New Living Translation
Psalms 8:4
4what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?
Psalms 8:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
- New International Version (NIV)what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?
- English Standard Version (ESV)what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?
- New King James Version (NKJV)What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?
Context of Psalms 8:4
2You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you. 3When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place— what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? 5Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor. 6You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority—
Read all of Psalms 8Psalms 8:4 word by word
מָֽה־אֱנ֥וֹשׁ כִּֽי־תִזְכְּרֶ֑נּוּ וּבֶן־אָ֝דָ֗ם כִּ֣י תִפְקְדֶֽנּוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 8:4
- Psalms 144:3O Lord, what are human beings that you should notice them, mere mortals that you should think about them?
- 2 Chronicles 6:18“But will God really live on earth among people? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built!
- Job 7:17“What are people, that you should make so much of us, that you should think of us so often?
- Job 25:6In comparison, people are maggots; we mortals are mere worms.”
- Isaiah 40:17The nations of the world are worth nothing to him. In his eyes they count for less than nothing— mere emptiness and froth.
- Hebrews 2:6For in one place the Scriptures say, “What are mere mortals that you should think about them, or a son of man that you should care for him?
- Psalms 4:2How long will you people ruin my reputation? How long will you make groundless accusations? How long will you continue your lies? Interlude
- Psalms 80:17Strengthen the man you love, the son of your choice.
- Psalms 146:3Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there.
- Isaiah 51:12“I, yes I, am the one who comforts you. So why are you afraid of mere humans, who wither like the grass and disappear?
- Ezekiel 8:15“Have you seen this?” he asked. “But I will show you even more detestable sins than these!”
- Matthew 8:20But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”
- Psalms 106:4Remember me, Lord, when you show favor to your people; come near and rescue me.
- Genesis 21:1The Lord kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised.
- Exodus 4:31Then the people of Israel were convinced that the Lord had sent Moses and Aaron. When they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.
- Luke 1:68“Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people.
Commentaries on Psalms 8:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4What is man - אנוש מה mah enosh, what is wretched, miserable man; man in his fallen state, full of infirmity, ignorance, and sin? That thou art mindful of him? - That thou settest thy heart upon him, keepest him continually in thy merciful view. And the son of man - אדם ובן uben Adam, and the son of Adam, the first great rebel; the fallen child of a fallen parent. See the note on Job 7:17. Some think eminent men are here intended. What is man in common…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4What is man - What claim has one so weak, and frail, and short-lived, to be remembered by time? What is there in man that entitles him to so much notice? Why has God conferred on him so signal honor? Why has he placed him over the works of his hands? Why has he made so many arrangements for his comfort? Why has he done so much to save him? He is so insignificant his life is so much like a vapor, he so soon disappears, he is so sinful and polluted, that…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 3-9Verses 3-9 We are to consider the heavens, that man thus may be directed to set his affections on things above. What is man, so mean a creature, that he should be thus honoured! so sinful a creature, that he should be thus favoured! Man has sovereign dominion over the inferior creatures, under God, and is appointed their lord. This refers to Christ. In He 2:6-8, the apostle, to prove the sovereign dominion of Christ, shows he is that Man, that Son of man…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4son of man (literally son of Adam): This means "a human being." Through the influence of Daniel 7:13–14, son of man became a title with divine meaning in the New Testament. See Hebrews 2:6–8, where this passage is quoted.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-43-4. The allusion to the magnificence of the visible heavens is introduced for the purpose of illustrating God's condescension, who, though the mighty Creator of these glorious worlds of light, makes man the object of regard and recipient of favor.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 8:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 8
- 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
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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