The Meaning of Psalms 89:45 Explained

Psalms 89:45

KJV: The days of his youth hast thou shortened: thou hast covered him with shame. Selah.

YLT: Thou hast shortened the days of his youth, Hast covered him over with shame. Selah.

Darby: The days of his youth hast thou shortened; thou hast covered him with shame. Selah.

ASV: The days of his youth hast thou shortened: Thou hast covered him with shame. Selah

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The days  of his youth  hast thou shortened:  thou hast covered  him with shame.  Selah. 

What does Psalms 89:45 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 89:38-52 - "a Consuming Fire"
Here the psalmist falls into expostulation and lament. Whether he alludes to the time when Jerusalem was taken by Shishak in the days of Rehoboam, 1 Kings 14:25-26, or when the youthful prince Jehoiachin was deposed by Nebuchadnezzar, 2 Kings 24:10-16, it is impossible to say; but it seemed as if God's faithfulness had failed. The psalmist dwells sorrowfully upon the contrast between God's ancient Covenant and the sad reality. The family that had been promised perpetual duration and dominion had lost its luster and had become like a dying lamp.
Then the psalmist betakes himself to prayer, and bases his argument upon the brevity of the age. There is but a little while during which God has the opportunity of manifesting His love and truth. Literally the words are, "Remember-what a transitoriness!" Psalms 89:47. In the last three verses another plea is presented-that dishonor will accrue to God if He does not arrest the continuance of disaster. The insults and reproaches that are hurled against the servants are really directed against their God; therefore He is entreated, in vindicating them, to vindicate Himself.
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Chapter Summary: Psalms 89

1  The psalmist praises God for his covenant
5  For his wonderful power
15  For the care of his church
19  For his favor to the kingdom of David
38  Then complaining of contrary events
46  He expostulates, prays, and blesses God

What do the individual words in Psalms 89:45 mean?

You have shortened the days of his youth You have covered him with shame Selah
הִ֭קְצַרְתָּ יְמֵ֣י עֲלוּמָ֑יו הֶֽעֱטִ֨יתָ עָלָ֖יו בּוּשָׁ֣ה סֶֽלָה

הִ֭קְצַרְתָּ  You  have  shortened 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: קָצוּר 
Sense: to be short, be impatient, be vexed, be grieved.
יְמֵ֣י  the  days 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
עֲלוּמָ֑יו  of  his  youth 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עֲלוּמִים  
Sense: youth, youthful, vigour.
הֶֽעֱטִ֨יתָ  You  have  covered 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָטָה 
Sense: to cover, enwrap, wrap oneself, envelop oneself.
בּוּשָׁ֣ה  with  shame 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: בּוּשָׁה  
Sense: shame.
סֶֽלָה  Selah 
Parse: Interjection
Root: סֶלָה  
Sense: to lift up, exalt.