Psalm 144:4 - Blessed Be the LORD, My Rock

Audio Bible

Context

Blessed Be the LORD, My Rock
…3O LORD, what is man, that You regard him, the son of man that You think of him? 4Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow. 5Part Your heavens, O LORD, and come down; touch the mountains, that they may smoke.…

Cross References

James 4:14
You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.Job 14:1-2
“Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble. / Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.1 Peter 1:24
For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,Isaiah 40:6-8
A voice says, “Cry out!” And I asked, “What should I cry out?” “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field. / The grass withers and the flowers fall when the breath of the LORD blows on them; indeed, the people are grass. / The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”Ecclesiastes 6:12
For who knows what is good for a man during the few days in which he passes through his fleeting life like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will come after him under the sun?Psalm 39:5-6
You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath. Selah / Surely every man goes about like a phantom; surely he bustles in vain; he heaps up riches not knowing who will haul them away.1 Chronicles 29:15
For we are foreigners and strangers in Your presence, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.Job 7:6-7
My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle; they come to an end without hope. / Remember that my life is but a breath. My eyes will never again see happiness.1 Corinthians 7:31
and those who use the things of this world, as if not dependent on them. For this world in its present form is passing away.Psalm 102:11
My days are like lengthening shadows, and I wither away like grass.Job 8:9
For we were born yesterday and know nothing; our days on earth are but a shadow.Psalm 103:15-16
As for man, his days are like grass—he blooms like a flower of the field; / when the wind passes over, it vanishes, and its place remembers it no more.2 Corinthians 4:18
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.Isaiah 64:6
Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.Hebrews 9:27
Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment,

Psalm 39:5,6
Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah…

Psalm 62:9
Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.

Psalm 89:47
Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?

his days

Psalm 102:11
My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.

Psalm 103:15,16
As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth…

Psalm 109:23
I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust.

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Psalm 144

Man is like a breath;
This phrase emphasizes the transient and fleeting nature of human life. The Hebrew word for "breath" here is "hebel," which is also used in Ecclesiastes to describe vanity or futility. This comparison highlights the brevity and insubstantiality of human existence. In the biblical context, this reflects the understanding that life is temporary and fragile, a theme echoed in other scriptures such as James 4:14, which describes life as a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. The imagery of breath also connects to the creation account in Genesis 2:7, where God breathes life into man, underscoring the dependence of human life on God's sustaining power.

his days are like a passing shadow.
The metaphor of a "passing shadow" further illustrates the ephemeral nature of human life. Shadows are insubstantial and temporary, changing with the movement of the sun and disappearing with the onset of darkness. This imagery is used elsewhere in scripture, such as in Job 8:9 and Psalm 102:11, to convey the swift passage of time and the impermanence of human endeavors. Historically, this reflects the ancient Near Eastern understanding of life as uncertain and subject to the divine will. Theologically, it serves as a reminder of the eternal nature of God in contrast to human mortality, encouraging reliance on God's eternal promises. This concept is also seen in the New Testament, where believers are urged to focus on eternal rather than temporal things, as in 2 Corinthians 4:18.

Persons / Places / Events

1. David
The author of Psalm 144, David was the second king of Israel, known for his deep relationship with God and his role as a warrior and poet. This psalm reflects his reliance on God amidst the brevity and challenges of life.

2. Israel
The nation over which David reigned. The psalm reflects the collective human experience, but it is also deeply rooted in the context of Israel's history and David's leadership.

3. God
The central figure in the psalm, God is portrayed as the eternal and unchanging contrast to the fleeting nature of human life.

Teaching Points

The Brevity of Life
Recognize that life is short and uncertain. This awareness should lead us to live purposefully and prioritize what truly matters.

Eternal Perspective
In light of life's fleeting nature, focus on eternal values and invest in your relationship with God, who is eternal and unchanging.

Dependence on God
Like David, acknowledge our dependence on God for strength and guidance, especially given the transient nature of our existence.

Urgency in Mission
The brevity of life should instill a sense of urgency in fulfilling God's mission and sharing the Gospel with others.

Hope in Eternity
While life is brief, believers have the hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ, which provides comfort and purpose.

(4) Vanity . . . shadow.--See Psalm 39:5-6; Psalm 102:11. The occasion of the introduction of these sentiments here is not quite clear. It may be the humility of the warrior who ascribes all success to God instead of to human prowess, or it may be a reflection uttered over the corpses of comrades, or, perhaps, a blending of the two.

Verse 4. - Man is like to vanity; or, "to a breath" (comp. Psalm 39:5; Psalm 62:9). His days are as a shadow that passeth away (see Psalm 102:11; Psalm 119:23). And yet God has regard to this weak creature of an hour. Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Man
אָ֭דָם (’ā·ḏām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

is like
דָּמָ֑ה (dā·māh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1819: To compare, to resemble, liken, consider

a breath;
לַהֶ֣בֶל (la·he·ḇel)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1892: Emptiness, vanity, transitory, unsatisfactory

his days
יָ֝מָ֗יו (yā·māw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

are like a passing
עוֹבֵֽר׃ (‘ō·w·ḇêr)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

shadow.
כְּצֵ֣ל (kə·ṣêl)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6738: A shadow

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Psalm 144:4 Catholic BibleOT Poetry: Psalm 144:4 Man is like a breath (Psalm Ps Psa.)