Psalms 146:4
Psalms 146:4 in Multiple Translations
When his spirit departs, he returns to the ground; on that very day his plans perish.
His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; In that very day his thoughts perish.
Man's breath goes out, he is turned back again to dust; in that day all his purposes come to an end.
Once they breathe no more, they go back to dust. On that very day everything they planned dies with them.
His breath departeth, and he returneth to his earth: then his thoughtes perish.
His spirit goeth forth, he returneth to his earth, In that day have his thoughts perished.
His spirit departs, and he returns to the earth. In that very day, his thoughts perish.
His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
Who telleth the number of the stars: and calleth them all by their names.
And when they die, their corpses decay and become soil again. After they die, they can no longer do the things that they planned to do.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 146:4
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 146:4 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
תֵּצֵ֣א
ר֭וּח/וֹ
יָשֻׁ֣ב
לְ/אַדְמָת֑/וֹ
בַּ/יּ֥וֹם
הַ֝/ה֗וּא
אָבְד֥וּ
עֶשְׁתֹּנֹתָֽי/ו
תֵּצֵ֣א
yâtsâʼ
H3318
to come out
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs
ר֭וּח/וֹ
rûwach
H7307
spirit
N-cs | Suff
יָשֻׁ֣ב
shûwb
H7725
to return
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
לְ/אַדְמָת֑/וֹ
ʼădâmâh
H127
land
Prep | N-fs | Suff
בַּ/יּ֥וֹם
yôwm
H3117
day
Prep | N-ms
הַ֝/ה֗וּא
hûwʼ
H1931
he/she/it
Art | Pron
אָבְד֥וּ
ʼâbad
H6
to perish
V-Qal-Perf-3cp
עֶשְׁתֹּנֹתָֽי/ו
ʻeshtônâh
H6250
thought
N-fp | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
Use ← → arrow keys to navigate between words.
Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 146:4
תֵּצֵ֣א
yâtsâʼ
H3318
"to come out"
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to go out or come out, and it's used in many different ways, like leaving a place or starting a new journey, as seen in Genesis and Exodus.
Definition: : come/go_out/escape 1) to go out, come out, exit, go forth 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to go or come out or forth, depart 1a2) to go forth (to a place) 1a3) to go forward, proceed to (to or toward something) 1a4) to come or go forth (with purpose or for result) 1a5) to come out of 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out 1b2) to bring out of 1b3) to lead out 1b4) to deliver 1c) (Hophal) to be brought out or forth
Usage: Occurs in 991 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter. See also: Genesis 1:12; Exodus 9:33; Leviticus 26:45.
ר֭וּח/וֹ
rûwach
H7307
"spirit"
N-cs | Suff
In the Bible, this word for spirit refers to the breath of life, the wind, or a person's mind and emotions, as seen in the book of Ezekiel.
Definition: : spirit 1) wind, breath, mind, spirit 1a) breath 1b) wind 1b1) of heaven 1b2) quarter (of wind), side 1b3) breath of air 1b4) air, gas 1b5) vain, empty thing 1c) spirit (as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation) 1c1) spirit, animation, vivacity, vigour 1c2) courage 1c3) temper, anger 1c4) impatience, patience 1c5) spirit, disposition (as troubled, bitter, discontented) 1c6) disposition (of various kinds), unaccountable or uncontrollable impulse 1c7) prophetic spirit 1d) spirit (of the living, breathing being in man and animals) 1d1) as gift, preserved by God, God's spirit, departing at death, disembodied being 1e) spirit (as seat of emotion) 1e1) desire 1e2) sorrow, trouble 1f) spirit 1f1) as seat or organ of mental acts 1f2) rarely of the will 1f3) as seat especially of moral character 1g) Spirit of God, the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son 1g1) as inspiring ecstatic state of prophecy 1g2) as impelling prophet to utter instruction or warning 1g3) imparting warlike energy and executive and administrative power 1g4) as endowing men with various gifts 1g5) as energy of life 1g6) as manifest in the Shekinah glory 1g7) never referred to as a depersonalised force
Usage: Occurs in 348 OT verses. KJV: air, anger, blast, breath, [idiom] cool, courage, mind, [idiom] quarter, [idiom] side, spirit(-ual), tempest, [idiom] vain, (whirl-) wind(-y). See also: Genesis 1:2; Job 6:26; Psalms 1:4.
יָשֻׁ֣ב
shûwb
H7725
"to return"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
This Hebrew word means to return or turn back, and can be used literally or figuratively. It is often used to describe someone returning to God or repenting from sin, as seen in the book of Psalms and the prophets.
