Psalms 61:6
in Psalms 61Increase the days of the king’s life; may his years span many generations.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Thou wilt prolong the king’s life; His years shall be as many generations.
KJV
Thou wilt prolong the king’s life: and his years as many generations.
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This verse in Psalms 61
Commentary
11 notes on this verseThou wilt prolong the King's life,.... Or "add days to the days of the King" (a). Meaning either himself, who, though his life was in danger by fighting with the Syrians and Edomites, or rather through the conspiracy of his son; yet was assured that he should yet live many years more, and especially in his posterity; and that his kingdom would be established for ever, as was promised him, 2Sa 7:
This site's exposition
You have heard my vows
on Psalms 61:5-8
God has heard his vows, and the psalm closes with the same vows paid day by day. Between them the prayer widens to the king, that his days be increased and his years span many generations in God's presence. Calvin reads those years as David's throne kept in Christ.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"Days upon days of the King Thou shall add to the years of Him" [Psalm 61:6]. This is therefore the King of whom we are the members. A King Christ is, our Head, our King. Thou hast given to Him days upon days; not only those days in that time that hath end, but days upon those days without end. "I will dwell," he saith, "in the house of the Lord, for length of days," Wherefore for length of days, but because now is the shortness of days? For everything which hath an end, is short: but of this King are days upon days, so that not only while these days pass away, Christ reigneth in His Church, but the Saints shall reign together with Him in those days which have no end. ...For years of God have been also spoken of: "But Thou art the very Same, and Thy years shall not fail." In the same manner as years, so days, so one day. Whatsoever thou wilt thou sayest of eternity. Whatever thou wilt thou sayest for this reason, because whatever thou shalt have said, it is too little that thou hast said. For thou must needs say somewhat, to the end that there may be something whereby thou mayest meditate on that which cannot be told. "Even unto the day of generation and of generation." Of this generation and of the generation that shall be: of this generation which is compared to the moon, because as the moon is new, waxeth, is full, waneth, and vanisheth, so are these mortal generations; and of the generation wherein we are born anew by rising again, and shall abide for everlasting with God, when now no longer we are like the moon, but like that of which saith the Lord, "Then the righteous shall shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father." [Matthew 13:43] For the moon by a figure in the Scriptures is put for the mutability of this mortal state. ...
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
Prolong - The years of my life and reign. Thus he speaks because his kingdom was not like Saul's, but established to him and his heirs; and because Christ, his son and heir, should actually, and in his own person possess the kingdom forever. Before God - Living and ruling as in God's presence, serving God and worshipping him in his tabernacle.
), but that refers to the King Messiah. David, in this psalm, resolves to persevere in his duty, encouraged thereto both by his experience an by his expectations.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
): Thou shalt prolong the king's life. This may be understood either, 1. If it was penned before he came to the crown, yet, being anointed by Samuel, and knowing what God had spoken in his holiness, he could in faith call himself the king, though now persecuted as an out-law; or perhaps it was penned when Absalom sought to dethrone him, and force him into exile.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
So that, in singing this psalm, we may find that which is very expressive both of our faith and of our hope, of our prayers and of our praises; and some passages in this psalm are very peculiar.
4 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
Thou wilt prolong the king's life; or, better, "days to the days of the King thou wilt add." Death threatened, but God preserved his beloved. David, considering his many perils, enjoyed a long and prosperous reign. And his years as many generations. He lived to see generation after generation personally; in his descendants he lived as king through a very long period; his dynasty continued for many generations; and in Christ Jesus, his seed and son, spiritually David reigns on evermore.
Thou wilt prolong the king's life; or, better, "days to the days of the King thou wilt add." Death threatened, but God preserved his beloved. David, considering his many perils, enjoyed a long and prosperous reign. And his years as many generations. He lived to see generation after generation personally; in his descendants he lived as king through a very long period; his dynasty continued for many generations; and in Christ Jesus, his seed and son, spiritually David reigns on evermore. Thus he who began at the foot of the rock, half drowned, and almost dead, is here led to the summit, and sings as a priest abiding in the tabernacle, a king ruling with God for ever, and a prophet foretelling good things to come. (Ps 61:7.) See the uplifting power of faith and prayer. None so low but they may yet be set on high.
