Psalm 144:3
New International Version
LORD, what are human beings that you care for them, mere mortals that you think of them?

New Living Translation
O LORD, what are human beings that you should notice them, mere mortals that you should think about them?

English Standard Version
O LORD, what is man that you regard him, or the son of man that you think of him?

Berean Standard Bible
O LORD, what is man, that You regard him, the son of man that You think of him?

King James Bible
LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!

New King James Version
LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?

New American Standard Bible
LORD, what is man, that You look after him? Or a son of man, that You think of him?

NASB 1995
O LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You think of him?

NASB 1977
O LORD, what is man, that Thou dost take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that Thou dost think of him?

Legacy Standard Bible
O Yahweh, what is man, that You know him? Or the son of man, that You think of him?

Amplified Bible
LORD, what is man that You take notice of him? Or the son of man that You think of him?

Christian Standard Bible
LORD, what is a human that you care for him, a son of man that you think of him?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
LORD, what is man, that You care for him, the son of man, that You think of him?

American Standard Version
Jehovah, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that thou makest account of him?

Contemporary English Version
Why do we humans mean anything to you, our LORD? Why do you care about us?

English Revised Version
LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him? or the son of man, that thou makest account of him?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
O LORD, what are humans that you should care about them? What are mere mortals that you should think about them?

Good News Translation
LORD, what are mortals, that you notice them; mere mortals, that you pay attention to us?

International Standard Version
LORD, what are human beings, that you should care about them, or mortal man, that you should think about him?

Majority Standard Bible
O LORD, what is man, that You regard him, the son of man that You think of him?

NET Bible
O LORD, of what importance is the human race, that you should notice them? Of what importance is mankind, that you should be concerned about them?

New Heart English Bible
LORD, what is man, that you care for him? Or the son of man, that you think of him?

Webster's Bible Translation
LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!

World English Bible
Yahweh, what is man, that you care for him? Or the son of man, that you think of him?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
YHWH, what [is] man that You know him? The son of man, that You esteem him?

Young's Literal Translation
Jehovah, what is man that Thou knowest him? Son of man, that Thou esteemest him?

Smith's Literal Translation
O Jehovah, what is man and thou wilt know him? the son of man, and thou wilt reckon him?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Lord, what is man, that thou art made known to him? or the son of man, that thou makest account of him?

Catholic Public Domain Version
O Lord, what is man that you have become known to him? Or the son of man that you consider him?

New American Bible
LORD, what is man that you take notice of him; the son of man, that you think of him?

New Revised Standard Version
O LORD, what are human beings that you regard them, or mortals that you think of them?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him? or the son of man, that thou art mindful of him?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
LORD JEHOVAH, what is a son of man that you know him, and a son of man that you think much of him?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
LORD, what is man, that Thou takest knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that Thou makest account of him?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Lord, what is man, that thou art made known to him? or the son of man, that thou takest account of him?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Blessed Be the LORD, My Rock
2He is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer. He is my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me. 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.…

Cross References
Job 7:17-18
What is man that You should exalt him, that You should set Your heart upon him, / that You attend to him every morning, and test him every moment?

Psalm 8:4
what is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You care for him?

Job 15:14
What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?

Job 25:6
how much less man, who is but a maggot, and the son of man, who is but a worm!”

Psalm 39:5
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

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.

Isaiah 40:6-7
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.

Isaiah 2:22
Put no more trust in man, who has only the breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?

Genesis 18:27
Then Abraham answered, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord—though I am but dust and ashes—

Ecclesiastes 1:2
“Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher, “futility of futilities! Everything is futile!”

Ecclesiastes 3:19-20
For the fates of both men and beasts are the same: As one dies, so dies the other—they all have the same breath. Man has no advantage over the animals, since everything is futile. / All go to one place; all come from dust, and all return to dust.

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.

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,

Hebrews 2:6-7
But somewhere it is testified in these words: “What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You care for him? / You made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor

Romans 8:20
For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope


Treasury of Scripture

LORD, what is man, that you take knowledge of him! or the son of man, that you make account of him!

what is man

Psalm 8:4
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

Job 7:17
What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?

Job 16:14
He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.

or the son

Psalm 146:3,4
Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help…

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Psalm 144
1. David blesses God for his mercy both to him and to man
5. He prays that God would powerfully deliver him from his enemies
9. He promises to praise God
11. He prays for the happy state of the kingdom














O LORD
This phrase acknowledges the covenant name of God, Yahweh, which is often translated as "LORD" in English Bibles. It signifies the personal and relational nature of God with His people. In the Hebrew context, invoking the name of Yahweh is a call to the God who is both transcendent and immanent, the Creator who is intimately involved with His creation. This sets the tone for the psalmist's reflection on the nature of humanity in relation to the divine.

what is man
The Hebrew word for "man" here is "enosh," which often emphasizes the frailty and mortality of human beings. This word choice highlights the psalmist's contemplation of human insignificance in the grand scheme of creation. It invites readers to reflect on the humility and dependency of humanity before an almighty God, reminding us of our limited nature and the grace that God extends to us despite our weaknesses.

that You regard him
The word "regard" in Hebrew is "yada," which means to know or to consider. This implies a deep, intimate knowledge and care that God has for humanity. It is astonishing that the Creator of the universe would take notice of man, suggesting a profound relationship between God and His creation. This phrase encourages believers to marvel at the personal attention and love God shows to each individual.

the son of man
This phrase, "ben adam" in Hebrew, is a poetic parallel to "man" and often emphasizes human beings as descendants of Adam, highlighting our shared humanity and inherent sinfulness. It is a reminder of our origins and the commonality of the human experience. In a broader biblical context, "son of man" is also a messianic title used by Jesus, pointing to His identification with humanity and His role as the representative of mankind.

that You think of him
The Hebrew word for "think" is "chashab," which can mean to plan, esteem, or consider. This suggests that God not only notices humanity but also values and has plans for us. It speaks to the intentionality of God's relationship with us, affirming that we are not mere afterthoughts in His creation. This phrase inspires believers to trust in God's purpose and care for their lives, knowing that they are valued and cherished by Him.

(3) See Psalm 8:4.

Verse 3. - Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! (comp. Job 7:17, 18; Psalm 8:4). Or the sea of man, that thou makest account of him! It enhances our estimate of God's goodness to consider the insignificance and unworthiness of the creatures on whom he bestows it.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
O LORD,
יְֽהוָ֗ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

what
מָה־ (māh-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

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

that You regard him,
וַתֵּדָעֵ֑הוּ (wat·tê·ḏā·‘ê·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

the son of man
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

that
אֱ֝נ֗וֹשׁ (’ĕ·nō·wōš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

You think of him?
וַֽתְּחַשְּׁבֵֽהוּ׃ (wat·tə·ḥaš·šə·ḇê·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2803: To think, account


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OT Poetry: Psalm 144:3 Yahweh what is man that you care (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 144:2
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