The Meaning of Psalms 138:6 Explained

Psalms 138:6

KJV: Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.

YLT: For high is Jehovah, and the lowly He seeth, And the haughty from afar He knoweth.

Darby: For Jehovah is high; but he looketh upon the lowly, and the proud he knoweth afar off.

ASV: For though Jehovah is high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly; But the haughty he knoweth from afar.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Though the LORD  [be] high,  yet hath he respect  unto the lowly:  but the proud  he knoweth  afar off. 

What does Psalms 138:6 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 138:1-8 - The Most High Regards The Lowly
This is the first of a cycle of Davidic psalms, based on 2 Samuel 7:1-29. God's promised favors are the theme of devout thanksgiving. No idols could have achieved such generous and great results. Even God had outdone Himself by magnifying His word above His name. Prayer had played its part, for in the day that it was offered it had been answered. Even kings in their various spheres would add their praises, Psalms 138:4. Yet this would be only the beginning of wonders. God can never rest with an incomplete or an unfinished work. When He puts His hand to the salvation of a soul, He pledges Himself to perfect the good work until the day of Jesus Christ, Philippians 1:6. Trust God, amid all disappointment and heartache. He will wipe away all tears, explain all mysteries, and place the topstone on the structure of your life. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 138

1  David praises God for the truth of his word
4  He prophesies that the kings of the earth shall praise God
7  He professes his confidence in God

What do the individual words in Psalms 138:6 mean?

Though on high Yahweh [is] and yet the lowly He regards but the high [one] from afar He knows
כִּי־ רָ֣ם יְ֭הוָה וְשָׁפָ֣ל יִרְאֶ֑ה וְ֝גָבֹ֗הַּ מִמֶּרְחָ֥ק יְיֵדָֽע

כִּי־  Though 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
רָ֣ם  on  high 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יָרוּם 
Sense: to rise, rise up, be high, be lofty, be exalted.
יְ֭הוָה  Yahweh  [is] 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וְשָׁפָ֣ל  and  yet  the  lowly 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: שָׁפָל  
Sense: low, humble.
יִרְאֶ֑ה  He  regards 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
וְ֝גָבֹ֗הַּ  but  the  high  [one] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: גָּבֹהַּ  
Sense: high, exalted.
מִמֶּרְחָ֥ק  from  afar 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶרְחָק  
Sense: distant place, distance, far country.
יְיֵדָֽע  He  knows 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.