What Does Psalm 61:6 Mean in the King James?
Thou wilt prolong the king’s life: and his years as many generations.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The Hebrew pictures the king’s life as addition: God places day upon day until his years reach across generations.
THE MEANING
Here, the king’s days are held in God’s keeping: one day is added to another, and his years reach across generation after generation. The verse presents continuity as a gift whose horizon extends beyond a single lifespan.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
A ruler can secure his future by his own power alone; this verse locates his continuing life in God’s hands.
THE ROOT
תּוֹסִיף
tosif
GROWS FROM
יסף
y-s-f
add, increase, continue
“prolong” in this verse is tosif. The Hebrew verb means “you add,” from the root יסף (y-s-f), meaning “to add” or “increase.” The verse pictures God adding days to the king’s days, then lets that addition extend through generation after generation.
ALSO GROWS
Yosef: “He adds” or “may he add”; the name Joseph is connected with adding.
יוֹסֵף
This name carries the same root into a person’s name, echoing the psalm’s picture of life added by God.
musaf: An additional or supplementary offering.
מוּסָף
The same root describes something added alongside what is already present, illuminating the image of days placed upon days.
THE PATTERN
Scripture places life’s duration beyond human control, as a span held and extended by God.
The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever.Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?THE THREAD
The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.The verb behind “prolongeth” is the same Hebrew form תּוֹסִיף (tosif, “you add”) found in this psalm. Proverbs says days are added under the LORD; this verse carries that same addition into years spanning generations.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us