God’s Word Translation
Psalms 103:15
15Human life is as short-lived as grass. It blossoms like a flower in the field.
Psalms 103:15 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
- New International Version (NIV)The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field;
- English Standard Version (ESV)As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field;
- New King James Version (NKJV)As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
Context of Psalms 103:15
13As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him. 14He certainly knows what we are made of. He bears in mind that we are dust. Human life is as short-lived as grass. It blossoms like a flower in the field. 16When the wind blows over the flower, it disappears, and there is no longer any sign of it. 17But from everlasting to everlasting, the Lord’s mercy is on those who fear him. His righteousness belongs to their children and grandchildren,
Read all of Psalms 103Psalms 103:15 word by word
אֱ֭נוֹשׁ כֶּחָצִ֣יר יָמָ֑יו כְּצִ֥יץ הַ֝שָּׂדֶ֗ה כֵּ֣ן יָצִֽיץ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 103:15
- Psalms 90:5You sweep mortals away. They are a dream. They sprout again in the morning like cut grass.
- Isaiah 40:6A voice called, “Call out!” I asked, “What should I call out?” “Call out: All people are like grass, and all their beauty is like a flower in the field.
- Isaiah 51:12I alone am the one who comforts you. Why, then, are you afraid of mortals, who must die, of humans, who are like grass?
- James 1:10Rich believers should be proud because being rich should make them humble. Rich people will wither like flowers.
- 1 Peter 1:24“All people are like grass, and all their beauty is like a flower of the field. The grass dries up and the flower drops off,
- Job 14:1“A person who is born of a woman is short-lived and is full of trouble.
- Isaiah 28:1How horrible it will be for the arrogant drunks of Ephraim. Their glorious beauty is ⌞like⌟ a withered flower. They are at the entrance to a fertile valley where they lie drunk from wine.
- Nahum 1:4He yells at the sea and makes it dry. He dries up all the rivers. Bashan and Carmel wither. The flowers of Lebanon wither.
Commentaries on Psalms 103:15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15His days are as grass - See the note on Psalm 90:5.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15As for man - literally, “Man; like the grass are his days!” The thought is fixed on man: man so frail and weak; man, not only made originally of earth, but man delicate, feeble, soon to pass away like the springing grass, or like the fading flower. His days are as grass - See the notes at Psalm 90:5-6; compare Isaiah 40:6-8, notes; 1 Peter 1:24, note. As a flower of the field - As a blossom. It opens with beauty and fragrance, but soon fades and perishes…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-18Verses 15-18 How short is man's life, and uncertain! The flower of the garden is commonly more choice, and will last the longer, for being sheltered by the garden-wall, and the gardener's care; but the flower of the field, to which life is here compared, is not only withering in itself, but exposed to the cold blasts, and liable to be cropt and trod on by the beasts of the field. Such is man. God considers this, and pities him; let him consider it…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14-16The Lord compassionately cares for weak humans (see Psalm 37:2; 90:5; 92:7; 102:4; Isaiah 40:6–8).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 15-1615-16. So short and frail is life that a breath may destroy it. it is gone--literally, "it is not." know it no more--no more recognize him (Psa 90:6; Is 40:6-8).Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 103:15
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 103
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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