King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
He asked life of thee, [and] thou gavest [it] him, [even] length of days for ever and ever.
Complete Jewish Bible:
He asks you for life; you give it to him, years and years forever and ever.
Berean Standard Bible:
He asked You for life, and You granted it— length of days, forever and ever.
American Standard Version:
He asked life of thee, thou gavest it him, Even length of days for ever and ever.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
He asked{H7592} life{H2416} of thee, and thou gavest{H5414} it him, even length{H753} of days{H3117} for ever{H5769} and ever{H5703}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Psalms 91:16
- With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
Psalms 119:77
- Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law [is] my delight.
Revelation 1:18
- [I am] he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Psalms 133:3
- As the dew of Hermon, [and as the dew] that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, [even] life for evermore.
Psalms 61:5
- ¶ For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given [me] the heritage of those that fear thy name.
Psalms 61:6
- Thou wilt prolong the king's life: [and] his years as many generations.
Psalms 89:36
- His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Psalms 21:4
Psalm 21 is a royal psalm, likely used in the context of celebrations related to the king of Israel, particularly during the period of the united monarchy or the Davidic dynasty. These psalms often praise the king's military successes and his close relationship with God, who is believed to grant him victory and prosperity. The verse Psalms 21:4 reflects the theme of divine favor and the king's reliance on God for his well-being and longevity.
In this verse, the psalmist declares that the king has requested life from God, and in response, God has granted him not just life but an abundance of it—a life that is prolonged, symbolizing divine blessing and approval. The phrase "length of days for ever and ever" suggests an enduring reign, a concept that resonates with the ancient Near Eastern idea of a king reigning successfully for many years as a sign of divine favor. This verse reflects the hope and belief that the king's rule would be perpetual, echoing the promise made to David in 2 Samuel 7:16, where God promises that David's house and kingdom will endure forever.
Historically, this psalm would have been sung or recited during festivals, coronations, or other royal events to affirm the king's divine right to rule and to invoke God's continued protection and blessings upon him. The language of everlasting life and rule also prefigures the messianic expectations that would later develop in Jewish thought, finding ultimate fulfillment in Christian theology with the coming of Jesus Christ, who is seen as the eternal king in the line of David.
*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: H7592
There are 157 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁאַל
Transliteration: shâʼal
Pronunciation: shaw-al'
Description: or שָׁאֵל; a primitive root; to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand; ask (counsel, on), beg, borrow, lay to charge, consult, demand, desire, [idiom] earnestly, enquire, [phrase] greet, obtain leave, lend, pray, request, require, [phrase] salute, [idiom] straitly, [idiom] surely, wish. - Strong's Number: H2416
There are 452 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חַי
Transliteration: chay
Pronunciation: khah'-ee
Description: from חָיָה; alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively; [phrase] age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, [phrase] merry, multitude, [phrase] (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop. - Strong's Number: H5414
There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָתַן
Transliteration: nâthan
Pronunciation: naw-than'
Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield. - Strong's Number: H753
There are 149 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֹרֶךְ
Transliteration: ʼôrek
Pronunciation: o'rek'
Description: from אָרַךְ; length; [phrase] forever, length, long. - 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: H5769
There are 414 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עוֹלָם
Transliteration: ʻôwlâm
Pronunciation: o-lawm'
Description: or עֹלָם; from עָלַם; properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial (especially with prepositional prefix) always; alway(-s), ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for, (n-)) ever(-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of) old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world ([phrase] without end). Compare נֶצַח, עַד. - Strong's Number: H5703
There are 49 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַד
Transliteration: ʻad
Pronunciation: ad
Description: from עָדָה; properly, a (peremptory) terminus, i.e. (by implication) duration, in the sense of advance or perpetuity (substantially as a noun, either with or without a preposition); eternity, ever(-lasting, -more), old, perpetually, [phrase] world without end.