Psalms 90:3
Psalms 90:3 in Multiple Translations
You return man to dust, saying, “Return, O sons of mortals.”
Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.
Thou turnest man to destruction, And sayest, Return, ye children of men.
You send man back to his dust; and say, Go back, you children of men.
You turn people back into dust, saying, “Return to dust, human beings.”
Thou turnest man to destruction: againe thou sayest, Returne, ye sonnes of Adam.
Thou turnest man unto a bruised thing, And sayest, Turn back, ye sons of men.
You turn man to destruction, saying, “Return, you children of men.”
Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.
For he hath delivered me from the snare of the hunters: and from the sharp word.
When people die, you cause their corpses to become soil again; you change their corpses to become dirt like the first man was created from.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 90:3
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 90:3 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
תָּשֵׁ֣ב
אֱ֭נוֹשׁ
עַד
דַּכָּ֑א
וַ֝/תֹּ֗אמֶר
שׁ֣וּבוּ
בְנֵי
אָדָֽם
תָּשֵׁ֣ב
shûwb
H7725
to return
V-Hiphil-Imperf-2ms
אֱ֭נוֹשׁ
ʼĕnôwsh
H582
human
N-ms
עַד
ʻad
H5704
till
Prep
דַּכָּ֑א
dakkâʼ
H1793
contrite
N-ms
וַ֝/תֹּ֗אמֶר
ʼâmar
H559
to say
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-2ms
שׁ֣וּבוּ
shûwb
H7725
to return
V-Qal-Impv-2mp
בְנֵי
bên
H1121
son
N-mp
אָדָֽם
ʼâdâm
H120
the man (Adam)
N-ms
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 90:3
תָּשֵׁ֣ב
shûwb
H7725
"to return"
V-Hiphil-Imperf-2ms
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.
אֱ֭נוֹשׁ
ʼĕnôwsh
H582
"human"
N-ms
Enosh refers to a human or mankind in general, used to describe individuals or people as a whole in the Bible.
Definition: 1) man, mortal man, person, mankind 1a) of an individual 1b) men (collective) 1c) man, mankind Aramaic equivalent: e.nash (אֱנָשׁ "man" H0606)
Usage: Occurs in 41 OT verses. KJV: another, [idiom] (blood-) thirsty, certain, chap(-man); divers, fellow, [idiom] in the flower of their age, husband, (certain, mortal) man, people, person, servant, some ([idiom] of them), [phrase] stranger, those, [phrase] their trade. It is often unexpressed in the English versions, especially when used in apposition with another word. Compare H376 (אִישׁ). See also: Deuteronomy 32:26; Psalms 8:5; Psalms 9:20.
עַד
ʻad
H5704
"till"
Prep
This Hebrew word means until or as far as, describing a point in time or space. It's used in the Bible to set boundaries or limits, like in Exodus when describing the Israelites' journey.
Definition: prep 1) as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as 1a) of space 1a1) as far as, up to, even to 1b) in combination 1b1) from...as far as, both...and (with 'min' -from) 1c) of time 1c1) even to, until, unto, till, during, end 1d) of degree 1d1) even to, to the degree of, even like conj 2) until, while, to the point that, so that even Aramaic equivalent: ad (עַד "till" H5705)
Usage: Occurs in 1128 OT verses. KJV: against, and, as, at, before, by (that), even (to), for(-asmuch as), (hither-) to, [phrase] how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that, till, toward, until, when, while, ([phrase] as) yet. See also: Genesis 3:19; Exodus 32:20; Numbers 23:24.
דַּכָּ֑א
dakkâʼ
H1793
"contrite"
N-ms
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means being crushed or broken into powder, like dust. It describes someone who is truly sorry for their sins, like in Psalm 51:17. This word shows a deep sense of regret and humility.
Definition: adj contrite
Usage: Occurs in 3 OT verses. KJV: contrite, destruction. See also: Psalms 34:19; Psalms 90:3; Isaiah 57:15.
וַ֝/תֹּ֗אמֶר
ʼâmar
H559
"to say"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-2ms
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Definition: 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Usage: Occurs in 4337 OT verses. KJV: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. See also: Genesis 1:3; Genesis 18:23; Genesis 25:32.
שׁ֣וּבוּ
shûwb
H7725
"to return"
V-Qal-Impv-2mp
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.
בְנֵי
bên
H1121
"son"
N-mp
In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.
Definition: : child/son
Usage: Occurs in 3653 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. See also: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 23:3; Genesis 34:18.
