Psalm 21:4 kjv
He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever.
Psalm 21:4 nkjv
He asked life from You, and You gave it to him? Length of days forever and ever.
Psalm 21:4 niv
He asked you for life, and you gave it to him? length of days, for ever and ever.
Psalm 21:4 esv
He asked life of you; you gave it to him, length of days forever and ever.
Psalm 21:4 nlt
He asked you to preserve his life,
and you granted his request.
The days of his life stretch on forever.
Psalm 21 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference (Short Note) |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 21:1 | The king rejoices in your strength... in your salvation how greatly he exults! | King's joy and strength from God |
| Psa 16:11 | You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy... | God shows the path to fullness of life |
| Psa 23:6 | ...I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. | Believer's eternal dwelling with God |
| Psa 36:9 | For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. | God as the ultimate source of life |
| Psa 61:6-7 | Prolong the life of the king; may his years endure to all generations! May he be enthroned before God forever... | Prayer for the king's enduring life/reign |
| Psa 72:5 | May they fear you while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations! | King's reign lasting eternally |
| Psa 89:3-4 | I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: ‘I will establish your offspring forever...' | God's eternal Davidic covenant |
| Psa 89:36-37 | His offspring shall endure forever, his throne as long as the sun before me. It shall be established forever like the moon... | Davidic dynasty promised to endure |
| Psa 132:11 | The Lord swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: 'One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne.' | God's oath for David's perpetual heir |
| Prov 3:2 | ...for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. | Wisdom brings long life (earthly context) |
| Isa 9:6-7 | ...and the government will be on his shoulders... Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end... | Messiah's eternal, ever-expanding reign |
| Dan 7:14 | ...His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. | Son of Man's eternal, unceasing dominion |
| Jn 1:4 | In him was life, and the life was the light of men. | Christ as the source of all life |
| Jn 3:16 | For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. | Eternal life granted through belief in Christ |
| Jn 5:24 | Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life... | Possession of eternal life through faith |
| Jn 10:10 | ...I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. | Christ gives abundant and full life |
| Jn 11:25-26 | Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live..." | Christ embodies resurrection and life itself |
| Rom 6:23 | For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. | Eternal life as God's gift through Christ |
| Heb 7:24 | ...but he [Jesus] holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. | Christ's eternal nature and priesthood |
| Rev 1:18 | ...and the living one. I was dead, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. | Christ's eternal life and victory over death |
| Rev 22:5 | And night will be no more... and they will reign forever and ever. | Saints' eternal reign with Christ |
| 1 Jn 5:11 | And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. | Eternal life received through His Son |
| Matt 7:7 | Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. | Principle of asking and receiving from God |
Psalm 21 verses
Psalm 21 4 Meaning
Psalm 21:4 proclaims the magnificent generosity of the Living God. The king, here embodying humanity's dependence on the Divine, sought "life" from God. This "life" is not mere existence, but the fullness of being, vitality, and well-being. In response to this petition, God did not merely grant life but vastly exceeded the request, bestowing "length of days forever and ever." This profound phrase extends beyond mortal longevity, pointing towards an unending, eternal existence. The verse highlights God's role as the sole giver of life and points to the enduring, glorious future destined for those whom He blesses, most supremely manifest in the Messiah.
Psalm 21 4 Context
Psalm 21 is a Davidic psalm, serving as a thanksgiving song for a decisive victory granted by God. It follows Psalm 20, which was a prayer before battle, demonstrating the natural progression from supplication to praise for answered prayer. The psalm opens with the king's rejoicing in God's strength and salvation, enumerating the blessings God has bestowed upon him. These blessings include honor, majesty, deliverance, and, crucially in verse 4, life and enduring days. Historically, it reflects King David's reign, the challenges he faced, and God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant with him (2 Sam 7). Spiritually, the psalm's language often transcends an ordinary earthly monarch, leading many Christian interpreters to see it as prophetic of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodies the righteous King and experiences an everlasting dominion. In the context of ancient Near Eastern cultures, where kings often claimed divine lineage or power, this psalm presents a powerful counter-narrative: the Israelite king’s power and even his life are gifts from Yahweh, the true God, and not inherent or derived from pagan deities.
