King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Let his days be few; [and] let another take his office.
Complete Jewish Bible:
May his days be few, may someone else take his position.
Berean Standard Bible:
May his days be few; may another take his position.
American Standard Version:
Let his days be few; Andlet another take his office.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Let his days{H3117} be few{H4592}; and let another{H312} take{H3947} his office{H6486}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Psalms 55:23
- But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.
Acts 1:16
- Men [and] brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
Acts 1:26
- And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Matthew 27:5
- And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
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Commentary for Psalms 109:8
Psalm 109:8 is part of a larger psalm attributed to King David, which is an individual lament expressing deep distress and calling for divine justice against enemies. This particular verse reflects the stark and vengeful tone of the psalm, as the writer wishes for the premature death of an adversary ("Let his days be few") and for the quick replacement of this enemy in their position of power or office ("let another take his office").
The historical context of this verse is rooted in the personal and political struggles of David's life. David, who was anointed by Samuel to be king, faced numerous challenges, including betrayals and conspiracies. Psalm 109 is classified as an imprecatory psalm, which means it includes curses or calls for retribution against the writer's foes. These types of psalms are characterized by their raw emotional intensity and the plea for God to intervene in human affairs to punish wrongdoers.
In the broader scope of the psalter, Psalm 109:8 encapsulates the human desire for swift justice and the removal of those who cause harm. It speaks to the themes of righteousness, the sovereignty of God over human leadership, and the belief that God will ultimately judge the wicked. The verse also highlights the complexity of human emotions, even within the spiritual life of a person of faith, as it does not shy away from expressing a desire for personal vindication.
While the verse reflects the emotions and context of David's time, it has also been interpreted in various ways throughout history, including in the context of Christian theology, where it has been used to discuss the nature of prayer, forgiveness, and the tension between human desires for justice and the call to love one's enemies.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3117
There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹם
Transliteration: yôwm
Pronunciation: yome
Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. - Strong's Number: H4592
There are 92 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מְעַט
Transliteration: mᵉʻaṭ
Pronunciation: meh-at'
Description: or מְעָט; from מָעַט; a little or few (often adverbial or compar.); almost (some, very) few(-er, -est), lightly, little (while), (very) small (matter, thing), some, soon, [idiom] very. - Strong's Number: H312
There are 271 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַחֵר
Transliteration: ʼachêr
Pronunciation: akh-air'
Description: from אָחַר; properly, hinder; generally, next, other, etc.; (an-) other man, following, next, strange. - Strong's Number: H3947
There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָקַח
Transliteration: lâqach
Pronunciation: law-kakh'
Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win. - Strong's Number: H6486
There are 31 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פְּקֻדָּה
Transliteration: pᵉquddâh
Pronunciation: pek-ood-daw'
Description: feminine passive participle of פָּקַד; visitation (in many senses, chiefly official); account, (that have the) charge, custody, that which...laid up, numbers, office(-r), ordering, oversight, [phrase] prison, reckoning, visitation.