Psalm 90:4

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 90:4

For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday ,.... Which may be said to obviate the difficulty in man's return, or resurrection, from the dead, taken from the length of time in which some have continued in the grave; which vanishes, when it is observed, that in thy sight, esteem, and account of God, a thousand years are but as one day; and therefore, should a man lie in the grave six or seven thousand years, it would be but as so many days with God; wherefore, if the resurrection... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 90:4

For a thousand years in thy sight - As if he had said, Though the resurrection of the body may be a thousand (or any indefinite number of) years distant; yet, when these are past, they are but as yesterday, or a single thatch of the night. They pass through the mind in a moment, and appear no longer in their duration than the time required by the mind to reflect them by thought. But, short as they appear to the eye of the mind, they are nothing when compared with the eternity of God! The... 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 90:4

For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday. Time has no relation to God; it does not exist for him. "One day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" ( 2 Peter 3:8 ) Therefore we must not judge his methods of working by our own. When it is past; rather, as it passes. And as a watch in the night. To the sleeper a night watch seems gone in a moment. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 90:4

God's estimate of a thousand years. Note— I. THE GROUND OF THIS ESTIMATE . It is the eternity of God. He who is from everlasting to everlasting—God, the Eternal. There never was a period in which he was not. He is more permanent than the most changeless things. 1 . History teaches us this. Push back so far as we can into the remote past, there we find the sure proof of the Divine existence and work. 2 . Science teaches it yet more powerfully. Whether we... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 90:4

For a thousand years in thy sight - Hebrew, “In thy eyes;” that is, It so appears to thee - or, a thousand years so seem to thee, however long they may appear to man. The utmost length to which the life of man has reached - in the case of Methuselah - was nearly a thousand years Genesis 5:27; and the idea here is, that the longest human life, even if it should be lengthened out to a thousand years, would be in the sight of God, or in comparison with his years, but as a single day.Are but as... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 90:4

Psalms 90:4. For a thousand years If we should now live so long, (as some of our progenitors nearly did,) in thy sight In thy account, and therefore in truth; which is opposed to the partial and false judgment of men, who think time long because they do not understand eternity; or, in comparison of thy endless duration, are but as yesterday, when it is past Which is emphatically added, because time seems long when it is to come, but when it is passed, and men look back upon it, it seems... 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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