Psalms 144:3

Psalms 144:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!
• New International Version (NIV)Lord, what are human beings that you care for them, mere mortals that you think of them?
• English Standard Version (ESV)O Lord, what is man that you regard him, or the son of man that you think of him?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?

Context of Psalms 144:3

1Blessed be the Lord, my Rock and my great strength, Who trains my hands for war And my fingers for battle; 2My [steadfast] lovingkindness and my fortress, My high tower and my rescuer, My shield and He in whom I take refuge, Who subdues my people under me. Lord, what is man that You take notice of him? Or the son of man that You think of him? 4Man is like a mere breath; His days are like a shadow that passes away. 5Bow Your heavens, O Lord, and come down; Touch the mountains, and they will smoke.

Psalms 144:3 word by word

יְֽהוָ֗ה מָה־אָ֭דָם וַתֵּדָעֵ֑הוּ בֶּן־אֱ֝נ֗וֹשׁ וַֽתְּחַשְּׁבֵֽהוּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• that thou takest knowledgeיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• the sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of manאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
• that thou makest accountחָשַׁבchâshab · to devise: thinkH2803

Cross-references for Psalms 144:3

• Psalms 8:4What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him?
• Job 7:17What is man that You [should] magnify him [and think him important]? And that You are concerned about him?
• Job 16:14He attacks me, making wound after wound; He runs at me like a warrior.
• Hebrews 2:6But one has [solemnly] testified somewhere [in Scripture], saying, “What is man, that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man, that You graciously care for him?
• Psalms 146:3Do not trust in princes, In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation (help).

Commentaries on Psalms 144:3

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him? - The sentiment here is the same as in Psalm 8:4, though the language is not precisely the same. See the notes at that passage. The word rendered “that thou takest knowledge of him,” means here to take notice of; to regard. The idea is, It is amazing that a being so insignificant as man should be an object of interest to God, or that One so great should pay any attention to him and to his affairs. In…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-4what is man: The same question in Psalm 8:4–6 leads to the answer that humans are only mortal (they do not live forever), yet God gives them honor and responsibility to rule. The psalmist focuses on how brief and fragile human life is. He describes it as temporary and passing quickly (see Psalms 90:3, 7–10; 102:11; 109:23; 146:4).Read the comment
• Rashi on Tanakh · v. 3what is man What are Persia [Esau, acc. to mss.] and Ishmael before You that You know them to lavish greatness upon them?Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 144:3

• Condescension of God
• God
• Humility
• Life
• Man

In the dictionaries

• Son of man
• Account
• Happy
• Plant
• Street
• Strong
• Make, Maker
• Psalms, Book of

Commentaries on Psalms 144

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• The Treasury of David
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings