Eve of Pentacost
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Brenton's Septuagint
Psalms 8:4
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When I behold Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers,
what is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You care for him?
Then I ask, "Why do you care about us humans? Why are you concerned for us weaklings?"
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and stars that you set in place —
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
And I wonder, "Why are people so important to you? Why do you even think about them? Why do you care so much about humans? Why do you even notice them?"
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him?
What is man, that you keep him in mind? the son of man, that you take him into account?
What is man that thou art myndfull of him? and the sonne of man that thou visitest hym?
What is man, say I, that thou art mindefull of him? and the sonne of man, that thou visitest him?
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
what are human beings, that you think of them; mere mortals, that you care for them?
what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?
What is man, that you think of him? The son of man, that you care for him?
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
What is man, that you think of him? The son of man, that you care for him?
what is a human being that you think of him? and a child of humankind that you care for him?
what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man, that You visit him?
But why are people even important to you? Why do you take care of human beings?
Of what importance is the human race, that you should notice them? Of what importance is mankind, that you should pay attention to them,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?
What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?
What is a man, that thou art myndeful of hym; ethir the sone of a virgyn, for thou visitist hym?
what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?
What was weak man, that thou shouldst make mention of him? or the son of the earthborn, that thou shouldst set him in charge?
What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him?
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
what is man that You remember him, the son of man that You look after him?
What is man, that thou art mindfull of him? and the sonne of man, that thou visitest him?
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
(8-5) What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
what is man that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man that thou dost care for him?
What [is] man that Thou rememberest him? The son of man that Thou inspectest him?
Oh what is man, yt thou art so myndfull of him? ether the sonne of ma that thou visitest him?
what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?
What is man that You think of him, And a son of man that You are concerned about him?
what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?
what is man, that You think of him, the son of man that You care for him?
What is common man, that you are mindful of him? And the son of man, that you visit him?
What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
What: Psalms 144:3, 2 Chronicles 6:18, Job 7:17, Job 25:6, Isaiah 40:17, Hebrews 2:6-9
son: Psalms 4:2, Psalms 80:17, Psalms 146:3, Isaiah 51:12, Ezekiel 8:15, Matthew 8:20
visitest: Psalms 106:4, Genesis 21:1, Exodus 4:31, Luke 1:68, Luke 19:44, 1 Peter 2:12
Reciprocal: Genesis 1:14 - Let there Genesis 1:26 - have dominion Genesis 2:19 - brought Genesis 9:2 - General Genesis 18:27 - dust Genesis 19:35 - General Exodus 3:16 - visited 2 Samuel 7:18 - Who am I Job 22:12 - the stars Job 31:26 - the moon Job 35:5 - Look Isaiah 2:22 - for wherein Isaiah 40:26 - Lift Isaiah 51:6 - Lift up Ezekiel 2:1 - Son Daniel 7:13 - one like 1 Corinthians 4:6 - that ye Hebrews 1:10 - the works
Cross-References
And all the wild beasts as many as are with thee, and all flesh both of birds and beasts, and every reptile moving upon the earth, bring forth with thee: and increase ye and multiply upon the earth.
And all the wild beasts and all the cattle and every bird, and every reptile creeping upon the earth after their kind, came forth out of the ark.
And it came to pass, while he was worshipping in the house of Meserach his god, that Adramelech and Sarasar his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Ararath; and Asordan his son reigned in his stead.
And while he was worshipping Nasarach his country’s god in the house, Adramelech and Sarasar his sons smote him with swords; and they escaped into Armenia: and Asordan his son reigned in his stead.