Definition: : return 1) to return, turn back 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to turn back, return 1a1a) to turn back 1a1b) to return, come or go back 1a1c) to return unto, go back, come back 1a1d) of dying 1a1e) of human relations (fig) 1a1f) of spiritual relations (fig) 1a1f1) to turn back (from God), apostatise 1a1f2) to turn away (of God) 1a1f3) to turn back (to God), repent 1a1f4) turn back (from evil) 1a1g) of inanimate things 1a1h) in repetition 1b) (Polel) 1b1) to bring back 1b2) to restore, refresh, repair (fig) 1b3) to lead away (enticingly) 1b4) to show turning, apostatise 1c) (Pual) restored (participle) 1d) (Hiphil) to cause to return, bring back 1d1) to bring back, allow to return, put back, draw back, give back, restore, relinquish, give in payment 1d2) to bring back, refresh, restore 1d3) to bring back, report to, answer 1d4) to bring back, make requital, pay (as recompense) 1d5) to turn back or backward, repel, defeat, repulse, hinder, reject, refuse 1d6) to turn away (face), turn toward 1d7) to turn against 1d8) to bring back to mind 1d9) to show a turning away 1d10) to reverse, revoke 1e) (Hophal) to be returned, be restored, be brought back 1f) (Pulal) brought back
Usage: Occurs in 953 OT verses. KJV: ((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, [idiom] certainly, come again (back), [idiom] consider, [phrase] continually, convert, deliver (again), [phrase] deny, draw back, fetch home again, [idiom] fro, get (oneself) (back) again, [idiom] give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, [idiom] needs, be past, [idiom] pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, [phrase] say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, [idiom] surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw. See also: Genesis 3:19; Numbers 8:25; Judges 8:13.
לְ/אַדְמָת֑/וֹ
ʼădâmâh
H127
"land"
Prep | N-fs | Suff
This Hebrew word refers to the earth or soil, often describing the ground as a source of sustenance. It is used to describe the physical earth, a plot of land, or even a whole country. The KJV translates it as 'country', 'earth', or 'land'.
Definition: : soil 1) ground, land 1a) ground (as general, tilled, yielding sustenance) 1b) piece of ground, a specific plot of land 1c) earth substance (for building or constructing) 1d) ground as earth's visible surface 1e) land, territory, country 1f) whole inhabited earth 1g) city in Naphtali
Usage: Occurs in 211 OT verses. KJV: country, earth, ground, husband(-man) (-ry), land. See also: Genesis 1:25; 1 Kings 8:40; Psalms 49:12.
בַּ/יּ֥וֹם
yôwm
H3117
"day"
Prep | N-ms
The Hebrew word 'yom' refers to a day, which can be a literal 24-hour period or a figurative space of time. It is used in the Bible to describe a wide range of time periods, from a single day to a year or a lifetime. The word 'yom' is used in many different contexts throughout the Bible.
Definition: : day/when/time/period 1) day, time, year 1a) day (as opposed to night) 1b) day (24 hour period) 1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1 1b2) as a division of time 1b2a) a working day, a day's journey 1c) days, lifetime (pl.) 1d) time, period (general) 1e) year 1f) temporal references 1f1) today 1f2) yesterday 1f3) tomorrow
Usage: Occurs in 1930 OT verses. KJV: age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. See also: Genesis 1:5; Genesis 33:13; Exodus 23:15.
הַ֝/ה֗וּא
hûwʼ
H1931
"he/she/it"
Art | Pron
This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.
Definition: pron 3p s 1) he, she, it 1a) himself (with emphasis) 1b) resuming subj with emphasis 1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate) 1d) (anticipating subj) 1e) (emphasising predicate) 1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron 2) that (with article)
Usage: Occurs in 1693 OT verses. KJV: he, as for her, him(-self), it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they, this, those, which (is), who. See also: Genesis 2:11; Genesis 32:19; Exodus 21:3.
אָבְד֥וּ
ʼâbad
H6
"to perish"
V-Qal-Perf-3cp
To perish means to be destroyed or lost, whether it's a person, animal, or thing, like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19.
