Psalms 78:39

KJV

For he remembered that they [were but] flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.

KJV (with Strong's)

For he remembered {H2142}{H8799)} that they were but flesh {H1320}; a wind {H7307} that passeth away {H1980}{H8802)}, and cometh not again {H7725}{H8799)}.

Complete Jewish Bible

So he remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that blows past and does not return.

Berean Standard Bible

He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return.

American Standard Version

And he remembered that they were but flesh, A wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalm 78:39 profoundly reveals God's compassionate character, illustrating His enduring patience and restraint in the face of Israel's persistent rebellion. Despite their repeated unfaithfulness and provocation, the Lord, in His divine wisdom and mercy, remembered the inherent fragility and ephemeral nature of humanity, likening their existence to fleeting flesh and a transient wind. This remembrance served as a crucial check on His righteous judgment, preventing their utter destruction and underscoring His covenant faithfulness even when His people proved faithless.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 78 is a sweeping historical psalm, a *maskil* or didactic poem, recounting Israel's history from the Exodus through the wilderness wanderings, the conquest of Canaan, and the early monarchy. The psalm highlights God's mighty acts of deliverance and provision, juxtaposed with Israel's recurring pattern of rebellion, unbelief, and idolatry. Verses 32-38 detail the Israelites' hypocrisy: they would seek God when afflicted, but their hearts were not steadfast. Verse 39 acts as a pivotal moment of divine intervention, explaining *why* God did not completely consume them in His anger, despite their deserving judgment. It transitions from a description of their sin to an explanation of God's merciful response, setting the stage for His continued forbearance and ultimate choice of David and Zion.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The psalm recounts events spanning centuries, from the oppression in Egypt (e.g., [Psalm 78:12-16](/psalms/78-12 "Psalm 78:12-16 - God's Miracles in Egypt and the Wilderness")) to the establishment of the Davidic kingdom (e.g., [Psalm 78:67-72](/psalms/78-67 "Psalm 78:67-72 - God Rejects Ephraim and Chooses Judah and David")). The wilderness generation, in particular, is a focus, characterized by their murmuring, testing God, and longing for Egypt, despite witnessing divine miracles. The cultural understanding of human life in the ancient Near East often emphasized its brevity and dependence on divine favor, contrasting sharply with the eternal, unchanging nature of the gods. This verse taps into that understanding, portraying God's perspective on humanity's inherent weakness and mortality, which informs His dealings with them under the Mosaic covenant.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Psalm 78 and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores **God's steadfast love and compassion (חֶסֶד, *hesed*)** despite human unfaithfulness. Even when provoked, God's character is marked by patience and mercy, restraining His righteous wrath (e.g., [Psalm 103:8](/psalms/103-8 "Psalm 103:8 - The Lord is Merciful")). Secondly, it highlights the profound **frailty and transience of human life**. The imagery of "flesh" and "a wind that passeth away" emphasizes humanity's physical and spiritual weakness, its brief existence, and its utter dependence on God's sustaining grace. This theme resonates throughout Scripture, reminding humanity of its created nature and mortality (e.g., [Psalm 90:12](/psalms/90-12 "Psalm 90:12 - Numbering Our Days")). Thirdly, the verse reveals **divine restraint and sovereign control**. God's understanding of human weakness acts as a powerful check on His judgment, demonstrating His willingness to extend grace and offer opportunities for repentance and restoration rather than immediate, full retribution for sin.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Flesh (Hebrew, _basar'_):** The Hebrew word בָּשָׂר (*basar*) refers to the physical body, but in a theological context, it often denotes humanity in its weakness, mortality, and finite nature, contrasting with God's eternal, powerful, and spiritual being. It emphasizes the creaturely, dependent aspect of human existence, prone to decay, sin, and death. In this verse, "flesh" signifies the inherent limitations and fragility of the Israelites, serving as a basis for God's compassionate remembrance.
* **Wind (Hebrew, _ruach'_):** The Hebrew word רוּחַ (*ruach*) is remarkably versatile, meaning "wind," "breath," or "spirit." Here, it is used metaphorically to vividly portray the extreme brevity, impermanence, and insubstantiality of human life. Like a gust of wind that appears momentarily and then vanishes without a trace, human existence is fleeting and transient. This imagery reinforces the idea of human vulnerability and the swiftness with which life passes, further justifying God's patience.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For he remembered that they [were but] flesh;":** This clause reveals the profound basis for God's forbearance. "Remembered" (זָכַר, *zakhar*) here implies not merely recalling a fact, but actively considering and acting upon that remembrance. God, in His infinite wisdom and compassion, took into account the inherent weakness, mortality, and sin-prone nature of humanity. This divine consideration of human frailty served as a mitigating factor in His judgment, preventing the full unleashing of His righteous wrath.
* **"a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.":** This second clause functions as a powerful simile, further elaborating on the nature of "flesh." Human life is likened to a transient wind, a fleeting breath that appears for a moment and then disappears forever. The phrase "cometh not again" underscores the irreversible nature of death and the ephemeral quality of earthly existence. This vivid imagery magnifies the contrast between the eternal, unchanging God and His temporal, vulnerable creation, highlighting the immense grace required for their continued preservation.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 78:39 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message. **Anthropomorphism** is evident in the phrase "he remembered," attributing the human quality of memory to God. This device helps us understand God's compassionate consideration of humanity's condition, making His divine attributes relatable. The verse also features a powerful **simile** and **metaphor** in its description of human life: "they [were but] flesh; a wind that passeth away." "Flesh" functions as a **metaphor** for human weakness and mortality, while "a wind that passeth away" is a **simile** that vividly illustrates the extreme brevity and impermanence of human existence. This imagery creates a stark **contrast** between the eternal, unchanging nature of God and the transient, fragile nature of humanity, thereby magnifying God's extraordinary patience and mercy.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 78:39 offers a profound theological insight into the very character of God. It reveals that God's justice is always tempered by His mercy, and His wrath by His profound understanding of human limitation. This is not to say that human sin is excused, but rather that God, in His sovereign wisdom, chooses to exercise patience and long-suffering, providing opportunities for repentance and restoration. This divine forbearance is a cornerstone of God's covenant relationship with His people, demonstrating His unwavering commitment even when they falter. It underscores that God's love is not contingent on human perfection but flows from His own gracious nature.

