Psalms 90:10

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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)}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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.

American Standard Version

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

### SUMMARY
Psalms 90:10, a profound reflection from Moses's prayer, starkly contrasts the brevity and inherent toil of human existence with the eternal nature of God. It posits a typical human lifespan of seventy or, by exceptional strength, eighty years, yet emphasizes that even these extended years are often filled with hardship and grief, ultimately concluding in a swift, ephemeral departure from earthly life, underscoring humanity's fleeting nature before an everlasting Creator.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 90 is uniquely attributed to Moses, standing as a profound meditation on human mortality in contrast to God's eternality and sovereignty. It opens with God as the eternal dwelling place, emphasizing His timeless existence before the mountains were born or the earth formed, as powerfully stated in [Psalms 90:1-2](/psalms/90-1 "Psalms 90:1-2 - God Our Eternal Dwelling Place"). The psalm then shifts to humanity's fleeting existence, subject to divine judgment due to sin, likening human life to a dream or grass that withers under God's wrath ([Psalms 90:3-9](/psalms/90-3 "Psalms 90:3-9 - Humanity's Frailty and God's Wrath")). Verse 10 specifically details the duration and quality of this transient life, serving as a poignant preamble to the prayer for wisdom and divine favor in the remaining verses, where Moses pleads for God to "teach us to number our days" ([Psalms 90:12-17](/psalms/90-12 "Psalms 90:12-17 - Prayer for Wisdom and Blessing")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Composed by Moses, likely during Israel's forty-year wilderness wanderings, this psalm is deeply informed by the historical reality of an entire generation perishing due to disobedience and divine judgment, as recounted in [Numbers 14:29-35](/numbers/14-29 "Numbers 14:29-35 - The Generation that Died in the Wilderness"). This period was marked by immense hardship, loss, and the constant reminder of human frailty before a holy God. The "threescore years and ten" (70) or "fourscore years" (80) would have been a common, though not absolute, observation of lifespan in the ancient Near East, often shorter than today due to disease, famine, and lack of modern medicine. The "labour and sorrow" reflect the challenging agricultural and nomadic life, coupled with the spiritual burden of living under the Mosaic covenant's demands and the severe consequences for sin, which were vividly experienced during the wilderness journey.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Psalm 90 and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the **brevity and fragility of human life** in stark contrast to God's infinite, unchanging nature. This theme is echoed throughout Scripture, from the fleetingness of a vapor ([James 4:14](/james/4-14 "James 4:14 - Life as a Vapor")) to the grass that withers ([Isaiah 40:6-8](/isaiah/40-6 "Isaiah 40:6-8 - All Flesh is Grass")). Secondly, it highlights the **pervasive presence of toil and sorrow** in a fallen world, a direct consequence of the curse on creation following humanity's sin ([Genesis 3:17-19](/genesis/3-17 "Genesis 3:17-19 - The Curse on the Ground")). Even strength and longevity do not exempt one from hardship; they merely extend the period of struggle. Finally, the verse implicitly points to the **sovereignty of God over life and death**, reminding humanity of its dependence and the ultimate need to seek divine wisdom and favor in light of its finite existence ([Psalms 90:12](/psalms/90-12 "Psalms 90:12 - Numbering Our Days")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Strength (Hebrew, _gĕbûrah'_):** This term denotes power, might, or valor. In this context, it refers to physical vitality or robustness that might extend one's life beyond the typical seventy years. However, the psalm immediately qualifies that even this strength does not negate the inherent "labour and sorrow" of life, suggesting that human might is ultimately insufficient to overcome the pervasive effects of the Fall.
* **Labour (Hebrew, _‘āmāl'_):** This word signifies toil, trouble, misery, or painful effort. It encompasses both physical exertion and the distress or grief that accompanies it. It speaks to the inherent difficulty and struggle that characterizes human existence in a world marred by sin, reflecting the curse on Adam to work the ground by the sweat of his brow.
* **Sorrow (Hebrew, _’āven'_):** This term carries connotations of trouble, wickedness, or affliction. While it can refer to moral evil, in this context, it primarily denotes the pain, grief, and distress that are an intrinsic part of the human condition, even for those blessed with extended years. It highlights the emotional and spiritual burdens that accompany life's physical hardships.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The days of our years [are] threescore years and ten":** This clause establishes the general, divinely observed lifespan for humanity as seventy years. It is a statistical observation of the average duration of human life in Moses's time, not an absolute decree for every individual, but a benchmark against God's eternity and a stark reminder of human finitude.
* **"and if by reason of strength [they be] fourscore years":** This acknowledges that some individuals, possessing exceptional physical vigor, health, or resilience, might live to eighty years. It presents an extended, but still finite, upper limit to the human lifespan, emphasizing that even extraordinary human vitality has its ultimate boundary.
* **"yet [is] their strength labour and sorrow":** This crucial qualification highlights that even an extended life, marked by "strength," is not exempt from hardship. The additional years are often characterized by increased toil, physical decline, and emotional grief, underscoring the universal reality of suffering and the pervasive impact of sin in a fallen world, regardless of one's physical constitution.
* **"for it is soon cut off, and we fly away":** This vivid imagery emphasizes the suddenness and transience of life's end. "Soon cut off" (Hebrew, _chuwsh_ - to hasten, withdraw quickly) suggests an abrupt cessation, like a thread severed or a breath exhaled, while "fly away" (Hebrew, _‘uwph_ - to fly, vanish) paints a picture of rapid disappearance, like a bird taking flight or a fleeting dream dissipating. It powerfully underscores the ephemeral nature of human existence.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 90:10 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its profound message about human mortality. The numerical expressions "threescore years and ten" and "fourscore years" function as **synecdoche**, where a specific number represents a general range of human lifespan. The phrase "labour and sorrow" functions as **merism**, encompassing the full spectrum of human hardship, toil, and suffering, from physical exertion to emotional grief. Most strikingly, the verse concludes with a vivid **metaphor** and **simile**: life is "soon cut off," like a thread severed abruptly, and "we fly away," like a bird vanishing into the sky or a fleeting dream. These images powerfully convey the fragility, transience, and ultimate brevity of human existence, contrasting sharply with the eternal nature of God introduced earlier in the psalm.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 90:10 profoundly shapes our understanding of human mortality and God's sovereignty. It teaches that life, though a gift, is inherently limited and fraught with challenges in a post-Fall world. This brevity and toil are not arbitrary but serve as a constant reminder of our dependence on God and the futility of seeking ultimate fulfillment in earthly pursuits. The verse implicitly calls for a reorientation of priorities, urging humanity to acknowledge its finite nature and seek wisdom from the eternal God, recognizing that true security and lasting joy are found only in Him.

