Bible Strands
Psalms 94:11
The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses God, placing the verse between a rhetorical question about divine knowledge in verse 10 and a declaration of blessing for those taught by God's law in verse 12.
The words — The Hebrew יֹדֵעַ (Yo.de.a') means "[is] knowing," and הָֽבֶל (Ha.vel) translates literally to "[are] a breath," describing the insubstantial nature of human thoughts.
The thread — The same theme appears in 1 Corinthians 3:20, 1 Corinthians 1:19, and Job 11:11, where God's awareness of human thoughts or wisdom is contrasted with human limitation or deceit.
Why it lands — The text states that God knows human thoughts are futile, which requires the reader to recognize the limits of human wisdom and submit to divine instruction rather than self-reliance.
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
The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
Cross-references
- 1 Corinthians 3:20 And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”
- 1 Corinthians 1:19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
- Job 11:11 Surely He knows the deceit of men. If He sees iniquity, does He not take note?
- Romans 1:21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts.
- 1 Corinthians 1:21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
- 1 Corinthians 1:25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.
- Psalms 49:10 For it is clear that wise men die, and the foolish and the senseless both perish and leave their wealth to others.