Bible Strands
Psalms 17:8
Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — David addresses God directly in a psalm of petition, making this request immediately before describing the mortal enemies who surround and assail him (Psalms 17:7-9).
The words — The text employs שָׁמְרֵנִי (shamreni, "keep me") and תַּסְתִּירֵנִי (tastireni, "you will hide me") alongside כְּאִישׁוֹן בַּת־עַיִן (ke-ishon bat-ayin, "like the pupil of the daughter of an eye") to describe the requested preservation.
The thread — The motif of shelter under divine wings appears in Psalms 91:1 and Psalms 91:4, while the broader theme of God guarding a person in a barren wilderness parallels Deuteronomy 32:10.
Why it lands — The verse states a direct plea for physical and spiritual protection from surrounding foes, requiring a reader to acknowledge their vulnerability and actively seek refuge in God rather than relying on their own strength.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 32:10 He found him in a desert land, in a barren, howling wilderness; He surrounded him, He instructed him, He guarded him as the apple of His eye.
- Psalms 91:4 He will cover you with His feathers; under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and rampart.
- Psalms 91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
- Proverbs 7:2 Keep my commandments and live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
- Psalms 61:4 Let me dwell in Your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah
- Zechariah 2:8 For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “After His Glory has sent Me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of His eye—
- Ruth 2:12 May the LORD repay your work, and may you receive a rich reward from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have taken refuge.”
- Psalms 36:7 How precious is Your loving devotion, O God, that the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings!
- Luke 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!
- Psalms 57:1 For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David, when he fled from Saul into the cave. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy, for in You my soul takes refuge. In the shadow of Your wings I will take shelter until the danger has passed.