Definition: 1) perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) perish, die, be exterminated 1a2) perish, vanish (fig.) 1a3) be lost, strayed 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to destroy, kill, cause to perish, to give up (as lost), exterminate 1b2) to blot out, do away with, cause to vanish, (fig.) 1b3) cause to stray, lose 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to destroy, put to death 1c1a) of divine judgment 1c2) object name of kings (fig.) Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (אֲבַד "to destroy" H0007)
Usage: Occurs in 174 OT verses. KJV: break, destroy(-uction), [phrase] not escape, fail, lose, (cause to, make) perish, spend, [idiom] and surely, take, be undone, [idiom] utterly, be void of, have no way to flee. See also: Exodus 10:7; Psalms 112:10; Psalms 1:6.
עֶשְׁתֹּנֹתָֽי/ו
ʻeshtônâh
H6250
"thought"
N-fp | Suff
This Hebrew word means thinking or having thoughts, like ideas in your mind. It is similar to another Hebrew word for thought.
Definition: thought
Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: thought. See also: Psalms 146:4.
Study Notes — Psalms 146:4
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 146:4 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 146:4
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 146:4
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 146:4
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 146:4
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 146:4
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 146:4
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 146:4
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 146:4
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 146:4
- Sermons on Psalms 146:4
Context — Praise the LORD, O My Soul
2I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
3Put not your trust in princes, in mortal man, who cannot save.
4When his spirit departs, he returns to the ground; on that very day his plans perish.
5Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, 6the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He remains faithful forever.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ecclesiastes 12:7 | before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it. |
| 2 | Psalms 104:29 | When You hide Your face, they are terrified; when You take away their breath, they die and return to dust. |
| 3 | Genesis 2:7 | Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being. |
| 4 | Genesis 3:19 | By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground— because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” |
| 5 | 1 Corinthians 2:6 | Among the mature, however, we speak a message of wisdom—but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. |
| 6 | Psalms 33:10 | The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations; He thwarts the devices of the peoples. |
| 7 | Job 17:11 | My days have passed; my plans are broken off— even the desires of my heart. |
| 8 | Job 14:21 | If his sons receive honor, he does not know it; if they are brought low, he is unaware. |
| 9 | Isaiah 2:22 | Put no more trust in man, who has only the breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he? |
| 10 | Daniel 5:23 | Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. The vessels from His house were brought to you, and as you drank wine from them with your nobles, wives, and concubines, you praised your gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you have failed to glorify the God who holds in His hand your very breath and all your ways. |
Psalms 146:4 Summary
When a person dies, their plans and dreams come to an end, as stated in Psalms 146:4. This verse reminds us that human life is short and fragile, and that our trust should not be in people, but in God, who is eternal and faithful (Psalms 146:6). By putting our hope in God, we can have confidence that our plans and hopes are not in vain, and that He will guide us and direct us according to His will (Proverbs 3:5-6). This truth can help us live with a sense of purpose and humility, recognizing that our lives are but a breath, and that God is the one who holds our future in His hands (James 4:14).
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to a person's plans when they die?
According to Psalms 146:4, when a person's spirit departs, their plans perish, emphasizing the fleeting nature of human endeavors, as also seen in James 4:14 and 1 Peter 1:24.
Is it wrong to trust in human leaders?
While it's not wrong to respect and follow human leaders, Psalms 146:3-4 cautions against putting our ultimate trust in them, as they are mortal and cannot save, unlike God, who remains faithful forever, as stated in Psalms 146:6.
What is the significance of the phrase 'his spirit departs'?
The phrase 'his spirit departs' refers to the moment of death, when a person's spirit leaves their physical body, as seen in Ecclesiastes 12:7, and their earthly plans and pursuits come to an end.
How can we ensure our plans and hopes are not in vain?
By placing our trust in the God of Jacob, as stated in Psalms 146:5, and hoping in the LORD, we can ensure that our plans and hopes are rooted in something eternal and unshakeable, as encouraged in Jeremiah 29:11 and Proverbs 3:5-6.
Reflection Questions
- What are some plans or hopes that I have been trusting in, and how can I ensure they are aligned with God's will?
- In what ways can I prioritize my relationship with God, so that my trust is not in mortal men, but in the eternal God?
- How can I apply the truth of Psalms 146:4 to my daily life, recognizing the fleeting nature of human endeavors and the importance of seeking eternal things?
