The Meaning of Psalms 39:6 Explained

Psalms 39:6

KJV: Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

YLT: Only, in an image doth each walk habitually, Only, in vain, they are disquieted, He heapeth up and knoweth not who gathereth them.

Darby: Verily, man walketh in a vain show; verily they are disquieted in vain; he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

ASV: Surely every man walketh in a vain show; Surely they are disquieted in vain: He heapeth up riches , and knoweth not who shall gather them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Surely every man  walketh  in a vain shew:  surely they are disquieted  in vain:  he heapeth up  [riches], and knoweth  not who shall gather  them. 

What does Psalms 39:6 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 39:1-13 - The Fleeting Measure Of Our Days
In the opening verses David describes the circumstances out of which this psalm arose. The presence and prosperity of the wicked stirred him to the depths, but he carefully refrained from speech. There are hot moments in our lives, when we do well not to say what is in our hearts. But if our feelings demand a vent, let us get alone and speak out our hearts to God. A softer tone settles on heart and tongue, when we reach His holy presence.
How frail we are, not only in our life, but in our moods! We need not fear men; they are but for a moment; as a breath that curls up in the frosty air, or as a shadow sweeping across the mountainside. Only God abides. Man is vanity; his pride and beauty are like a bursting soap-bubble; he is a stranger and pilgrim along this bank and shoal of time. But the child of the Eternal God is a guest with him, Psalms 39:12. He travels in our company. He makes Himself responsible for our well-being. He will bring us safely home as He did all our "fathers." [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 39

1  David's care of his thoughts
4  The consideration of the brevity and vanity of life
7  the reverence of God's judgments
10  and prayer, are his bridles of impatience

What do the individual words in Psalms 39:6 mean?

Surely like a shadow walks about every man in vain they busy themselves He heaps up [riches] and not does know who will gather them
אַךְ־ בְּצֶ֤לֶם ׀ יִֽתְהַלֶּךְ־ אִ֗ישׁ הֶ֥בֶל יֶהֱמָי֑וּן יִ֝צְבֹּ֗ר וְֽלֹא־ יֵדַ֥ע מִי־ אֹסְפָֽם

אַךְ־  Surely 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַךְ  
Sense: indeed, surely (emphatic).
בְּצֶ֤לֶם ׀  like  a  shadow 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: צֶלֶם 
Sense: image.
יִֽתְהַלֶּךְ־  walks  about 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
אִ֗ישׁ  every  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
הֶ֥בֶל  in  vain 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: הֶבֶל  
Sense: vapour, breath.
יֶהֱמָי֑וּן  they  busy  themselves 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, Paragogic nun
Root: הָמָה  
Sense: to murmur, growl, roar, cry aloud, mourn, rage, sound, make noise, tumult, be clamorous, be disquieted, be loud, be moved, be troubled, be in an uproar.
יִ֝צְבֹּ֗ר  He  heaps  up  [riches] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: צָבַר  
Sense: (Qal) to heap up, pile up.
וְֽלֹא־  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יֵדַ֥ע  does  know 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
אֹסְפָֽם  will  gather  them 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: אָסַף 
Sense: to gather, receive, remove, gather in.