Bible Strands
Psalms 39:6
Surely every man goes about like a phantom; surely he bustles in vain; he heaps up riches not knowing who will haul them away.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — David speaks to the Lord, immediately after acknowledging that his days are handbreadths and his lifetime is nothing before God (v. 5). He turns from his own brevity to the same condition in every person.
The words — hevel (H1892) is the same word behind "vanity" in Ecclesiastes; its literal sense is steam or vapor, something that dissipates. Tzelem (H6754) means image or phantom, a shape without substance.
The thread — The rich fool whose life is taken that night and whose goods go to another (Luke 12:20); the sinner who toils only to heap up for another (Ecclesiastes 2:26); the mist that appears and vanishes (James 4:14).
Why it lands — The verse removes the assumption that accumulated wealth is secure, because the heir is unknown. It asks the reader to name what they are piling up and for whom, before the hauler arrives.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
Cross-references
- Luke 12:20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’
- Ecclesiastes 2:26 To the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner He assigns the task of gathering and accumulating that which he will hand over to one who pleases God. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
- James 4:14 You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
- Psalms 127:2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for bread to eat—for He gives sleep to His beloved.
- Ecclesiastes 12:13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.
- 1 Corinthians 7:31 and those who use the things of this world, as if not dependent on them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
- Ecclesiastes 2:17 So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
- Ecclesiastes 4:7 Again, I saw futility under the sun.
- Ecclesiastes 5:14 or wealth lost in a failed venture, so when that man has a son there is nothing to pass on.
- Luke 12:29 And do not be concerned about what you will eat or drink. Do not worry about it.