* [Psalm 103:14](/psalms/103-14 "Psalm 103:14 - God Remembers Our Frame")
* [James 4:14](/james/4-14 "James 4:14 - Life is a Vapor")
* [Isaiah 40:6-8](/isaiah/40-6 "Isaiah 40:6-8 - All Flesh is Grass")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 78:39 offers both immense comfort and a sobering challenge for believers today. The comfort lies in knowing that our God is not a harsh taskmaster who demands perfection before extending grace. He intimately understands our weaknesses, our proneness to wander, and our inherent limitations. His patience and mercy are not exhausted by our repeated failures, but rather, His remembrance of our "flesh" moves Him to compassion, providing ongoing opportunities for repentance and drawing near to Him. This should cultivate a deep sense of gratitude and trust in His unfailing love. However, the verse also serves as a powerful reminder of our mortality and the brevity of life. If our existence is but a fleeting wind, then our time on earth is precious and finite. This recognition should inspire profound humility, fostering a greater reliance on God's strength and wisdom rather than our own fleeting abilities or earthly pursuits. It urges us to live with intentionality and urgency, prioritizing what truly matters in light of eternity, making the most of every moment to honor God and fulfill His purposes.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding God's remembrance of our "flesh" impact your view of His justice and mercy?**
* **In what ways do you tend to forget your own "frailty" and rely on your own strength rather than God's?**
* **If life is "a wind that passeth away," how should this truth shape your daily priorities and long-term goals?**
* **How does this verse encourage you to extend patience and understanding to others, remembering their own human limitations?**

### FAQ
**Does this verse excuse human sin or diminish the need for repentance?**

Answer: No, this verse does not excuse human sin or diminish the need for repentance. Rather, it highlights the *reason* for God's divine forbearance despite sin. Psalm 78, particularly the verses preceding [Psalm 78:39](/psalms/78-39 "Psalm 78:39 - God Remembers Our Frailty"), clearly details Israel's repeated and grievous sin, their "flattering Him with their mouth" while their "heart was not right with him" ([Psalm 78:36-37](/psalms/78-36 "Psalm 78:36-37 - Israel's Hypocrisy")). God's remembrance of their frailty is an act of sovereign mercy, not an endorsement of their disobedience. It demonstrates His long-suffering, providing them with continued opportunities to turn from their wicked ways. The ultimate purpose of God's patience is to lead people to repentance, as seen in [Romans 2:4](/romans/2-4 "Romans 2:4 - God's Goodness Leads to Repentance"), which states, "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" This verse magnifies God's grace, not human license.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 78:39, with its profound declaration of God's remembrance of human frailty, finds its ultimate and most glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While God the Father remembers that we are "but flesh," the Son of God, Jesus, took on that very flesh, becoming fully human (e.g., [John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")). He did not merely remember our frailty from a distance; He entered into it, experiencing its limitations, temptations, and sufferings (e.g., [Hebrews 2:14](/hebrews/2-14 "Hebrews 2:14 - Jesus Shared in Our Humanity")). The divine compassion that restrained God's judgment in the Old Testament is perfectly embodied in Christ, who, "though he was in the form of God... made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men" ([Philippians 2:6-7](/philippians/2-6 "Philippians 2:6-7 - Christ's Humiliation")). Because He has suffered, being tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin, He is able to sympathize with our weaknesses and serve as our great High Priest, interceding for us before the Father (e.g., [Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our Sympathetic High Priest")). Thus, the fleeting "wind" of human life, which "cometh not again" in its own strength, finds eternal hope and resurrection life in Christ, who conquered death and promises new life to all who believe (e.g., [John 11:25-26](/john/11-25 "John 11:25-26 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")). In Jesus, God's remembrance of our "flesh" culminates not just in forbearance, but in redemption and transformation.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Genesis 6:3

¶ And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also [is] flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

James 4:14

Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Job 7:7

¶ O remember that my life [is] wind: mine eye shall no more see good.

Job 7:16

I loathe [it]; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days [are] vanity.

Psalms 103:14

For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we [are] dust.

Psalms 103:16

For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

Job 10:9

Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again?