Psalms 90:6

KJV

In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.

KJV (with Strong's)

In the morning {H1242} it flourisheth {H6692}{H8686)}, and groweth up {H2498}{H8804)}; in the evening {H6153} it is cut down {H4135}{H8787)}, and withereth {H3001}{H8804)}.

Complete Jewish Bible

growing and flowering in the morning, but by evening cut down and dried up.

Berean Standard Bible

in the morning it springs up new, but by evening it fades and withers.

American Standard Version

In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; In the evening it is cut down, and withereth.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 90:6 offers a profound and poignant reflection on the transient nature of human life, contrasting its fleeting beauty and rapid decline with the eternal, unchanging sovereignty of God. Employing the vivid botanical metaphor of grass or a flower, the verse illustrates how life emerges with vibrant vitality in the morning, only to be swiftly cut down and wither by the evening, serving as a sobering reminder of humanity's brief existence in the vast expanse of divine timelessness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 90 stands as a singular and ancient prayer, uniquely attributed to Moses, "the man of God," placing it among the oldest compositions in the biblical Psalter. It serves as a foundational theological reflection on human mortality in stark contrast to God's eternal nature. The psalm commences by declaring God as the everlasting dwelling place and refuge for humanity, from "everlasting to everlasting" [Psalms 90:1-2](/psalms/90-1-2 "Psalms 90:1-2 - God, Our Eternal Dwelling Place"). Following this majestic opening, the psalmist transitions to the brevity of human life, likening it to a fleeting watch in the night or a swiftly passing flood in verses 3-5. Verse 6 specifically employs the vivid botanical metaphor, which then sets the stage for the subsequent lament concerning God's righteous wrath against sin [Psalms 90:7-11](/psalms/90-7-11 "Psalms 90:7-11 - The Consequences of Sin and God's Wrath"), culminating in Moses' earnest prayer for wisdom to "number our days" and apply our hearts to understanding and eternal perspective [Psalms 90:12](/psalms/90-12 "Psalms 90:12 - A Prayer for Wisdom").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Composed by Moses, likely during the Israelites' arduous forty-year wilderness wanderings, Psalms 90 profoundly reflects the harsh realities faced by a generation marked by widespread mortality due to disobedience and divine judgment. The imagery of flourishing grass and wilting flowers would have resonated deeply within an agrarian society where the rapid emergence of vegetation after morning dew or rain, followed by its swift desiccation under the intense Middle Eastern sun, was a daily, observable phenomenon. This natural cycle provided a potent and universally understood metaphor for the short, often difficult human lifespan, particularly in a context where life expectancy was significantly limited, as explicitly noted in [Psalms 90:10](/psalms/90-10 "Psalms 90:10 - The Span of Human Life"). The desert environment itself, with its sudden bursts of life followed by rapid desiccation, would have amplified the power of this metaphor.
* **Key Themes:** The paramount theme of Psalms 90:6 is the **brevity and fragility of human life**. This verse starkly contrasts human finitude and mortality with **God's boundless eternity and unchanging nature**, a foundational truth majestically established in the opening verses of the psalm. This profound juxtaposition is designed to cultivate **humility** within humanity, serving as a powerful reminder of our utter dependence on the Creator. Furthermore, the recognition of our transient existence serves as a potent catalyst for seeking **divine wisdom** and prioritizing what truly matters in the limited time we are granted. It encourages a perspective that transcends the temporal in favor of the eternal, prompting a re-evaluation of life's pursuits. This verse, therefore, contributes significantly to the psalm's overarching message of seeking God's favor and finding true purpose within our divinely appointed, yet limited, time on earth, echoing the sentiment found in [Psalms 39:4-5](/psalms/39-4-5 "Psalms 39:4-5 - The Brevity of Life").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **flourisheth (Hebrew, _tsûwts'_):** From H6692, this word signifies "to twinkle, i.e. glance; by analogy, to blossom (figuratively, flourish); bloom, blossom, flourish, shew self." It conveys a sense of rapid, vibrant emergence, beauty, and initial vitality. The choice of this word emphasizes the swift, almost instantaneous burst of life, highlighting its initial splendor and promise.
* **groweth up (Hebrew, _châlaph'_):** From H2498, this term means "to slide by, i.e. (by implication) to hasten away, pass on, spring up, pierce or change." In this context, it describes the process of growth and development, indicating that the flourishing is not static but involves a progression. However, it inherently carries a subtle connotation of transition or passing, subtly foreshadowing the inevitable end.
* **withereth (Hebrew, _yâbêsh'_):** From H3001, this word means "to dry up (as water) or wither (as herbage)." It stands in stark contrast to "flourisheth," depicting the complete loss of life, vitality, and moisture. It signifies the irreversible process of decay and death, emphasizing the finality and desolation that marks the end of life.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up;":** This initial clause paints a vivid picture of life's vibrant inception and rapid progression. "In the morning" symbolizes freshness, newness, and the dawn of a day full of potential, much like a plant that has absorbed the night's dew and bursts forth with energy and beauty. The verbs "flourisheth" and "groweth up" convey vigorous, swift development, highlighting the initial strength, beauty, and promise of life, whether of a plant or a human being. It speaks to the remarkable speed with which life can emerge and seemingly reach its peak.
* **"in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.":** This starkly contrasting clause immediately underscores the abrupt and inevitable cessation of that vibrant life. "In the evening" signifies the close of the day, serving as a powerful symbol for the swift and unyielding end of a life cycle. The phrase "it is cut down" implies an external force, such as a reaper's scythe or the harsh realities of existence, that prematurely terminates life, though it can also refer to the natural process of harvesting or decay. Coupled with "withereth," which denotes drying up, shriveling, and decay, this paints a stark and sobering picture of life's extreme fragility and its swift, irreversible decline into death, emphasizing the transient nature of all earthly existence.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 90:6 masterfully employs several potent literary devices to convey its profound message about human mortality. The primary device is **Metaphor**, where human life is implicitly but powerfully compared to grass or a flower. This comparison is not explicitly stated as a simile ("like grass") but is deeply embedded through the description of the plant's ephemeral life cycle serving as a direct parallel to the human experience. This metaphor effectively highlights the intrinsic fragility, fleeting beauty, and extreme brevity of life. Furthermore, the verse skillfully utilizes **Antithesis** or **Contrast** by juxtaposing "morning" with "evening," and the vibrant "flourisheth, and groweth up" with the desolate "is cut down, and withereth." This stark opposition dramatically emphasizes the rapid and irreversible shift from vitality to decay, powerfully reinforcing the transient nature of life. The use of vivid **Imagery** is also highly effective, evoking sensory details of a plant's life cycle—the fresh, dewy morning bloom and the parched, shriveled evening decay—making the abstract concept of mortality tangible and deeply relatable to the audience's daily observations and experiences.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 90:6 serves as a foundational theological statement on human mortality, a truth echoed consistently throughout the biblical narrative. Theologically, it underscores the vast and unbridgeable chasm between the finite, temporal nature of humanity, marked by sin and subject to death, and the infinite, eternal, and unchanging nature of God. This stark contrast is not intended to diminish human value but rather to humble us, reminding us of our absolute dependence on the Creator and the preciousness of the limited time He graciously grants. It serves as a profound call to live with an acute awareness of our limited days, prompting a pursuit of divine wisdom and a steadfast focus on eternal realities rather than fleeting earthly pursuits. The brevity of life, as vividly depicted here, becomes a powerful impetus for seeking God's favor, understanding His sovereign will, and investing our lives in that which truly lasts beyond the temporal realm.

