King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
LORD, what [is] man, that thou takest knowledge of him! [or] the son of man, that thou makest account of him!
Complete Jewish Bible:
ADONAI, what are mere mortals, that you notice them at all; humans, that you think about them?
Berean Standard Bible:
O LORD, what is man, that You regard him, the son of man that You think of him?
American Standard Version:
Jehovah, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that thou makest account of him?
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
LORD{H3068}, what is man{H120}, that thou takest knowledge{H3045} of him! or the son{H1121} of man{H582}, that thou makest account{H2803} of him!
Cross-References (KJV):
Psalms 8:4
- What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
Job 7:17
- ¶ What [is] man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?
Hebrews 2:6
- But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
Job 15:14
- What [is] man, that he should be clean? and [he which is] born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
Psalms 146:3
- Put not your trust in princes, [nor] in the son of man, in whom [there is] no help.
Psalms 146:4
- His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
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Commentary for Psalms 144:3
Psalm 144:3 is part of a larger psalm attributed to King David, who is identified as the author in its superscription. This particular verse is a poetic expression of humility and wonder before God, reflecting a common theme in the Psalms where the psalmist contemplates the nature of humanity in relation to the divine.
The verse reads: "LORD, what [is] man, that thou takest knowledge of him! [or] the son of man, that thou makest account of him!" Here, David is marveling at the fact that God, in His infinite greatness and omnipotence, would take notice of human beings, who are so insignificant in comparison. The phrases "what [is] man" and "the son of man" both refer to humanity, emphasizing human frailty and transience. The term "son of man" is also a messianic title that would later be associated with Jesus Christ in the New Testament, but in the context of Psalm 144, it is used to highlight the lowly status of humans in general.
In the historical context, David, who was a shepherd before becoming a king, was likely reflecting on his own experiences and the vast difference between his own humanity and the eternal, all-powerful nature of God. This verse underscores the themes of human dependence on God, divine sovereignty, and the grace of God in choosing to be involved with humanity despite the disparity between the Creator and the created. It is a call to humility and a recognition of God's mercy and attention toward human affairs, which is a source of comfort and awe for the faithful.
The broader context of Psalm 144 is a prayer for deliverance and victory in battle, which reflects the tumultuous times in which David lived. The psalm oscillates between praising God for His steadfast love and mighty acts, and petitioning God for protection against enemies. Thus, Psalm 144:3 serves as a pivot within the psalm, acknowledging human vulnerability and the need for divine intervention, while also affirming the value that God places on each individual.
*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: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H120
There are 581 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָדָם
Transliteration: ʼâdâm
Pronunciation: aw-dawm'
Description: from אָדַם; ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.); [idiom] another, [phrase] hypocrite, [phrase] common sort, [idiom] low, man (mean, of low degree), person. - Strong's Number: H3045
There are 873 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָדַע
Transliteration: yâdaʻ
Pronunciation: yaw-dah'
Description: a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.); acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-) norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, [phrase] be learned, [phrase] lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, [idiom] prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), [idiom] will be, wist, wit, wot. - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H582
There are 648 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֱנוֹשׁ
Transliteration: ʼĕnôwsh
Pronunciation: en-oshe'
Description: from אָנַשׁ; properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified אָדָם); hence,; a man in general (singly or collectively); another, [idiom] (blood-) thirsty, certain, chap(-man); divers, fellow, [idiom] in the flower of their age, husband, (certain, mortal) man, people, person, servant, some ([idiom] of them), [phrase] stranger, those, [phrase] their trade. It is often unexpressed in the English versions, especially when used in apposition with another word. Compare אִישׁ. - Strong's Number: H2803
There are 122 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָשַׁב
Transliteration: châshab
Pronunciation: khaw-shab'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e. (literally) to weave or (generally) to fabricate; figuratively, to plot or contrive (usually in a malicious sense); hence (from the mental effort) to think, regard, value, compute; (make) account (of), conceive, consider, count, cunning (man, work, workman), devise, esteem, find out, forecast, hold, imagine, impute, invent, be like, mean, purpose, reckon(-ing be made), regard, think.