What does Psalm 33:15 mean?
ESV: he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds.
NIV: he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.
NASB: He who fashions the hearts of them all, He who understands all their works.
CSB: He forms the hearts of them all; he considers all their works.
NLT: He made their hearts, so he understands everything they do.
KJV: He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.
NKJV: He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works.
Verse Commentary:
The Lord sees not only everyone's outward acts, but also the thoughts and intentions of everyone's heart (Hebrews 4:12–13). Luke 9:46–47 informs us that when the disciples were arguing about who was the greatest, Jesus knew the reasoning of their hearts. As the creator of human beings, the Lord knows what lies in our deepest thoughts and motivations.

Jeremiah 17:9–10 reveals: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? 'I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.'" Fortunately, the Lord can perform spiritual heart surgery and heal the heart (Psalm 51:10). Acts 16:14 reports that the Lord opened the heart of a woman named Lydia to pay attention to the gospel Paul preached. She became a believer and an ardent follower of Christ. Second Chronicles 16:9 tells us, "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him."
Verse Context:
Psalm 33:4–19 records David's reasons to praise the Lord. They include praise for God's Word, His creative power, His sovereignty over the nations, His all-seeing vision, His faithful works, and His deliverance of His people.
Chapter Summary:
David summons the worshipers of Israel to be joyful as they praise God. The psalm celebrates God's creative power, sovereignty, and faithfulness. Rather than relying on earthly strength, the Lord's people can trust in His omnipotent power. This results in a collective praise for God and His unfailing love for those who trust and hope in Him.
Chapter Context:
The Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, attributes this psalm to David. It is a psalm that encourages worshipers to praise the Lord. It may have been written after Israel experienced a victory over an enemy. Because the verbs in this psalm are plural, it features the worship leader's call to worship and the worshipers' response.
Book Summary:
The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.
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