Psalm 8 4

Psalm 8:4 kjv

What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

Psalm 8:4 nkjv

What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?

Psalm 8:4 niv

what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?

Psalm 8:4 esv

what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

Psalm 8:4 nlt

what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?

Psalm 8 verses

Psalm 8 4 Meaning

Psalm 8:4 expresses a profound, rhetorical question born of awe and wonder: how can an infinitely majestic and glorious God concern Himself with finite, frail humanity? It contrasts God's supreme transcendence, evident in His creation, with man's apparent insignificance and mortality. The verse highlights God's astonishing attentiveness ("mindful") and active personal engagement ("visitest") with human beings, emphasizing a divine condescension that grants purpose and dignity to the otherwise lowly status of humanity.

Psalm 8 4 Context

Psalm 8 is a hymnic praise that contrasts God's supreme, glorious name, proclaimed through the vastness of creation (Ps 8:1-3), with the humble status of humanity. Verse 4 poses a rhetorical question of wonder, not doubt, following the assertion of God's magnificence. It acts as a pivot, shifting from God's cosmic glory to His specific, profound engagement with mankind. This prepares the listener for the incredible truth in the subsequent verses (Ps 8:5-8), where God is revealed to have crowned this seemingly insignificant "man" with glory, honor, and dominion over all creation. Historically, this psalm reflects the unique covenant relationship between YHWH and Israel, a relationship founded on God's initiative and care for His people, starkly differing from pagan deities often perceived as distant or arbitrary.

Psalm 8 4 Word analysis

• What: The Hebrew word is מָה (mah), an interrogative particle here expressing deep astonishment, admiration, and wonder rather than seeking factual information. It signifies "how utterly astonishing!" or "how incredible it is that...".

• is man: The Hebrew is אֱנוֹשׁ ('enosh). This term specifically denotes humanity in its frail, mortal, and transient state, emphasizing vulnerability and dependency. It contrasts sharply with God's eternality and power.

• that thou art mindful of him?: The Hebrew is כִּי־תִזְכְּרֶנּוּ (ki tizk'rennu).

  • Zakhar (זָכַר): The root word for "mindful" (from tizk'rennu) means to remember, to pay active attention to, to be concerned with, or to recall with the intent of action. It's more than passive recollection; it implies active engagement and faithful remembrance, often in a covenantal context.

• and the son of man: The Hebrew is וּבֶן־אָדָם (uv’en-’adam). This is a common Hebrew idiom, literally "son of Adam" (אָדָם, 'adam meaning humanity or humankind). In poetic parallelism with 'enosh, it further emphasizes the generic human being, acknowledging human origin and universal human nature, often with the nuance of human creatureliness. While generic here, it takes on unique significance in the New Testament when Jesus identifies Himself as "the Son of Man."

• that thou visitest him?: The Hebrew is כִּי תִפְקְדֶנּוּ (ki tifq'dennu).

  • Paqad (פָּקַד): The root word for "visitest" (from tifq'dennu) means to inspect, attend to, appoint, count, muster, or actively care for. In this context, it signifies a purposeful, personal, and active presence of God toward humanity, demonstrating His care, oversight, and benevolent intervention. It suggests an accountability and attentive watchfulness that benefits the one "visited."

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "man (אֱנוֹשׁ) and the son of man (וּבֶן־אָדָם)": The use of two distinct but complementary Hebrew terms for humanity underscores the universality and comprehensive scope of God's attention. 'Enosh highlights humanity's frailty and mortality, while ben-'adam emphasizes shared human identity and lineage from Adam, affirming that it is all of mankind, in every aspect of its existence, that God is focused on. This parallelism enhances the rhetorical force of the question.
  • "mindful of him (תִזְכְּרֶנּוּ) visitest him (תִפְקְדֶנּוּ)": This powerful parallelism reveals the multi-faceted nature of God's engagement with humanity. "Mindful" speaks to God's inner disposition, His continuous thought and remembrance, reflecting a covenantal care. "Visitest" describes God's outward action and active presence, His attentive intervention and care. Together, they depict a comprehensive and dynamic divine relationship that moves from profound concern to practical involvement.

Psalm 8 4 Bonus section

• The rhetorical question in Psalm 8:4 implicitly serves as a polemic against pagan beliefs where gods were often capricious, self-absorbed, or distant, unconcerned with humanity's daily life. It presents YHWH as intimately involved and caring for His creation.
• While "son of man" (ben-'adam) in Psalm 8:4 generically refers to humanity, it is crucial to recognize how this phrase takes on a profound, unique, and often messianic meaning when Jesus of Nazareth adopted it as His primary self-designation. By calling Himself "the Son of Man," Jesus connected Himself to Daniel 7:13-14 (a heavenly, authoritative figure) and simultaneously emphasized His shared humanity and redemptive mission. This imbues Psalm 8:4 with a proleptic significance, as the Son of Man (Jesus) uniquely embodies the human potential and dominion spoken of in the Psalm, thus ultimately fulfilling its theological thrust.

Psalm 8 4 Commentary

Psalm 8:4 is a magnificent expression of cosmic wonder juxtaposed with divine intimacy. It voices humanity's awe at the stark contrast between God's immeasurable glory, displayed throughout the heavens, and His astonishing focus on vulnerable human beings. The question "What is man...?" is not a lament of forgottenness or an expression of doubt, but rather a burst of worshipful amazement. It emphasizes God's sovereign and inexplicable grace, highlighting that humanity's worth and dignity are derived not from any inherent quality, but solely from God's chosen, active mindfulness and visitation. This verse sets the stage for the rest of the psalm, revealing that this very man, though seemingly insignificant, has been divinely purposed to bear glory, honor, and dominion. Its deepest theological resonance is found in the New Testament, where the question finds its ultimate answer in Jesus Christ, "the Son of Man," who, through His perfect humanity and obedience, fulfilled God's design for man, overcoming frailty and re-establishing dominion, thereby becoming the template and means for all humanity to enter into God's purposes.