אָדָֽם
ʼâdâm
H120
"the man (Adam)"
N-ms
Adam was the first human, created by God and mentioned in Genesis 2:19, who married Eve and had sons including Cain, Abel, and Seth.
Definition: The first named man living at the time before the Flood, first mentioned at Gen.2.19; married to Eve (H2332); father of: Cain (H7014B), Abel (H1893) and Seth (H8352); also translated "man" at Gen.2.19,21,23; 3.8,9,20; 5.2; "mankind" at Deu.32.8; "others" at Job.31.33; Another spelling of a.dam (אָדָם "Adam" H0121) man, human being
Usage: Occurs in 526 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] another, [phrase] hypocrite, [phrase] common sort, [idiom] low, man (mean, of low degree), person. See also: Genesis 1:26; Judges 18:7; Psalms 8:5.
Study Notes — Psalms 90:3
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 90:3 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 90:3
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 90:3
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 90:3
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 90:3
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 90:3
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 90:3
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 90:3
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 90:3
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 90:3
- Sermons on Psalms 90:3
Context — From Everlasting to Everlasting
1Lord, You have been our dwelling place through all generations.
2Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.
3You return man to dust, saying, “Return, O sons of mortals.”
4For in Your sight a thousand years are but a day that passes, or a watch of the night. 5You sweep them away in their sleep; they are like the new grass of the morning—Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 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.” |
| 2 | Ecclesiastes 12:7 | before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it. |
| 3 | Psalms 146:4 | When his spirit departs, he returns to the ground; on that very day his plans perish. |
| 4 | Job 34:14–15 | If He were to set His heart to it and withdraw His Spirit and breath, all flesh would perish together and mankind would return to the dust. |
| 5 | Psalms 104:29 | When You hide Your face, they are terrified; when You take away their breath, they die and return to dust. |
| 6 | Job 12:10 | The life of every living thing is in His hand, as well as the breath of all mankind. |
| 7 | Numbers 14:35 | I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will surely do these things to this entire wicked congregation, which has conspired against Me. They will meet their end in the wilderness, and there they will die.” |
| 8 | Genesis 6:6–7 | And the LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, “I will blot out man, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—every man and beast and crawling creature and bird of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them.” |
Psalms 90:3 Summary
Psalms 90:3 reminds us that our lives are short and will one day come to an end, returning to the earth from which we came, as it says in Genesis 3:19. This verse encourages us to remember that our time on this earth is limited, and we should make the most of it by seeking a relationship with God and living according to His will, as encouraged in Ephesians 5:16-17. By recognizing the brevity of human life, we can cultivate a deeper appreciation for the present moment and a greater desire to live for eternal things, as Jesus teaches in Matthew 6:19-21.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to 'return man to dust' in Psalms 90:3?
This phrase refers to the mortality of humans, reminding us that our physical bodies will one day return to the earth, as stated in Genesis 3:19, 'for dust you are and to dust you will return.'
Who are the 'sons of mortals' mentioned in this verse?
The term 'sons of mortals' is a poetic way of referring to all human beings, emphasizing our shared mortality and frailty, as seen in Psalms 89:47-48, where the psalmist ponders the brevity of human life.
Is this verse related to the concept of judgment or accountability before God?
While Psalms 90:3 does not explicitly mention judgment, it does imply that our lives are fleeting and that we will one day give an account of ourselves before God, as stated in Romans 14:12, 'each of us will give an account of himself to God.'
How does this verse relate to the concept of eternity and God's timelessness?
Psalms 90:3 contrasts human mortality with God's timelessness, as seen in the surrounding verses, particularly Psalms 90:2, which declares that God is 'from everlasting to everlasting.'
Reflection Questions
- What does it mean for my life to be 'but a breath' in God's sight, and how should this reality shape my priorities and values?
- In what ways can I cultivate a deeper awareness of my own mortality, and how might this awareness impact my relationship with God and others?
- How does the fleeting nature of human life, as described in Psalms 90:3, relate to the importance of seeking eternal things, as encouraged in Matthew 6:19-21?
- What are some ways that I can 'number my days' and make the most of the time God has given me, as the psalmist prays in Psalms 90:12?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 90:3
Thou turnest man to destruction,.... Or to death, as the Targum, which is the destruction of man; not an annihilation of body or soul, but a dissolution of the union between them; the words may be
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 90:3
Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 90:3
But as for man, his case is far otherwise, his time is short; and though he was made by thee a happy creature, and should have been immortal, yet upon and for his sin thou didst make him mortal and miserable. Sayest, or, didst say, i.e. pronounce that sad sentence here following, Return, O men, to the dust, out of which you were taken, .
