Why God’s People Are Called ‘the Apple of His Eye’

The following Bible passage is a line in the Song of Moses—which that prophet wrote toward the end of his life. It speaks of God’s care for the children of Israel in the Wilderness of Sin:

“He found him in a desert land and in the wasteland, a howling wilderness; He encircled him, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of his eye” (Deut. 32:10, NKJV, author’s emphasis)

On a higher level, this verse also speaks symbolically of God’s great care for all His people.

Foundationally, this phrase means “dearly loved” or “deeply cherished.”

This may surprise you, but it has nothing to do with the fruit, the apple. Instead, the “apple of the eye” is a reference to the pupil, the centermost part of the eye.

But what does that have to do with God’s love for us?

Once you fully comprehend the inspired symbolism, you’ll see it also speaks of God’s powerful intervention in our lives, how Jesus was “bruised for our iniquities” and tasted “death for everyone” (Isa. 53:5, Heb. 2:9).

The Original Hebrew

The Hebrew word translated “apple” is iyshon (pronounced ee-shone’). That word comes from the Hebrew word iysh, meaning “man” (pronounced “eesh”). So Iyshon literally means “the little man.”

Why would God use a word that literally means “the little man” to represent the center of the eye and how does that translate into a symbol of His great love for us?

More Key Verses

These are as follows: Zechariah 2:8, Psalms 17:8, Proverbs 7:2.

Get ready for your faith to increase dramatically. {eoa}

Mike Shreve has been teaching God’s Word since 1971, with an emphasis on healing and the prophetic. He has authored 15 books, including the best-selling 65 Promises From God for Your Child. “Discover Your Spiritual Identity” podcasts are based on Mike Shreve’s book Who Am I. Obtain your copy today. Visit shreveministries.org, facebook.com/shrevemin, twitter.com/shrevemin and instagram.com/mike_shreve.

Subscribe to Mike Shreve’s other CPN podcast on comparative religion called “Revealing the True Light”: https://www.charismapodcastnetwork.com/show/revealingthetruelight