So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse isn't just asking for a mental exercise about our mortality; it's a prayer that God would cause us to deeply internalize the brevity of life so that our hearts become wise, not just our minds. This "heart of wisdom" isn't about accumulating knowledge, but about aligning our whole being with God's eternal perspective.
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following a lament on the brevity and hardship of human life, especially in light of God's righteous anger, Moses turns to prayer. This verse is the start of that prayer, a plea for God's intervention to help His people truly grasp the fleeting nature of their existence. The desire is that this realization will lead them to seek and embrace genuine wisdom, preparing them for eternity rather than just this temporary life.
Ever feel like life's flying by and you're not sure where it all leads? This verse asks God for help in seeing our days clearly.
The Psalmist, Moses, isn't just casually asking for a lesson in time management. He's praying for God to teach them how to 'number' their days. This isn't about counting minutes, but understanding their true value in light of eternity.
Divine Instruction Required
What does it really mean to be wise? This verse points to a wisdom far deeper than just cleverness.
The ultimate goal of 'numbering our days' is to gain "a heart of wisdom." But what kind of wisdom is this?
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Wisdom Rooted in God
Understand the original words
lebab · Hebrew Noun
In Scripture, the heart represents the center of human intellect, emotion, will, and conscience. It is the seat of moral character and the core of a person's decision-making.
chokmah · Hebrew Noun
Practical wisdom, the skill of living in accordance with God's will. It involves applying divine truth to daily life and recognizing the fleeting nature of human existence.
This prayer in Psalm 90 likely arose from Moses' experience leading Israel through the wilderness after the Exodus. The judgment that befell the rebellious generation who wouldn't enter the Promised Land makes the plea to 'number our days' profoundly urgent, urging a focus on God's wisdom over fleeting earthly concerns.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
The Israelites leave slavery in Egypt, marking the beginning of their journey toward the Promised Land.
c. 1406 BC
Wilderness Wanderings Begin
Following the covenant at Sinai, the Israelites begin their 40 years of wandering in the Sinai desert due to disbelief and rebellion.
c. 1406 BC— this verse
The 'Numbering of Days' Context
Moses, reflecting on the generational judgment in the wilderness, prays for understanding of life's brevity and divine wisdom for those facing their mortality.
c. 1406 BC
Deuteronomy's Context
Moses recounts God's dealings with Israel, emphasizing the importance of obedience and wisdom in light of their wilderness experience and impending entry into Canaan.
This passage describes the appointed times for everything under heaven, highlighting the transient nature of life and the inevitability of change, echoing the Psalmist's call to understand the finite nature of our days.
Job 14:1-5Job reflects on the brevity and trouble of human life, asking God for respite and emphasizing how short our days are. This resonates deeply with the Psalmist's plea to 'number our days' in light of life's difficulties.
Luke 12:16-21Jesus tells the parable of the rich fool who hoards possessions but is called to account by God that very night. This story powerfully illustrates the danger of not 'numbering our days' and prioritizing earthly wealth over eternal wisdom.
James 4:13-17James cautions against making grand plans without acknowledging God's will and the uncertainty of tomorrow, stating, 'You do not know what your life will be like tomorrow.' This directly supports the Psalmist's request for wisdom to grasp the fleetingness of our time.
Matthew 25:1-13The parable of the ten virgins, five of whom were wise and five foolish, underscores the importance of being prepared for the Lord's return. The 'wise' ones had 'oil' (representing preparedness and wisdom), much like the Psalmist's desire for a 'heart of wisdom' to steward their time well.
bensonPsalms 90:12: "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."
Psalm 90:12 . So teach us — By thy Spirit and grace, as thou hast already taught us by thy word; to number our days — To consider the shortness and miseries of this life, and the certainty and nearness of death, and the causes and consequences thereof; that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom — That we may heartily devote ourselves to the study and practice of true wisdom; meaning, undoubtedly, that wisdom…
ellicottPsalms 90:12: "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."
(12) Number our days. —This verse as it stands literally gives to allot, or in allotting (see Isaiah 65:12 ), our days, so teach, and we will cause to come the heart wisdom. The last clause, if intelligible at all, must mean “that we may offer a wise heart,” and the natural way to understand the verse is to make God, not man, as in the Authorised Version, the reckoner of the days. “In allotting our days th…
The verse isn't just asking for a mental exercise about our mortality; it's a prayer that God would cause us to deeply internalize the brevity of life so that our hearts become wise, not just our minds. This "heart of wisdom" isn't about accumulating knowledge, but about aligning our whole being with God's eternal perspective.
Following a lament on the brevity and hardship of human life, especially in light of God's righteous anger, Moses turns to prayer. This verse is the start of that prayer, a plea for God's intervention to help His people truly grasp the fleeting nature of their existence. The desire is that this realization will lead them to seek and embrace genuine wisdom, preparing them for eternity rather than just this temporary life.
Following a lament on the brevity and hardship of human life, especially in light of God's righteous anger, Moses turns to prayer. This verse is the start of that prayer, a plea for God's intervention to help His people truly grasp the fleeting nature of their existence. The desire is that this realization will lead them to seek and embrace genuine wisdom, preparing them for eternity rather than just this temporary life.
"So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." — The verse isn't just asking for a mental exercise about our mortality; it's a prayer that God would cause us to deeply internalize the brevity of life so that our hearts become wise, not just our m…
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Last reviewed October 2026