Psalm 90:3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 90:1-6

This psalm is entitled a prayer of Moses. Where, and in what volume, it was preserved from Moses's time till the collection of psalms was begun to be made, is uncertain; but, being divinely inspired, it was under a special protection: perhaps it was written in the book of Jasher, or the book of the wars of the Lord. Moses taught the people of Israel to pray, and put words into their mouths which they might make use of in turning to the Lord. Moses is here called the man of God, because he was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 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 rendered, "thou turnest man until he is broken" F2 תשב אנוש עד דכא "convertes hominem usque ad contritionem", Montanus; "donec conteratur", Musculus, Tigurine verion; "donee sit contritus", Vatablus; "ut sit contritus", Junius & Tremellius. ; and crumbled into dust; thou turnest... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 90:3

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. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 90:3

Verse 3 3Thou shalt turn man to destruction. Moses, in the first place, mentions how frail and transitory is the life of man, and bewails its miseries. This he does, not for the purpose of quarrelling with God, but as an argument to induce him the more readily to exercise his mercy, even as he is elsewhere said to pardon mortal men, when he considers of what they are made, and remembers that they are but dust and grass, (Psalms 103:14.) he compares the course of our life to a ring or circle,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 90:1-17

The psalm is termed, "A Prayer of Moses, the man of God." It is, however, only in part a "prayer," Meditation occupies the opening portion ( Psalms 90:1-6 ); complaint follows ( Psalms 90:7-11 ); it is only with Psalms 90:12 that prayer begins. (For the application to Moses of the phrase, "man of God," see Deuteronomy 33:1 ; Joshua 14:6 ; Ezra 3:2 .) read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 90:1-17

The Lord our Dwelling place. There is no need to doubt the assigned authorship of this psalm. It is in entire harmony with the facts and surroundings of Moses' and Israel's life in the wilderness. Observe— I. THE BLESSED FACT . The Lord our Dwelling place, which this psalm tells of at its beginning. Weary wanderers as the Israelites were, with no settled resting place, here today, gone tomorrow, how blessed for them that there was refuge, a dwelling place, a home, in God! And... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 90:3

Thou turnest man to destruction; or, "to dust" (comp. Genesis 3:19 ). And sayest, Return, ye children of men; i.e. "return once more, and replenish the earth." There may be an allusion to the destruction of mankind by the Deluge, and the repeopling of the earth by the descendants of Noah, as Dr. Kay supposes; or the meaning may be that God is continually bringing one generation of men to an end. and then setting up another, having the same control over human life that he has over... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 90:3

Thou 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 : “dust thou art, and unto dust shalt... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 90:3

Psalms 90:3. Thou turnest man to destruction But as for man, his case is far otherwise; his time is short; and though he was made by thee happy and immortal, yet for his sin thou didst make him mortal and miserable. And sayest Or, didst say, that is, pronounce that sad sentence, Return, ye children of men, namely, to the dust, out of which ye were taken. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 90:1-17

Psalms 90:0 Making the most of a short lifeGod alone is permanent and enduring, and therefore the only true security is found in him (1-2). Human life, by contrast, is short and uncertain, and is brought to an end as God decides and when he chooses. No matter how long a person lives, even to a thousand years, the number of years is insignificant compared with the timelessness of God (3-6).Sin has spoiled human life and brought God’s judgment upon people in the form of life’s troubles and... read more

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