* [Isaiah 40:6-8](/isaiah/40-6-8 "Isaiah 40:6-8 - All Flesh is Grass, The Word of God Endures")
* [James 4:14](/james/4-14 "James 4:14 - Life is a Vapor")
* [1 Peter 1:24-25](/1_peter/1-24-25 "1 Peter 1:24-25 - The Fleeting Nature of Flesh and the Enduring Word")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 90:6 confronts us with the profound and inescapable reality of our mortality, urging us to re-evaluate our priorities and live with profound intentionality. If life is indeed as fleeting as a morning flower, then our ultimate focus must shift from the accumulation of temporal treasures and fleeting earthly ambitions to the investment in eternal ones. This verse is not an invitation to despair or fatalism, but rather a powerful call to urgency, purpose, and spiritual wisdom. It compels us to "number our days" (as Moses prays in [Psalms 90:12](/psalms/90-12 "Psalms 90:12 - A Prayer for Wisdom to Number Our Days")), recognizing each moment as a precious and unrepeatable gift from God. Such an awareness should cultivate a deep sense of humility, acknowledging our complete dependence on divine grace, and motivating us to seek God's will and glory above all else. This perspective ensures that our brief earthly sojourn is lived for His praise and the good of others, rather than for self-serving ambitions that will inevitably wither away with time.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the vivid imagery of a flourishing morning and a withered evening impact your perspective on the value and stewardship of each day God grants you?**
* **In light of life's undeniable brevity, what specific adjustments might you need to make in your daily priorities, long-term goals, or spiritual disciplines?**
* **How does acknowledging your own mortality, and the mortality of those you love, deepen your reliance on God and your earnest pursuit of spiritual wisdom and eternal purpose?**