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 90:3
Psalms 90:3 Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.Ver. 3. Thou turnest man to destruction] Ad minutissimum quiddam, so Beza rendereth it, to a very small business, to dust and powder. Others, ad contritionem vel contusionem, by turning loose upon him various diseases and distresses; thou turnest him out of the world, Ecclesiastes 1:13. And generally, thou sayest of all and singular sons of men, Return, ye] Your bodies to the earth, according to the decree, Genesis 3:17-19, your souls to God, that gave them, Ecclesiastes 12:7. And here the course of man’ s life is compared, saith one, to a race in a tilt or tourney, where we soon run to the end of the race, as it were, and then return back again. Intelligit Moses vitam humanam similem esse gyro, saith another. Man’ s life is compared to a ring or round; we walk a short round; and then God gathers us in to himself. One, being asked what life was? made an answer answerless, for he presently turned his back and went his way. We fetch here but a turn, and God saith, "Return, ye children of men." This some make to be an irony; as if God should say, Live again, if ye can. Some apply it to the resurrection, others to mortification and vivification.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 90:3
(3) Thou turnest . . .—Probably we must render, Thou turnest man to dust; and sayest, Turn, sons of Adam—i.e., one generation dies and another succeeds (see Psalms 104:29-30), the continuance of the race being regarded as distinctly due to Divine power as the Creation, to which there is probably allusion. The LXX. suggest as the true reading, “Turn not man to dust, but say rather,” &c.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 90:3
Verse 3. Thou 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.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 90:3
3. The thought here is not merely that man’s life is infinitely brief in contrast to the eternity of God, but that it is absolutely at His disposal. The Psalmist plainly refers to Genesis 3:19, though he chooses different words to emphasise his point: Thou makest mortal man return to atoms. Enôsh denotes man in his frailty (Psalms 103:15): dakkâ, lit. pulverisation, implies the dissolution of the body into its constituent elements. and sayest, Return &c.] Two interpretations deserve consideration: (1) ‘Return to the dust whence ye were taken,’ cp. Psalms 146:4; Job 10:9; Job 34:15. (2) ‘Return into being,’ a call to new generations to appear on the stage of history (Isaiah 41:4). Cp. P.B.V. “Again thou sayest, Come again, ye children of men.” In favour of (2) it is urged that and sayest implies fresh action on the part of God: and that the antithesis of the rise of new generations as the old pass away is more forcible than the synonymous parallelism of (1): but (2) involves a somewhat strained interpretation of Return, and the evident allusion to Genesis 3:19 is in favour of (1). The interpretations Return to Me (cp. Ecclesiastes 12:7), and Return to life in the resurrection, are untenable.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 90:3
Thou turnest man to destruction - In contradistinction from his own unchangeableness and eternity. Man passes away; God continues ever the same.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 90:3
3. Thou turnest man to destruction— “Man,” a generic term here for the human race, with the fundamental idea of mortal—mortal man. Destruction—Crushing, and by metonomy that which is crushed, that is, dust.
Sermons on Psalms 90:3
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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God's Bloodhound by Rolfe Barnard | In this sermon, the speaker discusses their plan to distribute 50 sets of 70-hour tapes throughout America to help train young preachers. They express gratitude for the person fina |
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(Genesis) Genesis 2:15-17 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. He emphasizes that God gave man dominion over nature and placed him in the garden to take c |
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(Genesis) Genesis 5:1-2 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the book of Genesis, specifically chapter 5, which focuses on the generations of Adam. The speaker highlights the significance of the two line |
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(Genesis #7) Enoch Walked With God by J. Glyn Owen | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the transformative power of walking with God. He uses the example of Zacchaeus, who was changed after spending just an hour with Jesus. The p |
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The Nature of Man - Antiquity of Man Part 2 by John Murray | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the importance of understanding the nature of man as both material and spiritual. He emphasizes that God used dust from the ground to form ma |
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Listen to the Ashes of Sodom by Don Johnson | This sermon delves into the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, using a prop of ashes to symbolize the citizens who faced destruction due to their ungodly lifestyles. The preacher emphasi |
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God and Man by G.W. North | In this sermon, the preacher explores the concept of man and his various components, such as soul, spirit, joints, marrow, mind, thoughts, intents, purpose, will, heart, and senses |