For I have watched over them, to hurt them, and not to do them good: and all the Jews dwelling in the land of Egypt shall perish by sword and by famine, until they are utterly consumed.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
What is man, that thou art mindful of him?.... That is, the psalmist, while he was considering the greatness and glory of the celestial bodies, thought this within himself, and so expressed it; which is to be understood, not of man in general, nor of Adam in a state of innocence; he could not be called "Enosh", the word here used, which signifies a frail, weak, sickly mortal man; nor could he with any propriety be said to be the son of man, as in the following clause: nor of fallen man, or of Adam's posterity, descending from him by ordinary generation; for all things are not put in subjection to them, as is hereafter said of man: but this is to be understood of the man Christ Jesus, as it is interpreted in Hebrews 2:6; or of that individual of human nature which Christ assumed. The name of Enosh well agrees with him, who was a man of no note and esteem among men, a worm and no man, a man of sorrows and acquainted with griefs, encompassed with infirmities, and was subject to death, and did die. Now it was a marvellous thing that God should be mindful of that individual of human nature; that he should prepare it in his council and covenant; that among the vast numbers of individuals which it came up in his infinite mind to create, he should choose this, to exalt it, and appoint it to union with his own Son, and take that delight in it he did; that when it was formed by his Spirit, he should anoint it with the oil of gladness above his fellows; that he should take such providential care of it, and so often and so strongly express his affection for it; that he should regard it, and support it under sufferings; and when in the grave, did not leave it, nor suffer it to see corruption; but raised it from the dead, and gave it glory, and exalted it at his own right hand;
and the son of man, that thou visitest him? The name of "the son of man" is the name of the Messiah, in Psalms 80:17; and is often given to Christ, and used by him of himself in the New Testament. And this visiting of him is not to be understood in a way of wrath, though he was so visited by God, when he bore the chastisements of his people; but in a way of favour, by bestowing upon him without measure the gifts and graces of his Spirit; by affording him his gracious presence, and tilling him with spiritual peace and joy.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
What is man - What claim has one so weak, and frail, and short-lived, to be remembered by time? What is there in man that entitles him to so much notice? Why has God conferred on him so signal honor? Why has he placed him over the works of his hands? Why has he made so many arrangements for his comfort? Why has he done so much to save him? He is so insignificant his life is so much like a vapor, he so soon disappears, he is so sinful and polluted, that the question may well be asked, why such honor has been conferred on him, and why such a dominion over the world has been given him. See these thoughts more fully expanded in the notes at Hebrews 2:6.
That thou art mindful of him - That thou dost remember him; that is, think of him, attend to him - that he does not pass away wholly from thy thoughts. Why should a God who is so vast and glorious, and who has all the starry worlds, so beautiful and grand, to claim his attention - why should he turn his thoughts on man? And especially why should he honor him as he has done by giving him dominion over the works of his hands?
And the son of man - Any descendant of man - any one of the race. What was man, as he was originally made, that such exalted honor should have been conferred on him; and what has any one of his descendants become, in virtue of his native faculties or acquired endowments, that he should be thus honored? The design is the same as in the former part of the verse, to express the idea that there was nothing in man, considered in any respect, that entitled him to this exalted honor. Nothing that man has done since the time when the question was asked by the psalmist has contributed to diminish the force of the inquiry.
That thou visitest him - As thou dost; that is, with the attention and care which thou dost bestow upon him; not forgetting him; not leaving him; not passing him by. The word used here - פקד pâqad - would properly express a visitation for any purpose - for inspection, for mercy; for friendship, for judgment, etc. Here it refers to the attention bestowed by God on man in conferring on him such marks of favor and honor as he had done - such attention that he never seemed to forget him, but was constantly coming to him with some new proof of favor. What God has done for man since the psalmist wrote this, has done nothing to weaken the force of this inquiry.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Psalms 8:4. What is man — מה אנוש mah enosh, what is wretched, miserable man; man in his fallen state, full of infirmity, ignorance, and sin?
That thou art mindful of him? — That thou settest thy heart upon him, keepest him continually in thy merciful view.
And the son of man — ובן אדם uben Adam, and the son of Adam, the first great rebel; the fallen child of a fallen parent. See the note on Job 7:17. Some think eminent men are here intended. What is man in common; what the most eminent men; that thou shouldst be mindful of them, or deign to visit them?
That thou visitest him? — By sending thy Holy Spirit to convince him of sin, righteousness, and judgment. It is by these visits that man is preserved in a salvable state. Were God to withhold them, there would be nothing in the soul of man but sin, darkness, hardness, corruption, and death.
