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"Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of Thy wings." These two figures are used frequently in the Old Testament. "The apple of the eye." If you were to look up that word "apple" in a critical concordance or a Hebrew lexicon you might be surprised at the real word, for the literal Hebrew is, "little man"-"Keep me as the little man in the eye." If you stand close to me and you look into my eye, what do you see there? A little man and that little man is yourself; you see yourself reflected upside down; you are a little man in my eye. Now the Lord Jesus says to the Father; David says to Jehovah, "Keep me as the little man in Thine eye." God is always looking at you, and you are reflected in His eye. How deep is His interest in you! And then the other figure is that of a great eagle protecting its young. "Hide Me under the shadow of Thy wings." "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty" (Psa. 91:1). "From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about."

H.A. Ironside
"Studies on the Psalms" (17:8)

 

Thanks, that was interesting. I checked a few other commentators, and the word may actually be female, i.e. a little daughter, but they all seem to agree that it's something to do with the physical eye and it's preciousness and vulnerablity, which is different than Ironside, but whoever is right it's great food for thought.