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Psalm 21 · a question people ask

"Length of days forever and ever" (21:4). What does that mean?

In the text

The verse says, "He asked life of you and you gave it to him, even length of days forever and ever" (21:4). In Hebrew length of days is two words, orekh yamim (tap length), and forever and ever is two more, olam va'ed. The same two words orekh yamim are "the length of your days" (Deuteronomy 30:20), "long life" (Psalm 91:16), and the WEB's forever in "I will dwell in the LORD’s house forever" (Psalm 23:6). The psalm says forever again two verses later: "For you make him most blessed forever" (21:6). Another psalm says of a king: "You will prolong the king’s life. His years will be for generations" (Psalm 61:6), and "He shall be enthroned in God’s presence forever" (Psalm 61:7). Psalm 21 doesn't say more about what forever and ever means for the king, and it says nothing about life after death. These notes don't add to it.

The verses

“He asked life of you and you gave it to him, even length of days forever and ever.”
Psalm 21:4 · World English Bible
“For you make him most blessed forever. You make him glad with joy in your presence.”
Psalm 21:6 · World English Bible
“to love the LORD your God, to obey his voice, and to cling to him; for he is your life, and the length of your days, that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
Deuteronomy 30:20 · World English Bible
“I will satisfy him with long life, and show him my salvation.””
Psalm 91:16 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 21

Psalm 21: In your strength

Psalm 21 begins and ends in the LORD's strength, "The king rejoices in your strength, LORD!" (21:1) and "Be exalted, LORD, in your strength" (21:13): one Hebrew word, oz, and only there. In between, the king never speaks, and everything he has is given. Even his standing is "Through the loving kindness of the Most High" (21:7).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions