Psalm 44:21
New International Version
would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the heart?

New Living Translation
God would surely have known it, for he knows the secrets of every heart.

English Standard Version
would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart.

Berean Standard Bible
would not God have discovered, since He knows the secrets of the heart?

King James Bible
Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

New King James Version
Would not God search this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart.

New American Standard Bible
Would God not find this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart.

NASB 1995
Would not God find this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart.

NASB 1977
Would not God find this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart.

Legacy Standard Bible
Would not God find this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart.

Amplified Bible
Would not God discover this? For He knows the secrets of the heart.

Christian Standard Bible
wouldn’t God have found this out, since he knows the secrets of the heart?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
wouldn’t God have found this out, since He knows the secrets of the heart?

American Standard Version
Will not God search this out? For he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

Contemporary English Version
You would have known it because you discover every secret thought.

English Revised Version
Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
wouldn't God find out, since he knows the secrets in our hearts?

Good News Translation
you would surely have discovered it, because you know our secret thoughts.

International Standard Version
wouldn't God find out since he knows the secrets of the heart?

Majority Standard Bible
would not God have discovered, since He knows the secrets of the heart?

NET Bible
would not God discover it, for he knows one's thoughts?

New Heart English Bible
won't God search this out? For he knows the secrets of the heart.

Webster's Bible Translation
Will not God search out this? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

World English Bible
won’t God search this out? For he knows the secrets of the heart.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Does God not search this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart.

Young's Literal Translation
Doth not God search out this? For He knoweth the secrets of the heart.

Smith's Literal Translation
Will not God search this out? for he knew the secrets of the heart.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Shall not God search out these things : for he knoweth the secrets of the heart. Because for thy sake we are killed all the day long : we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.

Catholic Public Domain Version
If we have forgotten the name of our God, and if we have extended our hands to a foreign god,

New American Bible
Would not God have discovered this, God who knows the secrets of the heart?

New Revised Standard Version
would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
God will look into this thing, for he knows the secrets of the heart.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
God searches into this, for he knows the purposes of the heart.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Would not God search this out? For He knoweth the secrets of the heart.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
for he knows the secrets of the heart.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Redeem Us
20If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god, 21would not God have discovered, since He knows the secrets of the heart? 22Yet for Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 17:10
I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.

1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”

Hebrews 4:12-13
For 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. / Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

1 Chronicles 28:9
As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.

Proverbs 15:11
Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD—how much more the hearts of men!

Romans 8:27
And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore 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.

Acts 1:24
And they prayed, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen

Revelation 2:23
Then 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.

Psalm 139:1-4
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O LORD, You have searched me and known me. / You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar. / You search out my path and my lying down; You are aware of all my ways. ...

Job 34:21-22
For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step. / There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide.

Proverbs 21:2
All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.

Jeremiah 20:12
O LORD of Hosts, who examines the righteous, who sees the heart and mind, let me see Your vengeance upon them, for to You I have committed my cause.

Luke 16:15
So He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is prized among men is detestable before God.

John 2:24-25
But Jesus did not entrust Himself to them, for He knew them all. / He did not need any testimony about man, for He knew what was in a man.


Treasury of Scripture

Shall not God search this out? for he knows the secrets of the heart.

Shall

Psalm 139:1
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.

Job 31:4,14
Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps? …

Job 34:21,22
For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings…

knoweth

Joshua 22:22,23
The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD, (save us not this day,) …

Ecclesiastes 12:14
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Romans 2:16
In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

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Psalm 44
1. The church, in memory of former favors
7. complains of her present evils
17. professing her integrity,
24. she fervently prays for helpfulness














would not God have discovered
This phrase underscores the omniscience of God, a central tenet in conservative Christian theology. The Hebrew root for "discovered" is "חָקַר" (chaqar), which means to search out or examine thoroughly. This implies that God’s knowledge is not superficial but penetrates to the deepest recesses of the human heart. Historically, this reflects the belief that God is intimately aware of all creation, as seen in other scriptures like Psalm 139:1-4. The rhetorical question here emphasizes that nothing is hidden from God, reinforcing the idea that God’s understanding is complete and perfect.

since He knows the secrets
The word "secrets" comes from the Hebrew "סֵתֶר" (seter), meaning hidden or concealed things. This highlights the belief that God is aware of all things, even those that are hidden from human eyes. In the historical context of Israel, this would have been a comforting assurance that God is aware of injustices and the true intentions of the heart. Scripturally, this aligns with passages like Jeremiah 17:10, where God searches the heart and examines the mind. For believers, this serves as both a warning and a comfort: a warning that nothing can be hidden from God, and a comfort that God understands our innermost struggles and intentions.

of the heart?
The "heart" in Hebrew is "לֵב" (lev), which in biblical terms often refers to the center of human will, emotions, and intellect, rather than just the physical organ. In ancient Israelite culture, the heart was seen as the seat of thought and moral decision-making. This phrase emphasizes that God’s knowledge extends to our deepest motivations and desires. In a scriptural context, this is consistent with the biblical portrayal of God as one who desires truth in the inward being (Psalm 51:6). For the conservative Christian, this serves as a call to sincerity and integrity, knowing that God values the purity of the heart above outward appearances.

Verse 21. - Shall not God search this out! i.e. visit for it - punish it. Such a result was to be expected. But when there had been no precedent idolatry, no neglect of the worship of Jehovah, what then? For he knoweth the secrets of the heart. Secret idolatry would, of course, explain the state of things; but the writer evidently knows of no secret idolatry.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
would not
הֲלֹ֣א (hă·lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

God
אֱ֭לֹהִים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

have discovered,
זֹ֑את (zōṯ)
Pronoun - feminine singular
Strong's 2063: Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that,

since
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

He
ה֥וּא (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

knows
יֹ֝דֵ֗עַ (yō·ḏê·a‘)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

the secrets
תַּעֲלֻמ֥וֹת (ta·‘ă·lu·mō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 8587: A hidden thing, secret

of the heart?
לֵֽב׃ (lêḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre


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OT Poetry: Psalm 44:21 Won't God search this out? For he (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 44:20
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