King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
For a thousand years in thy sight [are but] as yesterday when it is past, and [as] a watch in the night.
Complete Jewish Bible:
For from your viewpoint a thousand years are merely like yesterday or a night watch.
Berean Standard Bible:
For in Your sight a thousand years are but a day that passes, or a watch of the night.
American Standard Version:
For a thousand years in thy sight Are but as yesterday when it is past, And as a watch in the night.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
For a thousand{H505} years{H8141} in thy sight{H5869} are but as{H3117} yesterday{H865} when it is past{H5674}{H8799)}, and as a watch{H821} in the night{H3915}.
Cross-References (KJV):
2 Peter 3:8
- ¶ But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day [is] with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
Psalms 39:5
- Behold, thou hast made my days [as] an handbreadth; and mine age [is] as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state [is] altogether vanity. Selah.
Matthew 24:43
- But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Luke 12:38
- And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find [them] so, blessed are those servants.
Matthew 14:25
- And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
Exodus 14:24
- And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,
Judges 7:19
- So Gideon, and the hundred men that [were] with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that [were] in their hands.
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Commentary for Psalms 90:4
Psalm 90:4 is a verse from a psalm traditionally attributed to Moses, making it one of the oldest compositions in the Hebrew Bible. This particular psalm is a reflection on the nature of God and humanity, emphasizing the vast difference between the eternal nature of God and the transient life of humans.
The verse itself speaks to the theme of God's timelessness and the brevity of human life. It uses two striking metaphors to convey this concept. Firstly, it compares a thousand years in God's sight to "yesterday when it is past," suggesting that what seems like an immense period to humans is as fleeting and insignificant to God as a day that has already slipped away. Secondly, it likens this same millennium to "a watch in the night," which was a period of time during the night shift when soldiers or watchmen would guard a city or camp. These watches were typically only a few hours long, further emphasizing the ephemeral nature of time from God's eternal perspective.
In its historical context, this verse would have resonated with an ancient audience familiar with the challenges of life in the Near East, such as warfare and the need for nighttime vigilance. It served as a reminder of the permanence and steadfastness of God in contrast to the fleeting nature of human life and endeavors. The message is one of humility and perspective, urging believers to consider their lives in relation to the everlasting nature of the divine. It also offers comfort by suggesting that God's presence transcends the limits of human time and suffering.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H505
There are 496 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶלֶף
Transliteration: ʼeleph
Pronunciation: eh'-lef
Description: prop, the same as אֶלֶף; hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand; thousand. - Strong's Number: H8141
There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁנֶה
Transliteration: shâneh
Pronunciation: shaw-neh'
Description: (in plural or (feminine) שָׁנָה; from שָׁנָה; a year (as a revolution of time); [phrase] whole age, [idiom] long, [phrase] old, year([idiom] -ly). - Strong's Number: H5869
There are 830 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַיִן
Transliteration: ʻayin
Pronunciation: ah'-yin
Description: probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape); affliction, outward appearance, [phrase] before, [phrase] think best, colour, conceit, [phrase] be content, countenance, [phrase] displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, [phrase] favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), [idiom] him, [phrase] humble, knowledge, look, ([phrase] well), [idiom] me, open(-ly), [phrase] (not) please, presence, [phrase] regard, resemblance, sight, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them, [phrase] think, [idiom] us, well, [idiom] you(-rselves). - Strong's Number: H3117
There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹם
Transliteration: yôwm
Pronunciation: yome
Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); 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. - Strong's Number: H865
There are 83 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶתְמוֹל
Transliteration: ʼethmôwl
Pronunciation: eth-mole'
Description: or אִתְמוֹל; or אֶתְמוּל; probably from אֵת or אֵת and מוּל; heretofore; definitely yesterday; [phrase] before (that) time, [phrase] heretofore, of late (old), [phrase] times past, yester(day). - Strong's Number: H5674
There are 493 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָבַר
Transliteration: ʻâbar
Pronunciation: aw-bar'
Description: a primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation); alienate, alter, [idiom] at all, beyond, bring (over, through), carry over, (over-) come (on, over), conduct (over), convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail, gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way, in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle, overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over) pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over, through), (cause to, make) [phrase] proclaim(-amation), perish, provoke to anger, put away, rage, [phrase] raiser of taxes, remove, send over, set apart, [phrase] shave, cause to (make) sound, [idiom] speedily, [idiom] sweet smelling, take (away), (make to) transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-) faring man, be wrath. - Strong's Number: H821
There are 187 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַשְׁמֻרָה
Transliteration: ʼashmurâh
Pronunciation: ash-moo-raw'
Description: or אַשׁמוּרָה; or אַשׁמֹרֶת; (feminine) from שָׁמַר; a night watch; watch. - Strong's Number: H3915
There are 223 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לַיִל
Transliteration: layil
Pronunciation: lah'-yil
Description: or (Isaiah 21:11) לֵיל; also לַיְלָה; from the same as לוּל; properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity; (mid-)night (season).