Psalms 34:12

Psalms 34:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
• New International Version (NIV)Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days,
• English Standard Version (ESV)What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good?

Context of Psalms 34:12

10The young lions are in need and suffer hunger; but they that seek Jehovah shall not want any good. 11Come, ye sons, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of Jehovah. What man is he that desireth life, [and] loveth days, that he may see good? 13Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile; 14Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Psalms 34:12 word by word

מִֽי־הָ֭אִישׁ הֶחָפֵ֣ץ חַיִּ֑ים אֹהֵ֥ב יָ֝מִ֗ים לִרְא֥וֹת טֽוֹב׃Read the interlinear

Cross-references for Psalms 34:12

• Psalms 21:4He asked life of thee; thou gavest [it] him, length of days for ever and ever.
• Psalms 91:16With length of days will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
• Deuteronomy 6:2that thou mayest fear Jehovah thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.
• Deuteronomy 30:20in loving Jehovah thy God, in hearkening to his voice, and in cleaving to him — for this is thy life and the length of thy days — that thou mayest dwell in the land which Jehovah swore unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
• 1 Peter 3:10For he that will love life and see good days, let him cause his tongue to cease from evil and his lips that they speak no guile.
• Psalms 4:6Many say, Who shall cause us to see good? Lift up upon us the light of thy countenance, O Jehovah.
• Job 7:7Remember thou that my life is wind; mine eye shall no more see good.
• Ecclesiastes 2:3I searched in my heart how to cherish my flesh with wine, while practising my heart with wisdom; and how to lay hold on folly, till I should see what was that good for the children of men which they should do under the heavens all the days of their life.
• Ecclesiastes 12:13Let us hear the end of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole of man.

Commentaries on Psalms 34:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12What man is he that desireth life - He who wishes to live long and to live happily, let him act according to the following directions. For a comment upon this and the four ensuing verses, see the notes on 1 Peter 3:10-12; (note).Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12What man is he that desireth life? - That desires to live long. All people naturally love life; and all naturally desire to live long; and this desire, being founded in our nature, is not wrong. Life is, in itself, a good - a blessing to be desired; death is in itself an evil, and a thing to be dreaded, and there is nothing wrong, in itself, in such a dread. Equally proper is it to wish not to be cut down in early life; for where one has before him an…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-22Verses 11-22 Let young persons set out in life with learning the fear of the Lord, if they desire true comfort here, and eternal happiness hereafter. Those will be most happy who begin the soonest to serve so good a Master. All aim to be happy. Surely this must look further than the present world; for man's life on earth consists but of few days, and those full of trouble. What man is he that would see the good of that where all bliss is perfect? Alas!…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11-13Wisdom has three parts: fearing the Lord (Psalm 34:11), doing good (Psalm 34:14), and rejecting evil (Psalm 34:13).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. What man--Whoever desires the blessings of piety, let him attend.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 34:12

• Longevity
• Quotations and Allusions

In the dictionaries

• Abimelech
• Achish
• Affliction
• Dumb
• Fear
• Lack
• Lighten
• Nigh
• Nob
• Open

Commentaries on Psalms 34

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• 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
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings