The Meaning of Psalms 21:4 Explained

Psalms 21:4

KJV: He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever.

YLT: Life he hath asked from Thee, Thou hast given to him -- length of days, Age-during -- and for ever.

Darby: He asked life of thee; thou gavest it him, length of days for ever and ever.

ASV: He asked life of thee, thou gavest it him, Even length of days for ever and ever.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He asked  life  of thee, [and] thou gavest  [it] him, [even] length  of days  for ever  and ever. 

What does Psalms 21:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 21:1-13 - Rejoicing In The Strength Of Jehovah
This is a companion to the psalm preceding. The blessings there asked for are here gladly acknowledged to have been granted; and bright anticipations are entertained for the future. How much of this psalm is true only of the ideal King-our Lord! Let us read it with special reference to Him as He rides forth on His white horse, Revelation 19:11-16.
That which the heart desires, the lips at times find difficulty in expressing. God's help always prevents us, that is, "goes before" us, anticipates our needs. The only life that can satisfy is the eternal, but that is ours already if we only knew it. Our beloved dead are more blessed forever, because they see Him "face to face;" but we also may share their joy. Trust in Christ is the secret of immovability. God has exalted Christ to be a Prince and a Savior, and we shall never be at peace until we have done the same, Acts 5:31. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 21

1  A thanksgiving for victory
7  with confidence of further success

What do the individual words in Psalms 21:4 mean?

Life He asked from You [and] You gave [it] to him Length of days forever and ever
חַיִּ֤ים ׀ שָׁאַ֣ל מִ֭מְּךָ נָתַ֣תָּה לּ֑וֹ אֹ֥רֶךְ יָ֝מִ֗ים עוֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד

חַיִּ֤ים ׀  Life 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.
שָׁאַ֣ל  He  asked 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁאַל 
Sense: to ask, enquire, borrow, beg.
מִ֭מְּךָ  from  You 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.
נָתַ֣תָּה  [and]  You  gave  [it] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
לּ֑וֹ  to  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
אֹ֥רֶךְ  Length 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אֹרֶךְ  
Sense: length.
יָ֝מִ֗ים  of  days 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
עוֹלָ֥ם  forever 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹולָם  
Sense: long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world.
וָעֶֽד  and  ever 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַד  
Sense: perpetuity, for ever, continuing future.