### FAQ

**Does Psalms 90:6 suggest that God is indifferent to human suffering or the brevity of life?**

Answer: No, Psalms 90:6 does not suggest divine indifference. Rather, it highlights the vast and fundamental difference between God's eternal, unchanging nature and humanity's finite, temporal existence. The psalm, particularly in subsequent verses like [Psalms 90:7-11](/psalms/90-7-11 "Psalms 90:7-11 - God's Wrath and Human Sin"), explicitly links human mortality to the consequences of sin and God's righteous judgment. The brevity of life is presented as a sobering reality that should lead humanity to profound humility and a proper reverence for God, prompting a fervent prayer for wisdom and mercy, as powerfully articulated in [Psalms 90:12-17](/psalms/90-12-17 "Psalms 90:12-17 - Moses' Prayer for Wisdom and Favor"). It is fundamentally a call to acknowledge God's absolute sovereignty over life and death, not a declaration of His apathy towards human experience.

**Is the message of Psalms 90:6 inherently pessimistic?**

Answer: While the verse presents a stark and sobering truth about human mortality, it is not inherently pessimistic in its broader biblical context. Instead, it offers a realistic and unvarnished assessment of life's transient nature, which serves as a crucial foundation for cultivating true spiritual wisdom. By acknowledging the brevity of our days and the certainty of death, the psalmist (Moses) implicitly encourages a vital shift in focus from the temporal to the eternal. This profound realization is intended to motivate us to "number our days" [Psalms 90:12](/psalms/90-12 "Psalms 90:12 - A Prayer for Wisdom") and to earnestly seek God's enduring favor, purpose, and presence for our lives. Far from despair, it is a powerful call to live intentionally, wisely, and with an eternal perspective, maximizing the precious time God has given us.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The profound truth of human mortality, so vividly portrayed in Psalms 90:6, finds its ultimate answer, redemptive transformation, and eternal hope in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While humanity, like the grass, flourishes for a fleeting moment and then inevitably withers under the pervasive shadow of sin and death, Christ is the eternal Word who graciously "became flesh and dwelt among us" [John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh") and, through His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection, conquered death itself. He is not merely a transient bloom destined to fade, but rather "the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright and morning Star" [Revelation 22:16](/revelation/22-16 "Revelation 22:16 - Jesus, the Bright Morning Star"), the source of all enduring life. Through His crucifixion, burial, and triumphant resurrection, Jesus decisively broke the power of sin and death, offering the gift of eternal life to all who believe in Him [John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God's Love and Eternal Life"). Our ultimate hope is no longer rooted in our fleeting earthly existence, which inevitably withers, but in the imperishable, resurrected life of Christ, who promises His followers, "Because I live, you also will live" [John 14:19](/john/14-19 "John 14:19 - Jesus Promises His Presence"). He is the true vine [John 15:1](/john/15-1 "John 15:1 - Jesus, the True Vine") from whom we, as branches, draw everlasting spiritual life, transforming our fleeting mortal lives into an enduring, vibrant, and eternal reality found only 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

Job 14:2

He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

Psalms 92:7

¶ When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; [it is] that they shall be destroyed for ever:

Matthew 6:30

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, [shall he] not much more [clothe] you, O ye of little faith?

James 1:11

For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.