Psalms 90:16

KJV

Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.

KJV (with Strong's)

Let thy work {H6467} appear {H7200}{H8735)} unto thy servants {H5650}, and thy glory {H1926} unto their children {H1121}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Show your deeds to your servants and your glory to their children.

Berean Standard Bible

May Your work be shown to Your servants, and Your splendor to their children.

American Standard Version

Let thy work appear unto thy servants, And thy glory upon their children.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 90:16 is a profound and poignant petition from Moses, strategically positioned at the conclusion of a psalm that masterfully contrasts the eternal, sovereign nature of God with the fleeting, often sorrowful, existence of humanity. It articulates a fervent desire for God's active, redemptive "work" and His inherent, majestic "glory" to be clearly and undeniably revealed, not only to the present generation of His devoted servants but also, crucially, to their descendants. This prayer embodies a deep longing for a visible and enduring spiritual legacy, ensuring that the divine presence, power, and character remain vibrantly evident across generations, providing hope and purpose amidst the challenges and brevity of human life.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as a pivotal turning point and a hopeful culmination within Psalm 90. The preceding verses (1-11) establish a somber and realistic tone, lamenting human mortality, the brevity of life, and the consequences of divine wrath due to sin. Moses contrasts the eternal dwelling place of God (verses 1-2) with humanity's transient existence, likened to a dream or grass that withers (verses 3-6). He acknowledges God's righteous anger and the brevity of human life, which is often filled with toil and sorrow (verses 7-11). Following this lament, the psalm shifts dramatically to a series of earnest petitions for wisdom, mercy, and divine favor (verses 12-15). Verse 16, "Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children," builds upon these pleas, specifically asking for a visible, tangible, and enduring manifestation of God's power and presence. It extends the hope beyond the immediate generation, praying for God's active hand to be seen, transforming the sorrow of human frailty into a testimony of His enduring faithfulness and ensuring a continuous legacy of faith.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Attributed to Moses, Psalm 90 is widely considered the oldest psalm in the biblical canon, likely composed during the Israelites' forty years of wandering in the wilderness. This period was a crucible of divine judgment, as an entire generation perished due to disobedience (Numbers 14), yet it was also a time of profound divine provision and revelation. Moses, as the leader, would have keenly felt the transience of life and the weight of God's judgment, alongside His enduring covenant faithfulness. The prayer for God's "work" and "glory" to appear would resonate deeply with the historical acts of God witnessed in the Exodus (e.g., the parting of the Red Sea), the giving of the Law at Sinai, the miraculous provision of manna, and the visible presence of the *Shekinah* glory in the wilderness Tabernacle. Culturally, the transmission of faith and knowledge from one generation to the next was paramount in ancient Israel, as emphasized in the Deuteronomic commands to teach children about God's mighty acts and statutes, ensuring they would "fear the Lord your God" ([Deuteronomy 6:6-7](/deuteronomy/6-6-7 "Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - Teach Your Children Diligently")). This verse therefore reflects a deep understanding of God's historical engagement with His people and the crucial need for this knowledge and experience to be perpetuated.
* **Key Themes:** The verse significantly contributes to several overarching themes within Psalm 90 and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Divine Manifestation**, expressing a fervent desire for God to make His powerful actions ("work") and majestic character ("glory") visibly evident. This is not merely a request for abstract knowledge but for a tangible experience of God's presence and intervention in the lives of His people. Secondly, a central theme is **Generational Faith and Legacy**. The explicit mention of "their children" underscores the vital importance of intergenerational discipleship and the passing down of spiritual heritage. This reflects a core biblical principle that God's faithfulness and deeds should be known and celebrated by succeeding generations, ensuring a continuous covenant relationship, as echoed in the commitment to recount God's glorious deeds to the children of the next generation in [Psalm 78:4](/psalms/78-4 "Psalm 78:4 - Passing on God's Deeds"). Finally, the verse introduces a theme of **Hope Amidst Hardship**. Following a sobering reflection on human suffering and mortality, this petition offers a hopeful plea for God's active presence to bring comfort, purpose, and visible blessing, transforming sorrow into joy and labor into fruitfulness. It anticipates God's enduring favor even in the face of human frailty, a hope that culminates in the subsequent plea for God's favor and the establishment of their work in [Psalm 90:17](/psalms/90-17 "Psalm 90:17 - Establish the Work of Our Hands").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Work (Hebrew, _pôʻal'_):** This term (H6467, פָּעַל) refers to God's deeds, actions, or accomplishments. It encompasses the totality of His active engagement in the world, including creation, redemption, providence, and judgment. In the context of the wilderness generation, it would specifically bring to mind the miraculous acts of the Exodus, the giving of the Law, the provision of manna and water, and the divine judgments against disobedience. The prayer is for these powerful, historical interventions of God to "appear" or be made visible and manifest to His people, providing tangible evidence of His ongoing involvement.
* **Glory (Hebrew, _hâdâr'_):** The word (H1926, הָדָר) conveys magnificence, ornament, splendor, beauty, comeliness, excellency, honor, and majesty. While related to *kabod* (weighty glory), *hâdâr* often emphasizes the visible, awe-inspiring display of God's inherent nature, His radiant beauty, and His majestic presence. It speaks of the outward manifestation of His divine character and power. The petition is for this inherent majesty to be revealed not just to the current generation, but specifically to "their children," emphasizing a perpetual, visible witness to God's greatness across time.
* **Servants (Hebrew, _ʻebed'_):** This term (H5650, עָבַד) refers to those who serve God, implying a covenantal relationship of devotion, obedience, and belonging. In the context of Moses and the wilderness generation, these are the people of Israel, called to be God's special possession and kingdom of priests. The prayer is that God's powerful acts would be clearly discernible to those who are committed to Him, enabling them to walk in greater faith and understanding, sustained by His visible hand.
* **Children (Hebrew, _bên'_):** This term (H1121, בֵּן) broadly refers to a son, but in the widest sense, it includes descendants, offspring, and subsequent generations. Its inclusion here highlights the profound intergenerational concern of the prayer, emphasizing the desire for God's revelation to transcend the present and establish a lasting spiritual legacy. The prayer is that the children would not merely hear about God's past acts but would themselves witness and experience His glory.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Let thy work appear unto thy servants":** This clause is a direct and earnest petition for God's active deeds, interventions, and accomplishments to be made manifest and clearly visible to those who serve Him. The verb "appear" (רָאָה, *ra'ah*, H7200) implies a clear, undeniable revelation, not merely a conceptual understanding. It is a plea for God's ongoing, powerful presence to be evident in their daily lives, providing comfort, guidance, and assurance amidst the harsh realities of the wilderness and the brevity of human life. It acknowledges that God's people need to see His hand at work to sustain their faith, hope, and obedience.
* **"and thy glory unto their children":** This second clause extends the petition to the next generation, underscoring the intergenerational nature of God's covenant and the paramount importance of spiritual legacy. "Thy glory" refers to the visible splendor, majesty, and inherent character of God's presence. The prayer is that the children of God's servants would not merely hear about God's past acts but would themselves witness and experience the awe-inspiring manifestation of His divine nature. This ensures a continuous chain of faith, where each succeeding generation experiences God's reality, fostering their own relationship with Him and perpetuating His worship and covenant faithfulness.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices that enhance its meaning and impact, contributing to its profound theological message. Foremost is **Parallelism**, specifically **Synthetic Parallelism**, where the second line expands upon or completes the thought of the first. "Let thy work appear unto thy servants" is paralleled by "and thy glory unto their children," linking God's active deeds with His inherent majesty, and the current generation of believers with their descendants. This structure emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the desired revelation and its intergenerational continuity, showing that God's activity and His being are inextricably linked in His self-disclosure. The verse is also a direct **Petition** or **Prayer**, a common and central feature of the Psalms, signifying a heartfelt plea to God. The use of the jussive "Let thy..." is a volitional expression, indicating a strong desire and earnest request for divine action. Furthermore, there is an element of **Merism** or **Synecdoche** in the pairing of "work and glory," where these two aspects together represent the totality of God's active presence, power, and character. By asking for both His "work" (His actions) and His "glory" (His inherent being and manifest splendor), Moses is essentially praying for a full, complete, and holistic revelation of God to His people and their progeny, ensuring they grasp both what He does and who He is.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 90:16 is deeply rooted in the biblical theology of God's self-revelation and the covenantal imperative to transmit faith across generations. It highlights the divine initiative in making Himself known, not just through abstract principles but through concrete actions ("work") and visible manifestations of His character ("glory"). This desire for God's visible presence reflects a foundational need for His people to experience His reality, especially in times of hardship and transience. The extension of this prayer to "their children" underscores the profound importance of spiritual legacy, emphasizing that faith is not merely an individual pursuit but a communal inheritance to be nurtured and passed on. It aligns with the broader biblical narrative of God's faithfulness to His covenant promises, which extend to a thousand generations, and the responsibility of each generation to bear witness to His mighty acts. This verse encapsulates the yearning for a living, palpable faith that transcends time, ensuring that God's saving power and majestic presence are continually experienced and revered.

