The Meaning of Psalms 89:47 Explained

Psalms 89:47

KJV: Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?

YLT: Remember, I pray Thee, what is life-time? Wherefore in vain hast Thou created All the sons of men?

Darby: Remember, as regards me, what life is. Wherefore hast thou created all the children of men to be vanity?

ASV: Oh remember how short my time is: For what vanity hast thou created all the children of men!

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Remember  how short  my time is: wherefore hast thou made  all men  in vain? 

What does Psalms 89:47 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 89:38-52 - "a Consuming Fire"
Here the psalmist falls into expostulation and lament. Whether he alludes to the time when Jerusalem was taken by Shishak in the days of Rehoboam, 1 Kings 14:25-26, or when the youthful prince Jehoiachin was deposed by Nebuchadnezzar, 2 Kings 24:10-16, it is impossible to say; but it seemed as if God's faithfulness had failed. The psalmist dwells sorrowfully upon the contrast between God's ancient Covenant and the sad reality. The family that had been promised perpetual duration and dominion had lost its luster and had become like a dying lamp.
Then the psalmist betakes himself to prayer, and bases his argument upon the brevity of the age. There is but a little while during which God has the opportunity of manifesting His love and truth. Literally the words are, "Remember-what a transitoriness!" Psalms 89:47. In the last three verses another plea is presented-that dishonor will accrue to God if He does not arrest the continuance of disaster. The insults and reproaches that are hurled against the servants are really directed against their God; therefore He is entreated, in vindicating them, to vindicate Himself.
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Chapter Summary: Psalms 89

1  The psalmist praises God for his covenant
5  For his wonderful power
15  For the care of his church
19  For his favor to the kingdom of David
38  Then complaining of contrary events
46  He expostulates, prays, and blesses God

What do the individual words in Psalms 89:47 mean?

Remind me how short [life is] for what and futility have You created all the sons of men
זְכָר־ אֲנִ֥י מֶה־ חָ֑לֶד עַל־ מַה־ ؟ שָּׁ֝֗וְא בָּרָ֥אתָ כָל־ בְּנֵי־ אָדָֽם

זְכָר־  Remind 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: זָכַר 
Sense: to remember, recall, call to mind.
אֲנִ֥י  me 
Parse: Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אֲנִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
מֶה־  how 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
חָ֑לֶד  short  [life  is] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֶלֶד  
Sense: age, duration of life, the world.
؟ שָּׁ֝֗וְא  and  futility 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁוְא  
Sense: emptiness, vanity, falsehood.
בָּרָ֥אתָ  have  You  created 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: בָּרָא 
Sense: to create, shape, form.
בְּנֵי־  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אָדָֽם  of  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.