Psalm 39 4

Psalm 39:4 kjv

LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.

Psalm 39:4 nkjv

"LORD, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am.

Psalm 39:4 niv

"Show me, LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.

Psalm 39:4 esv

"O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!

Psalm 39:4 nlt

"LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered ?
how fleeting my life is.

Psalm 39 verses

Psalm 39 4 Meaning

Psalm 39:4 is a profound prayer from King David, expressing a deep desire for divine revelation regarding the finite and fleeting nature of his life. He petitions God to make known to him "my end" and "the measure of my days"—that is, the conclusion of his life and its divinely allotted duration. The purpose of this knowing is not out of morbid curiosity but rather a profound recognition and internalisation of his own inherent frailty and transient existence before an eternal God. It is a prayer for a humble, realistic perspective on human mortality, prompting a greater reliance on God rather than self or earthly pursuits.

Psalm 39 4 Context

Psalm 39 is a lament psalm attributed to David, marked by deep personal reflection and prayer amidst suffering. Before verse 4, David resolved to remain silent (v. 1-2) to avoid sinning with his tongue, perhaps in the face of mockery or the inscrutable actions of the wicked. However, his anguish intensifies to the point of pain and then speech (v. 3), but this speech is directed to God, not to man. The prayer of verse 4 emerges from this struggle, seeking to understand the limits of his own transient life, shifting his focus from his outward circumstances and internal frustration to a more fundamental theological truth about human existence and God's sovereignty. It reflects a shift from David’s preoccupation with the injustice he perceives to a profound recognition of his own mortality, paving the way for a deeper trust in God.

Psalm 39 4 Word analysis

• LORD (יְהוָה, Yahweh): The covenant name of God, indicating His personal, revealed, and unchanging nature. The psalmist addresses the Eternal, living God who makes and controls life, in stark contrast to his own fleeting existence. This implies that the revelation sought can only come from Him who knows and ordains all things.
• make me to know (הוֹדִיעֵנִי, hodieni): A causative imperative from the root yada', meaning "to know" or "to make known." It's an active request for God to impart understanding, indicating that this knowledge is not something attainable through human speculation or experience alone, but requires divine teaching and revelation.
• my end (קֵץ, qets): Refers to the conclusion, termination, or appointed limit, particularly of life or an era. It speaks to the ultimate boundary or cessation of earthly existence.
• and the measure (וּמִדַּת, u-middat): From middah, meaning "measure," "proportion," "allotted dimension," or "fixed extent." It signifies the exact, finite length or boundary that defines his days. It highlights the limited duration and set boundaries of life.
• of my days (יָמַי, yamai): Plural of yom, "day." This refers to the entirety of his earthly life span.
• what it is (מַה הִיא, mah hi): An emphatic request for clarity and definite understanding. Not just vague knowledge, but a clear comprehension of this fixed limit.
• that I may know (אֵדְעָה, ede'ah): From yada', again, but this time an imperfect verb indicating the purpose of the preceding request: "so that I may indeed know." The initial request for God to reveal ("make me know") is so that the psalmist can himself come to grasp the truth fully.
• how frail I am (חָדֵל אָנִי, chadel ani):
  • frail (חָדֵל, chadel): From the root chadal, meaning "to cease," "to leave off," "to refrain from," "to vanish." Here it describes humanity's inherent quality of being ephemeral, transient, finite, or even utterly insignificant and destined to cease. It carries the sense of being limited, mortal, and destined to pass away.
  • I am (אָנִי, ani): The strong, emphatic first-person singular pronoun "I." This intensifies the personal application of this profound truth: "It is I who am so transient, so fleeting."

Word-groups/phrases analysis:

• "LORD, make me to know my end, and the measure of my days, what it is": This is a direct petition for divine illumination concerning the preordained limits of human life. It signifies a humble acknowledgment that only the Almighty knows and determines the span of existence. It reflects a desire for wisdom concerning God's sovereignty over life.
• "that I may know how frail I am": This purpose clause reveals the profound spiritual aim of the request. The knowledge of mortality is not for despair but for true self-awareness and humility. To understand one's impermanence is to be delivered from pride, self-sufficiency, and preoccupation with earthly, temporary concerns. It channels David's suffering into a spiritual reflection, allowing him to perceive his limitations and ultimately fix his hope on the eternal God (Ps 39:7).

Psalm 39 4 Bonus section

The profound plea in Psalm 39:4 also functions as a thematic bridge in the psalm, transitioning David from his internal frustration (vv. 1-3) to a deep theological reflection on human vanity and dependence on God (vv. 5-11). The insight gained from this prayer—that all human existence, even in its most established form, is "mere breath" (v. 5) and a "shadow" (v. 6)—serves as the foundational understanding from which his subsequent lament and renewed hope in the Lord spring. This pursuit of self-knowledge through the lens of mortality is a consistent theme throughout biblical wisdom literature, urging humanity to grasp its proper place before the divine. It emphasizes that true wisdom begins with a proper understanding of both God's transcendence and humanity's finitude.

Psalm 39 4 Commentary

Psalm 39:4 is a poignant prayer for wisdom that originates from the depths of human affliction. David, grappling with profound internal and external pressures, turns from brooding silence to earnest supplication to God. His request is not a morbid fascination with death, nor is it an attempt to discover the exact day of his passing, which Scripture does not typically condone. Instead, it is a spiritual longing for a clear and experiential apprehension of the brevity and inherent fragility of human life in the presence of an eternal, unchanging God.

The psalmist desires to grasp fully that his existence has a "qets" – a divinely ordained limit – and a "middah" – a precise, fixed measure. This knowledge, imparted by God, is meant to recalibrate his perspective, pulling him away from anxieties about temporary struggles or the apparent prosperity of the wicked. By realizing "how frail I am" (chadel ani), David seeks to confront the core truth of his transient, perishing nature. This understanding acts as a potent antidote to self-reliance, pride, and the fleeting idols of worldly success. It compels him to root his hope not in his own strength, the opinions of men, or the achievements of life, but entirely in God’s unfailing grace and eternal character. It fosters a posture of humility and urgent prioritization of eternal matters, shaping how one lives the days that remain.

• Practical Usage Examples:
  • Cultivating an eternal perspective: Recognizing life's limits motivates believers to invest in things with eternal value rather than temporary pleasures (e.g., spending time with loved ones, spiritual growth, serving others).
  • Prioritizing what truly matters: Awareness of one's frailty encourages re-evaluation of goals, moving away from frantic pursuit of fleeting earthly accolades towards a life centered on God's will and purpose.
  • Trusting God's timing and sovereignty: Accepting that God determines "my end" and "the measure of my days" frees one from anxieties about an uncertain future, fostering greater trust in His divine plan.