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Psalm 11 Bible study: In the LORD, I take refuge
"His eyes observe" (11:4) and "The upright shall see his face" (11:7) are the same Hebrew word, yechezu: the LORD's eyes see, and the upright shall see his face. And the psalm that asks "what can the righteous do?" (11:3) ends, "For the LORD is righteous" (11:7), with the same word.
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“For the LORD is righteous. He loves righteousness. The upright shall see his face.”
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“Psalm 11 says that the LORD is righteous.”
Is that in Psalm 11, or not? Make your call.
What's really going on
Flee, or take refuge
The title says, "For the Chief Musician. By David" (11:1), and names no occasion. Then the psalm's first words: "In the LORD, I take refuge" (11:1) (tap take refuge). Straight after comes a question to people the psalm doesn't name: "How can you say to my soul" (11:1), and their advice, "Flee as a bird to your mountain" (11:1) (tap Flee, bird). The reason for running is given next: "For, behold, the wicked bend their bows. They set their arrows on the strings, that they may shoot in darkness at the upright in heart" (11:2). Then a question that stays unanswered for a verse: "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (11:3) (tap foundations). Strong's gives the verb for take refuge as "to flee for protection". So the psalm opens with two ways of seeking safety side by side: taking refuge in the LORD, and fleeing as a bird to the mountain.
Honest questions
Questions people ask about Psalm 11
That was a taste
The rest of Psalm 11 is waiting in Favor
- The LORD is in his holy temple
- Seen, and seeing
- Rain, fire and sulfur
- Looking down from heaven
- "The LORD is righteous", and "Righteous Father"
- 5 questions as you read
- 12 more Hebrew words
- A short check at the end
- Your notes, saved as you go
Favor reads the Bible in order, so you'll reach Psalm 11 with everything before it in view. First week free, then $10 a month per person.
The Hebrew word behind it
חָזָהchazahsay kha-ZAH
Strong's: "to gaze at; mentally to perceive, contemplate (with pleasure); specifically, to have a vision of". Brown-Driver-Briggs: "see, behold". "His eyes observe" (11:4), and "The upright shall see his face" (11:7): both are this verb, in the same form, yechezu. In 11:4 the LORD's eyes see; in 11:7 the upright see. The Psalms have it nine times in Hebrew. Psalm 17 has it with the same word for face: "As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness" (Psalm 17:15). And Psalm 27 has it in "to see the LORD’s beauty" (Psalm 27:4).
For your group
Psalm 11 Bible study questions
- 1"How can you say to my soul" (11:1) is the psalm's answer to the advice "Flee as a bird to your mountain" (11:1). When has advice to get away from something hard sounded wise to you, and how did you decide?
- 2"If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (11:3). What feels shaken around you right now, and where do you find yourself looking first?
- 3"His eyes observe" (11:4), and "The upright shall see his face" (11:7). Does it comfort you or unsettle you that the LORD sees you? What would it mean to you to see his face?
Leading a group? In Favor, everyone reads Psalm 11 during the week and answers these questions privately. Answers stay sealed until you meet, then appear together, and you can print the week's sheet.
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Questions
What is Favor?
Favor is a Bible study app that explains every chapter as you read: the Hebrew and Greek behind the words, the details most readers miss, and how each part of the Bible leads to Jesus. Read on your own, or start a Bible study with friends, family or your church.
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Favor takes the Bible as one story, in order, so you'll reach Psalm 11 with everything that leads up to it in view. Start from Genesis, or meet Jesus first in the Gospels. You can read the text of any chapter in Favor's Look up whenever you like.
Do I need a group?
No. Many people read on their own. If you'd like to read with others, start a Bible study and share one link. Everyone's answers stay private until you meet.
I've never really read the Bible. Is this for me?
Yes. Favor starts where you are and explains as it goes. The questions along the way aren't marked right or wrong: you answer, then see what the text shows.
Which Bible does Favor use?
The World English Bible, a modern, readable translation in the public domain. God's name appears as "the LORD", as in most English Bibles.
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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Hebrew and Greek words are checked against the original-language texts and public-domain lexicons. What we believe · Favor home