* [Deuteronomy 6:6-7](/deuteronomy/6-6-7 "Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - Teaching the Next Generation")
* [Psalm 78:4](/psalms/78-4 "Psalm 78:4 - Recounting God's Deeds")
* [Isaiah 60:1-2](/isaiah/60-1-2 "Isaiah 60:1-2 - God's Glory Arises")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 90:16 serves as a timeless and potent prayer for believers today, inviting us to earnestly seek God's manifest presence in our lives and to commit deliberately to the spiritual well-being of future generations. In a world often marked by uncertainty, suffering, and a pervasive sense of transience, this verse reminds us to pray for God's active "work" to be evident—His intervention in our circumstances, His provision in our needs, His healing in our brokenness, and His sovereign guidance in our decisions. We are called to yearn for His "glory" to appear, for His inherent majesty and character to be undeniably displayed in our churches, our communities, and through our personal lives, drawing others to Him and inspiring awe. Crucially, the prayer extends beyond ourselves to "their children," challenging us to prioritize intergenerational discipleship. This means intentionally investing in the spiritual formation of the next generation, sharing testimonies of God's faithfulness, diligently teaching His Word, and modeling a life of authentic devotion, so that they too may witness and experience the transformative power of God's work and the awe-inspiring beauty of His glory. Our hope for lasting impact and spiritual fruitfulness rests not just on our own efforts, but on God's continued revelation to those who follow us, ensuring a vibrant legacy of faith.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific ways do you long for God's "work" to appear in your personal life, your family, or your community today?**
* **How are you actively contributing to the spiritual legacy of the next generation, ensuring they witness and experience God's "glory" for themselves?**
* **What practical steps can you take to make God's presence and power more evident in your daily life as a "servant" of Christ?**
* **How does the biblical perspective on the brevity of human life, as described in Psalm 90, intensify your desire for God's enduring work and glory to be seen and passed on?**