Psalm 21 4 Word analysis
- He asked (שָׁאַל - sha'al): This verb means to request, to ask for, or to inquire. It denotes a humble posture of reliance and petition, indicating that the king recognized his dependence on a higher power, rather than demanding or assuming. It signifies an earnest desire placed before God.
- life (חַיִּים - chayyim): The Hebrew word for "life" is plural, suggesting not just biological existence, but robust, thriving, abundant, and vital life in all its dimensions. It speaks to a flourishing state of being, rich with well-being and purpose. This is the quality of life uniquely bestowed by the Creator.
- of You (מִמְּךָ - mimmekha): Emphasizes that the source of this "life" is God alone. It precludes any other origin for such a profound gift, highlighting divine sovereignty and generosity.
- and You gave it him (נָתַתָּ לוֹ - natatta lo): This phrase highlights God's immediate, generous, and affirmative response to the king's request. The past tense perfect form signifies a completed action, confirming that God's answer was not just positive but perfectly accomplished. It shows divine faithfulness and abundance.
- length of days (אֹרֶךְ יָמִים - orekh yamim): This is a common Hebrew idiom for long life or prolonged existence. In its immediate context for David, it would mean a long, successful reign and life. However, the subsequent phrase elevates its meaning beyond mere earthly longevity.
- forever and ever (עוֹלָם וָעֶד - olam va'ed): This is the strongest Hebrew idiom for eternity or perpetuity.
- עוֹלָם (olam): Can mean "long duration," "age," or "eternity," implying a hidden or indefinite stretch of time, beyond the horizon.
- וָעֶד (va'ed): Means "and perpetuity" or "to everlasting," intensifying the sense of endlessness.
- "He asked life of You": This highlights the king's posture of humble dependence and prayerful request towards God, the sole source of true, abundant life. It underscores a relationship built on reliance rather than self-sufficiency.
- "and You gave it him": This part emphasizes God's divine action, His willingness to respond to prayer, and His immense generosity. It implies a swift, full, and even overflowing answer to the petition.
- "length of days forever and ever": This profound phrase reveals God's superabundant provision, far exceeding the literal "life" that was asked for. It transforms an earthly blessing into an eternal one. This dual meaning of an extended earthly reign and an eternal, messianic kingdom is a common characteristic of prophetic Psalms concerning the Davidic King.
Psalm 21 4 Bonus section
- Exceeding the Request: The progression from simply "life" to "length of days forever and ever" beautifully illustrates how God often grants "far more abundantly than all that we ask or think" (Eph 3:20). The human prayer is limited by understanding, but God's response is boundless.
- Theophany in Longevity: In ancient Israel, prolonged life and an enduring dynasty were often seen as tangible signs of God's blessing and presence (e.g., in the Mosaic Law for obedience to commandments). Psalm 21:4 takes this concept to its ultimate fulfillment, where the blessing of "life" becomes a divine, eternal reality.
- Resurrection Hope: For Jewish interpreters familiar with `olam va'ed`, this phrase could subtly hint at a hope beyond this life, contributing to the developing understanding of resurrection in the Old Testament, even before its full revelation in Christ.
Psalm 21 4 Commentary
Psalm 21:4 unveils the astounding reality of God's limitless generosity. The king's petition for "life"—which encompasses not just survival, but vitality and flourishing (chayyim)—was met with an answer that transcended temporal limits. God not only granted the request but amplified it, bestowing "length of days forever and ever" (olam va'ed). This phrase is not simply hyperbole for a very long earthly life, but a direct pointer to eternity, revealing God's ultimate desire to grant everlasting life to His chosen one. For David, this would have included a long, prosperous reign and the promise of an enduring dynasty (2 Sam 7). However, as is characteristic of many Psalms, this verse holds a profound Messianic resonance. It foreshadows Jesus Christ, the ultimate King, who uniquely holds eternal life, conquered death, and reigns eternally (Jn 1:4; Rev 1:18). His life, sacrificed and resurrected, fulfills this promise by providing the path to "eternal life" for all who believe (Jn 3:16). This verse therefore celebrates both God's present faithfulness to His earthly anointed and His ultimate plan for eternal blessing through His divine Son.