the secrets of every heart.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
If they had turned to idols, would not God, who knows the heart's secrets, have found it out? It matters because it appeals to God's perfect knowledge as witness to their loyalty.
Overview
The psalmist invokes God's omniscience: He searches and knows the hidden heart. They appeal to this very knowledge as proof they have not secretly betrayed Him. The God who knows all hearts is the same Lord before whom nothing is hidden, and to whom the faithful can entrust their integrity.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Jer 17:10I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.
- Jer 23:24“Can a man hide in secret places where I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD.
- Job 34:21–22For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step.
- Eccl 12:14For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
- Heb 4:12–13For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- Job 31:4Does He not see my ways and count my every step?
- Ps 139:1–24For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
- 1 Cor 4:5Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
- Rom 2:16on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Christ Jesus, as proclaimed by my gospel.
- Josh 22:22–23“The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! He knows, and may Israel also know. If this was in rebellion or breach of faith against the LORD, do not spare us today.
- Job 31:14what will I do when God rises to judge? How will I answer when called to account?
- Rev 2:23Then I will strike her children dead, and all the churches will know that I am the One who searches minds and hearts, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 44:21 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.