- What are some areas where I have been putting my trust in human leaders or institutions, and how can I shift my focus to trusting in God alone?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 146:4
His breath goeth forth,.... That is, the breath of a son of man, of any and everyone of the princes; it goes forth continually, and is drawn in again as long as a man lives; but at death it goes
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 146:4
His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth (from Psalms 104:29 : cf.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 146:4
He returneth, in his body, , to his earth; to that earth from which all mankind, princes not excepted, had their original. In that very day, as soon as ever he is dead, his thoughts perish; all his designs and endeavours, either for himself or for others.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 146:4
Psalms 146:4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.Ver. 4. His breath goeth forth] It is but in his nostrils at best; every moment ready to puff out; cease from him, therefore, Isa. ii. Man, say the Rabbis, is but a bladder full of air, which can stand on no ground; but, pricked with a pin, it shriveleth to nothing. Man, saith a Father, is nothing else but soul and soil, breath and body; a puff of wind the one, a pile of dust the other, no solidity in either (Naz.). He returneth to his earth] Of which he was made, and to which he is condemned, Genesis 3:19, and upon which he hath too much set his affections, being totus terreus, entirely of earth; and so the sooner forfeiteth all. It was therefore good counsel that one once gave to a great man, who had showed him his stately house and pleasant gardens: You had need make sure of heaven, my lord, or else, when you die, you will be a very great loser. But this few princes think of; which made the Spanish friar say, There were but few princes in hell; for what reason? there were but few in all. In that day his thoughts perish] His golden thoughts, his shining white thoughts, irritae diffluunt, come to just nothing. Princes may haply have in their heads whole commonwealths, and the affairs of many kingdoms; as Alexander had, and Tamerlane, who died of an ague in the midst of his great preparations for the conquest of the Greek empire. Or, his thoughts ( ad alios benefaciendos, as Aben Ezra expoundeth it) of doing thee and others good; these fall to the ground with him.
Great men’ s words are like dead men’ s shoes, saith one; he may go barefoot that waiteth for them. Wherefore
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 146:4
(4) In that very day . . .—Comp. Antony’s words: “But yesterday the word of Cæsar might Have stood against the world; now lies he there, And none so poor to do him reverence.” , Julius Cæsar.Thoughts.—The Hebrew word is peculiar to this passage. “Fabrications” would reproduce its etymological meaning.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 146:4
Verse 4. His breath goeth forth] His existence depends merely, under God, on the air he breathes. When he ceases to respire he ceases to live; his body from that moment begins to claim its affinity to the earth; and all his thoughts, purposes, and projects, whether good or evil, come to nought and perish. He, then, who has no other dependence, must necessarily be miserable.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 146:4
4. Cp. Psalms 104:29; Isaiah 2:22. to his earth] The ‘ground’ (ãdâmâh) from which he was taken and ‘of which his name (âdâm = ‘man’) reminds him. his thoughts] Or, purposes. The word is common in Aramaic, but occurs here only in the Heb. of the O.T. The author of 1 Macc, appears to have had both this passage and Psalms 104:29 in his mind when he wrote (1Ma 2:63), “To-day he will be exalted, and to-morrow he will not be found, because he is returned to his dust, and his thought is perished.”
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 146:4
His breath goeth forth - He dies like other people, no matter how exalted he is. See the notes at Isaiah 2:22. He returneth to his earth - See the notes at Psalms 90:3.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 146:4
4. His breath goeth—In Hebrew rhetoric the first clause is often a condition. When “his breath,” etc. His thoughts perish, means, not the destruction of the thinking faculty, the mind, but the ruin of his plans.
Sermons on Psalms 146:4
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
(John - Part 42): Life After Death - the Death and Raising of Lazarus by A.W. Tozer | The video is a summary of a sermon by a German theologian named von Hügel. He emphasizes that the only things that seem to move people's emotions in this world are worldly things l |
|
Don't Waste Your Life by Will Galkin | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the brevity and fragility of life. He uses the imagery of broken objects to illustrate how quickly and unexpectedly life can change. The pre |
|
Death, and After This, the Judgment by Rolfe Barnard | In this sermon, the preacher reflects on the certainty of death and the judgment that follows. He mentions significant events in recent history, such as the televised funeral servi |
|
Why Are We Alive? by Ernest O'Neill | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing Jesus as the Son of God. He encourages the audience to intellectually conclude that Jesus is God's son and to t |
|
|
Death and Judgment by Rolfe Barnard | Rolfe Barnard's sermon 'Death and Judgment' emphasizes the inevitability of death and the subsequent judgment that every person must face. He reflects on how recent televised funer |
|
Smoking Spiritualized by Ralph Erskine | Ralph Erskine delivers a powerful sermon using the metaphor of smoking tobacco to reflect on the transient nature of life, the vanity of worldly pursuits, the reminder of sin and m |
|
Eschatology: End Times by Greg Herrick | Greg Herrick preaches about the theological concept of eschatology, which refers to the study of final things in the Bible. He delves into personal eschatology, discussing physical |