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Psalm 21:4
He asked life of you and you gave it to him, even length of days forever and ever.
2You have given him his heart’s desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah.
3For you meet him with the blessings of goodness. You set a crown of fine gold on his head.
4He asked life of you and you gave it to him, even length of days forever and ever.
5His glory is great in your salvation. You lay honor and majesty on him.
6For you make him most blessed forever. You make him glad with joy in your presence.
Notice
The king’s request for life becomes praise for a gift described as “forever and ever,” stretching the reader’s thoughts beyond a counted span of days.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What would you want to include in a prayer as spare as asking God for life?
Write on thisWhat questions does “length of days forever and ever” raise as you read this praise for the king?
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Where else Scripture says this
12 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
1 Chronicles 4:10Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my border! May your hand be with me, and may you keep me from evil, …The king and Jabez each ask God for help, and both passages record that God grants the request.
Psalm 91:16I will satisfy him with long life, and show him my salvation.”Both passages name long life as something God gives, with Psalm 21 expressing praise and Psalm 91 expressing a promise.
Psalm 23:6Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the LORD’s house forever.Both psalms speak of life's days and extend their language into forever, whether receiving life or dwelling in the LORD’s house.
Revelation 1:18and the Living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever and ever. Amen. I have the keys of Death and of Hades.Both use “forever and ever” to describe life; Revelation names the speaker as alive after having been dead.
Proverbs 3:2for they will add to you length of days, years of life, and peace.Both passages use “length of days” to describe the good of continued life.
Psalm 119:77Let your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.Both connect prayer to God with life: one celebrates an answered request, while the other asks for tender mercies to live.
Psalm 133:3like the dew of Hermon, that comes down on the hills of Zion; for there the LORD gives the blessing, even life forever more.Both describe life as God's gift and speak of that life in terms of forever.
Isaiah 65:22They will not build and another inhabit. They will not plant and another eat; for the days of my people will be like the days of a tree, and my chosen will …Both describe extended days as a good received from God; Isaiah pictures those days through the lifespan of a tree.
John 5:39“You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me.The shared thread is life: the psalm praises God's gift, while Jesus speaks of eternal life and Scriptures that testify about him.
1 Kings 3:14If you will walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”Both attribute length of days to God; Kings makes its promise conditional on walking in God's ways.
Proverbs 3:16Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor.Both name “length of days” as a good gift, though Proverbs pictures it in a woman's right hand.
Proverbs 10:27The fear of the LORD prolongs days, but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.Both speak of prolonged days in relation to the LORD, through answered prayer in the psalm and reverence in Proverbs.
Where this verse fits
Answered prayer. gratitude. death and what comes after.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
Even a crowned king asks God for life. His answered prayer becomes praise, and all the days celebrated here belong to the gift God has given him.
Now put it in your words.
Start an entry on Psalm 21:4. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.
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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).