He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever.
Parallel translations
- WEB He asked life of you, you gave it to him, even length of days forever and ever.
- BSB He asked You for life, and You granted it—length of days, forever and ever.
- NKJV He asked life from You, and You gave it to him— Length of days forever and ever.
- NASB He asked for life from You, You gave it to him, Length of days forever and ever.
- NLT He asked you to preserve his life, and you granted his request. The days of his life stretch on forever.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The king asked for life, and God granted it, even length of days forever. The gift exceeds the request, hinting at everlasting life.
Overview
The king sought life and received it abundantly, described as 'length of days forever and ever.' For David this expressed an enduring dynasty and long reign, but the language reaches beyond any mortal king. It is fulfilled in the Messiah, who, raised from the dead, possesses unending life and reigns forever (Rev 1:18).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Ps 91:16With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
- Rev 1:18I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
- Ps 119:77Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.
- Ps 133:3As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
- Ps 61:5–6For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.
- Ps 89:36–37His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.
- Ps 119:175Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.
- Ps 89:29His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.
- Ps 13:3Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;
- Ps 72:17His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.
- Ps 16:10–11For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 21:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.