Psalm 144:3 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 144:1-8

Here, I. David acknowledges his dependence upon God and his obligations to him, Ps. 144:1, 2. A prayer for further mercy is fitly begun with a thanksgiving for former mercy; and when we are waiting upon God to bless us we should stir up ourselves to bless him. He gives to God the glory of two things:? 1. What he was to him: Blessed be the Lord my rock (Ps. 144:1), my goodness, my fortress, Ps. 144:2. He has in the covenant engaged himself to be so, and encouraged us, accordingly, to depend... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 144:3

Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him ?.... Man, that is at most and best but a creature, made of the dust of the earth, is but dust and ashes; yea, a sinful creature, that drinks up iniquity like water: and yet the Lord not only knows him, as he is the omniscient God, but takes notice of him in a way of providence, and in a way of grace. His chosen people are no other nor better than others, of the same original, and of the same character; and yet he owns and acknowledges... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 144:3

Lord, what is man - See the notes on Psalm 8:4 , Psalm 8:5 . What is Adam, that thou approvest of him? Can he do any thing worthy of thy notice? Or the son of feeble perishing man, that thou shouldest hold him in repute? What care, love, and attention, dost thou lavish upon him! read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 144:3

Verse 3 3.O Jehovah! what is man, etc. He amplifies the goodness shown by God by instituting a comparison. Having declared how singularly he had been dealt with, he turns his eyes inward, and asks, “Who am I, that God should show me such condescension? “He speaks of man in general; only the circumstance is noticeable that he commends the mercy of God, by considering his lowly and abject condition. In other places he mentions grounds of humiliation of a more personal or private nature, — here he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 144:1-15

National piety and prosperity. The latter part of this psalm seems hardly to belong to the former; but looking at it in the light of the last verses, we regard it as an utterance which has in view, from first to last, the well-being of the nation. Thus considered, we have— I. THE ONE TRUE SOURCE OF NATIONAL SECURITY . ( Psalms 144:1 , Psalms 144:2 , Psalms 144:10 .) The writer is presumably David. He takes the position of a leader, of a warrior-king. And though we ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 144:1-15

What the goodness of God does for me and in me. This psalm is a string of quotations, mostly from Psalms 18:1-50 ; as any reference Bible will show; and as that psalm is almost undisputedly one of David's composition, therefore this, which owes so much to it, may be called his likewise. It is also one of the war-psalms, breathing the fierce and sometimes the truculent spirit, the presence of which in these psalms has so often perplexed the Christian reader. In order to understand such... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 144:3

Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him ! (comp. Job 7:17 , Job 7:18 ; Psalms 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. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 144:3-4

The transitoriness of man. "The occasion of the introduction of these sentiments here is not quite clear. It may be the humility of the warrior who ascribes all success to God instead of to human prowess; or it may be a reflection uttered over the corpses of comrades; or, perhaps, a blending of the two." I. THE VANITY OF MAN CREATES SURPRISE AT GOD 'S CARE . "Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him?" This is an exclamation of surprise, which is repeated... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 144:3

Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him? - The sentiment here is the same as in Psalms 8:4, though the language is not precisely the same. See the notes at that passage. The word rendered “that thou takest knowledge of him,” means here to take notice of; to regard. The idea is, It is amazing that a being so insignificant as man should be an object of interest to God, or that One so great should pay any attention to him and to his affairs. In Psalms 8:4, the language is “that thou... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 144:3-4

Psalms 144:3-4. Lord, what is man He magnifies and illustrates God’s goodness to him, by the consideration of his own meanness. Though I am a king over my people, yet, alas, I am but a man, a base, sinful; and mortal creature; if compared with thee, less than nothing and vanity; that thou takest knowledge of him That thou so much as takest notice, or makest any account of him, especially that thou hast any care over, or kindness for him; or the son of man, &c. The same thing... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 144:1-8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 144:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 144:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 144:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 144:1-15

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 144:1-15

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 144:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 144:3-4

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 144:3

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 144:3-4

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