Thou wilt prolong the king’s life - The words are very emphatic, and can refer to no ordinary person. Literally, “Days upon days thou wilt add to the king; and his years shall be like the generations of this world, and the generations of the world to come.” This is precisely the paraphrase I had given to this text before I had looked into the Chaldee Version; and to which I need add nothing, as I am persuaded no earthly king is intended: and it is Christ, as Mediator, that “shall abide before God for ever,” Psa 61:7. Neither to David, nor to any earthly sovereign, can these words be applied.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Thou wilt prolong the king’s life - literally, “Days upon the days of the king thou wilt add;” that is, Thou wilt add days to those which thou hast already permitted him to live. The language does not necessarily mean that he would have a long life, but that he would still be permitted to live. He had apprehended death. He knew that his life was sought by those who were engaged with Absalom in the rebellion. At first it was uncertain what the issue would be. He had fled for his life. But now, in answer to prayer, he felt assured that his life would be preserved; that he would be permitted to return to his home and his throne; and that as king - as the sovereign of his people - he would be permitted to honor God. And his years as many generations - Margin, as in Hebrew, generation and generation. This probably means that he would be permitted to live longer than the ordinary time of a generation; that he would live as if one generation - or as if one ordinary lifetime - were added to another, so that he would live through successive generations of men. The average life of a generation is about thirty years. David is supposed to have lived from 1085 before the Christian era to 1016 b.c., or 69 years, which would reach a third generation. This is a more natural interpretation of the passage than to suppose that he refers to an “ideal” king, or that his dynasty would continue for many generations.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
You have given the heritage of those who fear Your name You have restored the cities of their heritage through me.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
I shall dwell in Your tent to eternity Grant me the privilege in this world and in the world to come.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
9 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| יָמִ֣ים | yamim | days | H3117 → | 2304 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | to | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| יְמֵי־ | yemei- | [the] days of | H3117 → | 2304 times |
| מֶ֣לֶךְ | melekh | [the] king | H4428 → | 2525 times |
| תּוֹסִ֑יף | tosif | you will add | H3254 → | 212 times |
| שְׁ֝נוֹתָ֗יו | shenotav | years his | H8141 → | 877 times |
| כְּמוֹ־ | kemov- | [be] like | H3644 → | 143 times |
| דֹ֥ר | dor | a generation | H1755 → | 167 times |
| וָדֹֽר׃ | vador | and a generation | H1755 → | 167 times |
יָמִ֣יםdays
yamimH3117 →2304 times
עַל־to
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
יְמֵי־[the] days of
yemei-H3117 →2304 times
מֶ֣לֶךְ[the] king
melekhH4428 →2525 times
תּוֹסִ֑יףyou will add
tosifH3254 →212 times
שְׁ֝נוֹתָ֗יוyears his
shenotavH8141 →877 times
כְּמוֹ־[be] like
kemov-H3644 →143 times
דֹ֥רa generation
dorH1755 →167 times
וָדֹֽר׃and a generation
vadorH1755 →167 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Isaiah 53:10Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and to cause Him to suffer; and when His soul is made a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days,…
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 5:21
God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
- Romans 8:32
He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?
- Galatians 3:13
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
- Zechariah 13:7
Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, against the man who is My Companion, declares the LORD of Hosts. Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn My hand against…
- 2 Corinthians 5:21
Through
Psalms 21:6For You grant him blessings forever; You cheer him with joy in Your presence.
it leads to
- Acts 2:28
You have made known to me the paths of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence.’
- Psalms 45:7
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you above your companions with the oil of joy.
- Acts 2:28
Through
Psalms 21:4He asked You for life, and You granted it— length of days, forever and ever.
it leads to
- Psalms 91:16
With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.”
- Revelation 1:18
the Living One. I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades.
- Psalms 91:16
About Psalms
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 61; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 3; John Calvin, Commentary on the Book of Psalms; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.