English Standard Version
Psalms 90:3
3You return man to dust and say, "Return, O children of man!"
Psalms 90:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.
- New International Version (NIV)You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.”
- New King James Version (NKJV)You turn man to destruction, And say, “Return, O children of men.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals!”
Context of Psalms 90:3
1Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. 2Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. You return man to dust and say, "Return, O children of man!" 4For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. 5You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning:
Read all of Psalms 90Psalms 90:3 word by word
תָּשֵׁ֣ב אֱ֭נוֹשׁ עַד־דַּכָּ֑א וַ֝תֹּ֗אמֶר שׁ֣וּבוּ בְנֵי־אָדָֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 90:3
- Psalms 104:29When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.
- Psalms 146:4When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.
- Genesis 3:19By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return."
- Genesis 6:6And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.
- Numbers 14:35I, the Lord, have spoken. Surely this will I do to all this wicked congregation who are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall come to a full end, and there they shall die."
- Job 12:10In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.
- Job 34:14If he should set his heart to it and gather to himself his spirit and his breath,
- Ecclesiastes 12:7and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
Commentaries on Psalms 90:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Thou turnest man to destruction - Literally, Thou shalt turn dying man, אנוש enosh, to the small dust, דכא dacca but thou wilt say, Return, ye children of Adam. This appears to be a clear and strong promise of the resurrection of the human body, after it has long slept, mingled with the dust of the earth.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Thou turnest man to destruction - In contradistinction from his own unchangeableness and eternity. Man passes away; God continues ever the same. The word rendered “destruction” - דכא dakkâ' - means properly anything beaten or broken small or very fine, and hence, “dust.” The idea here is, that God causes man to return to dust; that is, the elements which compose the body return to their original condition, or seem to mingle with the earth. Genesis 3:19…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-6Unlike God, humans are mortal and temporary.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. to destruction--literally, "even to dust" (Ge 3:19), which is partly quoted in the last clause.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 90:3
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 90
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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Commentaries