He asked for life from You, You gave it to him, Length of days forever and ever.
Parallel translations
- WEB He asked life of you, you gave it to him, even length of days forever and ever.
- KJV He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever 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.
- 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 91:16I will satisfy him with long life, and show him my salvation.”
- Rev 1:18and the Living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever more. Amen. I have the keys of Death and of Hades.
- Ps 119:77Let your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.
- Ps 133:3like the dew of Hermon, that comes down on the hills of Zion: for there Yahweh gives the blessing, even life forever more.
- Ps 61:5–6For you, God, have heard my vows. You have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
- Ps 89:36–37His offspring will endure forever, his throne like the sun before me.
- Ps 119:175Let my soul live, that I may praise you. Let your ordinances help me.
- Ps 89:29I will also make his offspring endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven.
- Ps 13:3Behold, and answer me, Yahweh, my God. Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death;
- Ps 72:17His name endures forever. His name continues as long as the sun. Men shall be blessed by him. All nations will call him blessed.
- Ps 16:10–11For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, neither will you allow your 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.