The Meaning of Psalms 8:4 Explained

Psalms 8:4

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

YLT: What is man that Thou rememberest him? The son of man that Thou inspectest him?

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

ASV: What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

What is man,  that thou art mindful  of him? and the son  of man,  that thou visitest  him? 

What does Psalms 8:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 8:1-9 - God's Glory In Man's Headship
This exquisite ode can reach perfect fulfillment only in our Lord, Hebrews 2:6-9. It was evidently composed at night, and probably dates from the early shepherd days, when wild creatures crept around the fold and night-birds screamed above, reminding the singer of the animal world over which man was meant to reign.
The ascription of Psalms 8:1-2 is very fine. Christ is so mighty that when His strength is given to babes they vanquish and silence His foes, Matthew 21:16; 1 Corinthians 1:25. Do not regret your helplessness, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. The comparison of Psalms 8:3-4 is striking. It is a great descent from Adonai above the heavens to the son of Adam ("dust"). But the king loves his child more than his palace. What must not be the worth of man, of whom God makes so much! The crown of creation was placed on man's brow. Sin wrecked it, but the Son of man regained it, Matthew 28:18; Isaiah 11:6-9; Romans 8:19-22. The holy soul has the talisman of rule, 1 Corinthians 3:22. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 8

1  God's glory is magnified by his works, and by his love to man

What do the individual words in Psalms 8:4 mean?

what is man that You are mindful of him and the son of man that You visit him
מָֽה־ אֱנ֥וֹשׁ כִּֽי־ תִזְכְּרֶ֑נּוּ וּבֶן־ אָ֝דָ֗ם כִּ֣י תִפְקְדֶֽנּוּ

אֱנ֥וֹשׁ  is  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֱנׄושׁ 
Sense: man, mortal man, person, mankind.
כִּֽי־  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
תִזְכְּרֶ֑נּוּ  You  are  mindful  of  him 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: זָכַר 
Sense: to remember, recall, call to mind.
וּבֶן־  and  the  son 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אָ֝דָ֗ם  of  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
כִּ֣י  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
תִפְקְדֶֽנּוּ  You  visit  him 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּקַד 
Sense: to attend to, muster, number, reckon, visit, punish, appoint, look after, care for.