Meaning, commentary and cross references
Psalms 8:4
“what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
NIV · New International Version
what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?
WEB · World English Bible
what is man, that you think of him? What is the son of man, that you care for him?
What does Psalms 8:4 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on Psalms 8:4
What is man, that thou art mindful of him?.... That is, the psalmist, while he was considering the greatness and glory of the celestial bodies, thought this within himself, and so expressed it; which is to be understood, not of man in general, nor of Adam in a state of innocence; he could not be called "Enosh", the word here used, which signifies a frail, weak, sickly mortal man; nor could he with any propriety be said to be the son of man, as in the following clause: nor of fallen man, or of Adam's posterity, descending from him by ordinary generation; for all things are not put in subjection to them, as is hereafter said of man: but this is to be understood of the man Christ Jesus, as it…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: Psalms 8:1–7 (WEB)
1For the Chief Musician; on an instrument of Gath. A Psalm by David. LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens! 2From the lips of babes and infants you have established strength, because of your adversaries, that you might silence the enemy and the avenger. 3When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained, 4what is man, that you think of him? What is the son of man, that you care for him? 5For you have made him a little lower than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honor. 6You make him ruler over the works of your hands. You have put all things under his feet: 7All sheep and cattle, yes, and the animals of the field,
Cross references
- Job 7:17
What is man, that you should magnify him, that you should set your mind on him,
- Psalms 144:3
- Hebrews 2:6–9
But one has somewhere testified, saying, “What is man, that you think of him? Or the son of man, that you care for him?
- Psalms 146:3
- Luke 1:68
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people;
- 2 Chronicles 6:18
“But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can’t contain you; how much less this house which I have built!
- Genesis 21:1
The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had spoken.
- Psalms 80:17