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Psalm 144:3

LORD, what is man, that you care for him? Or the son of man, that you think of him?

1By David. Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands to war, and my fingers to battle—
2my loving kindness, my fortress, my high tower, my deliverer, my shield, and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues my people under me.
3LORD, what is man, that you care for him? Or the son of man, that you think of him?
4Man is like a breath. His days are like a shadow that passes away.
5Part your heavens, LORD, and come down. Touch the mountains, and they will smoke.
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← Psalm 144:2Psalm 144:4 →
Notice

David’s question pauses over the wonder that YHWH, named as his fortress and deliverer, gives thought and care to human beings.

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What feels hardest to grasp about YHWH giving thought to you?

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How does David’s question change the way you see your own smallness?

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Connect

Where else Scripture says this

8 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.

This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Psalm 8:4what is man, that you think of him? What is the son of man, that you care for him?Both psalms ask what human beings are that God should think of them and care for them.
Hebrews 2:6But one has somewhere testified, saying, “What is man, that you think of him? Or the son of man, that you care for him?The testimony quoted in Hebrews shares David’s question about humanity receiving God’s thought and care.
Job 7:17What is man, that you should magnify him, that you should set your mind on him,Both ask what human beings are that God should set his mind on them.
Job 14:3Do you open your eyes on such a one, and bring me into judgment with you?Both question God’s attention to a human being, though Job speaks of judgment and David speaks of care.
Psalm 146:3–4Don’t put your trust in princes, in a son of man in whom there is no help.Both mention the son of man, though Psalm 144 concerns God’s care and Psalm 146 warns against trusting human rulers.
Job 15:14What is man, that he should be clean? What is he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?Both ask what a human being is, though Job’s question concerns righteousness and David’s concerns God’s care.
1 Chronicles 17:16Then David the king went in and sat before the LORD; and he said, “Who am I, LORD God, and what is my house, that you have brought me this far?David’s questions in both passages express wonder that the LORD should give attention and goodness to someone like him.
Genesis 18:27Abraham answered, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord, although I am dust and ashes.Both speakers address the Lord with a sense of human smallness before him.
Where this verse fits

Gratitude. feeling distant from God. praise and worship.

What the Bible says about gratitude →What the Bible says about doubt →What the Bible says about worship →
One step

Something small to carry out of this verse

Thank YHWH for one sign of his care

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Encouragement

Your smallness need not make prayer seem out of reach. David addresses YHWH with wonder because human life receives his care and thought.

Now put it in your words.

Start an entry on Psalm 144:3. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.

Keep goingPsalm 144 · the whole chapter with its connection mapPsalms · every chapterBuild a reading plan through Psalms

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).