### FAQ
**Why is this psalm attributed to Moses, and how does that influence our understanding of verse 16?**

Answer: Psalm 90 is uniquely attributed to "Moses the man of God" in its superscription, making it the oldest psalm in the biblical collection. This attribution is crucial because it situates the psalm within the historical context of the Israelites' forty years of wandering in the wilderness. During this period, Moses witnessed firsthand the transience of human life and the consequences of God's judgment on a disobedient generation, yet also experienced God's miraculous provision and enduring presence. Therefore, the prayer in [Psalms 90:16](/psalms/90-16 "Psalms 90:16 - Let Your Work Appear") for God's "work" and "glory" to appear is deeply informed by the Exodus narrative—the parting of the Red Sea, the manna from heaven, the pillar of cloud and fire, and the *Shekinah* glory at Mount Sinai and in the Tabernacle. Moses' longing for God's continued manifestation to "His servants" and "their children" reflects his profound concern for the spiritual survival and legacy of the nation he led, recognizing that only God's visible presence could sustain them through hardship and ensure their future.

**What is the distinction between "thy work" and "thy glory" in this verse?**

Answer: While closely related, "thy work" (פָּעַל, _pôʻal_) and "thy glory" (הָדָר, _hâdâr_) refer to distinct but complementary aspects of God's revelation. "Thy work" primarily denotes God's active deeds, His interventions in history, His creative acts, His redemptive power, and His ongoing providence. It speaks of what God *does*. Examples include the acts of creation in [Genesis 1](/genesis/1 "Genesis 1 - The Creation Account"), the deliverance of Israel from Egypt (Exodus), and the miracles performed by God throughout biblical history. "Thy glory," on the other hand, refers to God's inherent majesty, splendor, and the visible manifestation of His character and presence. It speaks of who God *is* in His awe-inspiring nature. This can be seen in the *Shekinah* glory that filled the Tabernacle ([Exodus 40:34-35](/exodus/40-34-35 "Exodus 40:34-35 - The Glory of the Lord Fills the Tabernacle")) or the radiant appearance of God's presence. The prayer in [Psalms 90:16](/psalms/90-16 "Psalms 90:16 - Let Your Work Appear") is for both: for God's people to see His powerful actions and to experience the radiant beauty of His very being, ensuring a comprehensive understanding and experience of who He is and what He does.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 90:16 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the preeminent revelation of God's "work" and "glory" to humanity. The "work" of God, which Moses longed to see, is most fully displayed in the incarnation and redemptive ministry of Jesus. His very coming into the world is God's ultimate work of drawing near to humanity, as "the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us" ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")). His miracles, transformative teachings, and ultimately His atoning death and resurrection are the supreme "works" of God for salvation, as Jesus Himself declared, "I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do" ([John 17:4](/john/17-4 "John 17:4 - Jesus Glorifies the Father")). Furthermore, Jesus is the very "glory" of God made visible. The author of Hebrews proclaims Him as "the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being" ([Hebrews 1:3](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - The Son's Supremacy")). To see Jesus is to see the Father, for He said, "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" ([John 14:9](/john/14-9 "John 14:9 - Philip's Request")). The prayer for God's work and glory to appear to "servants" and "their children" is fulfilled as the Gospel, centered on Christ, is proclaimed and passed down through generations. Through the indwelling Holy Spirit, believers today continue to witness God's "work" in transformation and redemption, and experience His "glory" as He makes them partakers of His divine nature ([2 Peter 1:4](/2_peter/1-4 "2 Peter 1:4 - Partakers of the Divine Nature")). The church, as the body of Christ, is entrusted with the mission to make His work and glory known to all nations and to every succeeding generation until He returns ([Matthew 28:19-20](/matthew/28-19-20 "Matthew 28:19-20 - The Great Commission")).

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

Habakkuk 3:2

O LORD, I have heard thy speech, [and] was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.

Psalms 44:1

¶ To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil. We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, [what] work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.

Deuteronomy 32:4

[He is] the Rock, his work [is] perfect: for all his ways [are] judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right [is] he.

Numbers 14:15

Now [if] thou shalt kill [all] this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying,

Numbers 14:24

But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.

Joshua 23:14

And, behold, this day I [am] going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, [and] not one thing hath failed thereof.

Deuteronomy 1:39

Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.