Psalms 94:11

94:11 The Lord knows that

peoples’ thoughts are morally bankrupt. ¹ 

Jeremiah 17:9-10

17:9 The human mind is more deceitful than anything else.

It is incurably bad. ²  Who can understand it?

17:10 I, the Lord, probe into people’s minds.

I examine people’s hearts. ³ 

I deal with each person according to how he has behaved.

I give them what they deserve based on what they have done.

John 2:24-25

2:24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people. ⁴  2:25 He did not need anyone to testify about man, ⁵  for he knew what was in man. ⁶ 

Hebrews 4:13

4:13 And no creature is hidden from God, ⁷  but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.

Revelation 2:23

2:23 Furthermore, I will strike her followers ⁸  with a deadly disease, ⁹  and then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts. I will repay ¹⁰  each one of you ¹¹  what your deeds deserve. ¹² 

¹ tn Heb “the Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are emptiness.” The psalmist thinks specifically of the “thoughts” expressed in v. 7.

² tn Or “incurably deceitful”; Heb “It is incurable.” For the word “deceitful” compare the usage of the verb in Gen 27:36 and a related noun in 2 Kgs 10:19. For the adjective “incurable” compare the usage in Jer 15:18. It is most commonly used with reference to wounds or of pain. In Jer 17:16 it is used metaphorically for a “woeful day” (i.e., day of irreparable devastation).

³ tn The term rendered “mind” here and in the previous verse is actually the Hebrew word for “heart.” However, in combination with the word rendered “heart” in the next line, which is the Hebrew for “kidneys,” it is best rendered “mind” because the “heart” was considered the center of intellect, conscience, and will and the “kidneys” the center of emotions.

⁴ tn Grk “all.” The word “people” has been supplied for clarity, since the Greek word πάντας (pantas) is masculine plural (thus indicating people rather than things).

⁵ tn The masculine form has been retained here in the translation to maintain the connection with “a man of the Pharisees” in 3:1, with the understanding that the reference is to people of both genders.

⁶ tn See previous note on “man” in this verse.

⁷ tn Grk “him”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁸ tn Grk “her children,” but in this context a reference to this woman’s followers or disciples is more likely meant.

⁹ tn Grk “I will kill with death.” θάνατος (qanatos) can in particular contexts refer to a manner of death, specifically a contagious disease (see BDAG 443 s.v. 3; L&N 23.158).

¹⁰ tn Grk “I will give.” The sense of δίδωμι (didwmi) in this context is more “repay” than “give.”

¹¹ sn This pronoun and the following one are plural in the Greek text.

¹² tn Grk “each one of you according to your works.”