The Meaning of Psalms 39:4 Explained

Psalms 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.

YLT: Cause me to know, O Jehovah, mine end, And the measure of my days -- what it is,' I know how frail I am.

Darby: Make me to know, Jehovah, mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: I shall know how frail I am.

ASV: Jehovah, make me to know mine end, And the measure of my days, what it is; Let me know how frail I am.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Psalms 39:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 39:1-13 - The Fleeting Measure Of Our Days
In the opening verses David describes the circumstances out of which this psalm arose. The presence and prosperity of the wicked stirred him to the depths, but he carefully refrained from speech. There are hot moments in our lives, when we do well not to say what is in our hearts. But if our feelings demand a vent, let us get alone and speak out our hearts to God. A softer tone settles on heart and tongue, when we reach His holy presence.
How frail we are, not only in our life, but in our moods! We need not fear men; they are but for a moment; as a breath that curls up in the frosty air, or as a shadow sweeping across the mountainside. Only God abides. Man is vanity; his pride and beauty are like a bursting soap-bubble; he is a stranger and pilgrim along this bank and shoal of time. But the child of the Eternal God is a guest with him, Psalms 39:12. He travels in our company. He makes Himself responsible for our well-being. He will bring us safely home as He did all our "fathers." [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 39

1  David's care of his thoughts
4  The consideration of the brevity and vanity of life
7  the reverence of God's judgments
10  and prayer, are his bridles of impatience

What do the individual words in Psalms 39:4 mean?

make me to know Yahweh my end and the measure of my days what is [That] I may know how frail I [am]
הוֹדִ֘יעֵ֤נִי יְהוָ֨ה ׀ קִצִּ֗י וּמִדַּ֣ת יָמַ֣י מַה־ הִ֑יא אֵ֝דְעָ֗ה מֶה־ חָדֵ֥ל אָֽנִי

הוֹדִ֘יעֵ֤נִי  make  me  to  know 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
יְהוָ֨ה ׀  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
קִצִּ֗י  my  end 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: קֵץ  
Sense: end.
וּמִדַּ֣ת  and  the  measure 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: מִדָּה 
Sense: measure, measurement, stature, size, garment.
יָמַ֣י  of  my  days 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
אֵ֝דְעָ֗ה  [That]  I  may  know 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect Cohortative, first person common singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
מֶה־  how 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
חָדֵ֥ל  frail 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: חָדֵל  
Sense: rejected, forbearing, transient, fleeting, lacking.
אָֽנִי  I  [am] 
Parse: Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אֲנִי  
Sense: I (first pers.

What are the major concepts related to Psalms 39:4?

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