The Little Man

Deuteronomy 32 records a song that Moses recited to the assembled people of Israel. In verse 10, we can read that Israel was guarded by God because they were "the apple of His eye."
Zechariah, a prophet in Judah during the rebuilding of the Temple, spoke that "whoever touches you touches the apple of [Yahweh's] eye." (2:8)
In the book of Psalms, David pens these lyrics during his persecution by Saul: "Guard me as the apple of your eye. Hide me in the shadow of your wings." (17:8)

The common phrase is evident: the apple of God's eye. This little English saying communicates endearment; the object that is the apple of a person's eye is a very precious object to that person, their most prized possession.
Hebrew, however, doesn't actually employ this idiom. It's a translation choice (and a good one) to turn the original language's words into this English phrase, especially since English readers wouldn't understand a direct translation. After all, it doesn't make sense to me why the people of Israel would be "the little man in God's eye." This is the direct translation. So what's the deal?

If you've ever been so close to someone, face-to-face, that you can catch your reflection in their eyeball, you've got a little background for understanding. If you get even closer so that the image is not just reflected on the glossy surface of the eye but inside the very pupil itself, this is "the little man." The LORD, Yawheh - His name of relationship, is so very intimate with His people, both corporately and individually, that Scripture records them as the little man in His eye. He is face-to-face, closer than breath. Unabashed, unrestrained, affectionate, protective, full of grace, abundantly faithful. So close. We are the little man of God's eye.
Almost makes me want to learn biblical languages so I can catch stuff like that :)