Zechariah 2:8 reads “For thus saith the Lord of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled (plundered) you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye”. This got me thinking as to what it means to be the apple of God’s eye. Little research on the etymology of this idiom “apple of the eye” revealed that this phrase is used to figuratively describe someone very special or precious, who is cherished above all others. The Hebrew word for “apple” (pupil) in Deuteronomy 32:10 is literally “little man” referring to the small reflection you see of yourself when you look into another’s eyes.

Now think about this, if we are the apple of God’s eyes, it implies that God is looking at us so that our reflection is seen in God’s eyes. What a privilege it is to know that we are special and precious and cherished by the God of the universe and those who attempt to hurt us will be akin to those who are touching the apple of God’s eyes.

Our prayer should be that of the Psalmist, who prayed, keep me as the apple of your eye and hide me in the shadow of your wings (Psalm 17:8). We must also recognize that we must guard his teachings as the apple of our eyes and keep his commands so that we may live (Proverbs 7:2). Furthermore, while it is our privilege to be the apple of God’s eyes, let our prayer be that we gaze upon the beauty of the Lord all the days of our life (Psalm 27:4). In other words, our prayers should be that as we look at God’s beauty, He will be reflected in our lives (eyes) i.e., God will be the apple of our eyes and this means He is special and precious and cherished above all others by us.

Zechariah 2:8 (KJV)
8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.

Psalm 27:4 (KJV)
4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.