Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights the futility of human striving by comparing life to a mere "shadow" and our efforts to a restless, pointless "turmoil." It emphasizes that all our hard work, especially in accumulating wealth, ultimately amounts to nothing because we have no control over who will inherit it after we're gone.
Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Psalmist is grappling with the fleeting nature of life and the futility of human striving. He has just prayed to understand the brevity of his own days and now reflects on humanity in general, lamenting how people chase after worldly things that will ultimately vanish like a shadow, leaving no lasting legacy.
We often feel busy, driven, and substantial. But what if Scripture paints a picture of our lives as something far more fleeting and insubstantial?
The Psalmist declares, 'Surely a man goes about as a shadow.' This isn't just a poetic flourish; it's a profound observation about human existence. Think about a shadow: it has a form, it moves, it's present, but it lacks true substance. It's dependent on light and can vanish in an instant.
What does this mean for us?
We work hard, we plan, we accumulate. But does all this effort lead to lasting fulfillment, or is it often a 'disquieting in vain'?
The verse continues, 'Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!' This points to the futility of excessive striving, especially when disconnected from God and an eternal perspective.
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Why is this toil often in vain?
This isn't a call to idleness, but a challenge to examine the purpose and object of our labor. Is our toil directed towards God's kingdom and lasting significance, or are we 'raking together' for a harvest we may never see?
Understand the original words
tselem · Hebrew Noun
A fleeting, insubstantial, or transitory existence. It highlights the brevity and lack of permanence of human life compared to the eternal nature of God.
hamah · Hebrew Verb
Disturbance, agitation, or confusion. In this context, it refers to the useless, noisy, or restless activity of people seeking temporal gains.
This passage echoes the sentiment of Psalm 39:6 by stating 'Vanity of vanities; all is vanity,' directly addressing the ephemeral and ultimately futile nature of human endeavors and possessions.
Luke 12:16-21Jesus' parable of the rich fool directly illustrates the point of Psalm 39:6, showing a man who hoards wealth only to be told his life will be taken that night, leaving him to wonder who will inherit his possessions.
James 4:14James mirrors the psalmist's reflection on life's brevity, comparing it to 'a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes,' underscoring the vanity of human plans and self-assurance.
Job 14:1-2Job grapples with a similar theme, lamenting that a person born of woman is 'of few days and full of trouble,' and 'comes out like a flower and withers,' highlighting the fragility that Psalm 39:6 also addresses.
calvinPsalms 39:4-6: "LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am."
- O Jehovah! cause me to know my end, and the number of my days, that I may understand how long I may live. [64] 5. Behold, thou hast made my days as a hand-breadth, and mine age as if it were nothing before thee: truly every man, while he standeth, is wholly vanity. Selah. 6. Surely man walketh in a shadow; surely he disquieteth himself in vain: they heap together [riches,…
clarkePsalms 39:6: "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."
Walketh in a vain show - בצלם betselem, in a shadow. He is but the semblance of being: he appears for a while, and then vanisheth away. Some of the fathers read, "Although every man walketh in the image of God, yet they are disquieted in vain." He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them - He raketh together. This is a metaphor…
The verse highlights the futility of human striving by comparing life to a mere "shadow" and our efforts to a restless, pointless "turmoil." It emphasizes that all our hard work, especially in accumulating wealth, ultimately amounts to nothing because we have no control over who will inherit it after we're gone.
The Psalmist is grappling with the fleeting nature of life and the futility of human striving. He has just prayed to understand the brevity of his own days and now reflects on humanity in general, lamenting how people chase after worldly things that will ultimately vanish like a shadow, leaving no lasting legacy.
The Psalmist is grappling with the fleeting nature of life and the futility of human striving. He has just prayed to understand the brevity of his own days and now reflects on humanity in general, lamenting how people chase after worldly things that will ultimately vanish like a shadow, leaving no lasting legacy.
"Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!" — The verse highlights the futility of human striving by comparing life to a mere "shadow" and our efforts to a restless, pointless "turmoil." It emphasizes that all our hard work, especially in accumu…
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Last reviewed October 2026