* [Job 14:1-2](/job/14-1 "Job 14:1-2 - Man's Brief and Troubled Life")
* [Psalm 39:4-5](/psalms/39-4 "Psalm 39:4-5 - The Brevity of Life")
* [Ecclesiastes 1:2-3](/ecclesiastes/1-2 "Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 - Vanity of Vanities")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This poignant verse from Moses's prayer is not meant to induce despair, but to awaken us to the profound reality of our finite existence and the infinite nature of God. It compels us to live with intentionality, recognizing that our days are numbered and that even strength cannot exempt us from the universal experience of toil and sorrow. Rather than clinging to fleeting earthly comforts or achievements, Psalms 90:10 calls us to cultivate an eternal perspective, investing our time and energy in what truly lasts: our relationship with God, acts of love and service, and the pursuit of divine wisdom. It is a call to humility, urging us to acknowledge our frailty and to lean fully on the enduring strength and grace of the Almighty, making every moment count for His glory and preparing our hearts for the life to come.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding the brevity of life impact your daily priorities and decisions?**
* **In what ways do you experience "labour and sorrow" in your life, and how does this verse shape your perspective on these challenges?**
* **How can you "number your days" (as per [Psalms 90:12](/psalms/90-12 "Psalms 90:12 - Teach Us to Number Our Days")) more effectively to apply your heart to wisdom and eternal truths?**

### FAQ
**Does Psalms 90:10 mean everyone will die at 70 or 80?**

Answer: No, Psalms 90:10 does not set an absolute maximum age for every individual. It provides a general observation of the typical human lifespan in Moses's time, stating that seventy years is common, and eighty years is possible for those with exceptional strength. This was likely an average or a common experience, especially given the harsh conditions of the wilderness wanderings and ancient life in general. The Bible records individuals living much longer both before and after this period (e.g., Abraham lived to 175, [Genesis 25:7](/genesis/25-7 "Genesis 25:7 - Abraham's Age")). The verse's primary purpose is not to set a rigid limit but to highlight the *brevity* and *fragility* of human life in contrast to God's eternal nature, emphasizing that even an extended life is still finite and often filled with hardship before it is "soon cut off, and we fly away." It serves as a powerful reminder to live with wisdom and an eternal perspective, as further articulated in [Psalms 90:12](/psalms/90-12 "Psalms 90:12 - Teach Us to Number Our Days"), which prays for God to teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Psalms 90:10 poignantly describes the brevity and toil of human life under the curse of sin, it implicitly points to the ultimate solution found in Christ. Humanity's finite existence, marked by "labour and sorrow," is a direct consequence of the Fall, where death entered the world through sin ([Romans 5:12](/romans/5-12 "Romans 5:12 - Sin and Death Through Adam")). However, Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, entered this realm of mortality, taking on human flesh and experiencing its full "labour and sorrow," even to the point of death on the cross ([Hebrews 2:14-15](/hebrews/2-14 "Hebrews 2:14-15 - Jesus Shared in Our Humanity")). His resurrection conquered death, offering believers not merely an extension of earthly life, but the promise of eternal life, free from the curse of sin and its associated toil and sorrow ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World") and [Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Death or Sorrow")). Thus, while Moses laments the fleeting nature of life, Christ provides the ultimate hope and fulfillment, transforming our brief earthly sojourn into a pathway to an everlasting inheritance in Him, where our "strength" will be made perfect in weakness and our "sorrow" turned into eternal joy ([2 Corinthians 12:9](/2_corinthians/12-9 "2 Corinthians 12:9 - God's Grace is Sufficient") and [John 16:22](/john/16-22 "John 16:22 - Your Sorrow Will Turn to Joy")). Through Christ, the brevity of our days becomes a catalyst for seeking the One who is eternal, and our fleeting existence finds its true meaning and ultimate destiny in Him.

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

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.