Psalms 90:10

The days of our years [are] threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength [they be] fourscore years, yet [is] their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

The days {H3117} of our years {H8141} are threescore {H7657} years {H8141} and ten {H7657}; and if by reason of strength {H1369} they be fourscore {H8084} years {H8141}, yet is their strength {H7296} labour {H5999} and sorrow {H205}; for it is soon {H2440} cut off {H1468}{H8804)}, and we fly away {H5774}{H8799)}.

The span of our life is seventy years, or if we are strong, eighty; yet at best it is toil and sorrow, over in a moment, and then we are gone.

The length of our days is seventy years— or eighty if we are strong— yet their pride is but labor and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

The days of our years are threescore years and ten, Or even by reason of strength fourscore years; Yet is their pride but labor and sorrow; For it is soon gone, and we fly away.

Commentary on Psalms 90:10

Psalms 90:10, a poignant verse from the prayer of Moses, offers a sober reflection on the brevity and inherent challenges of human life when contrasted with God's eternal nature. It sets a realistic expectation for our earthly existence, highlighting its finite duration and the difficulties often experienced within it.

Context

This verse is part of Psalm 90, uniquely attributed to Moses, making it one of the oldest psalms in the Bible. It stands as a profound meditation on human mortality and God's timelessness, likely penned during Israel's 40-year wilderness wanderings, a period marked by divine judgment and an entire generation passing away due to disobedience, as seen in Numbers 14:33. Moses contrasts the fleeting existence of humanity with the eternal dwelling place of God, a theme powerfully introduced in Psalms 90:1.

Key Themes

  • The Brevity of Human Life: The verse states that "The days of our years [are] threescore years and ten" (70 years), or "fourscore years" (80 years) for those with exceptional strength. This establishes a general human lifespan, serving as a stark reminder of our mortality and the limited time we have on earth. This aligns with other biblical perspectives on life's brevity, such as James 4:14 describing life as a vapor.
  • Life's Inherent Toil and Sorrow: Even when extended to eighty years, the verse notes that "their strength [is] labour and sorrow." This acknowledges that human existence, particularly in its later stages, is often marked by hardship, pain, and grief. It’s a realistic portrayal of the human condition in a fallen world, not necessarily a curse, but an observation of the struggles inherent in life.
  • The Fleeting Nature of Existence: The phrase "for it is soon cut off, and we fly away" vividly illustrates how quickly life passes. It emphasizes life's transient quality, like a breath or a shadow, underscoring the suddenness of its end and the swift departure from this earthly realm. This imagery resonates with the idea of life being like a swift river or a fading flower.

Linguistic Insights

The terms "threescore years and ten" (70) and "fourscore years" (80) are classic King James Version expressions for specific age markers. The Hebrew word for "strength" (gĕbûrah) can also refer to power or might, suggesting that even in one's prime, life's struggles persist. The idea of being "cut off" (chuwsh) implies a swift, decisive end, and "fly away" ('uwph) paints a picture of rapid disappearance, like a bird taking flight.

Practical Application

Psalms 90:10 calls believers to a profound sense of perspective and urgency in their daily lives.

  • Value Each Day: Understanding life's brevity should motivate us to redeem the time, making the most of every moment for God's glory and our spiritual growth.
  • Seek Eternal Wisdom: This verse serves as a powerful preamble to Psalms 90:12, which prays, "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." It encourages us to live with an eternal perspective, investing in what truly lasts.
  • Reliance on God: Recognizing human frailty and the inevitability of death should humble us and drive us to rely on God, who is our eternal refuge and strength, as described in Deuteronomy 33:27.

In essence, this verse is not meant to evoke despair, but to awaken us to the preciousness of life and the ultimate importance of living in light of eternity and God's enduring sovereignty.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 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.

  • Psalms 78:39

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

  • 2 Samuel 19:35

    I [am] this day fourscore years old: [and] can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?

  • Genesis 47:9

    And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage [are] an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.

  • Deuteronomy 34:7

    And Moses [was] an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.

  • 1 Kings 1:1

    ¶ Now king David was old [and] stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.

  • Job 24:24

    They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all [other], and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn.
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