Psalms 103:16
What does Psalms 103:16 mean?
A plain-English look at Psalms 103:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Psalms 103:16 means
Continuing the theme of human transience, this verse explains *why* man's life is like grass: a passing wind quickly causes it to wither and vanish. The image conveys the abruptness and finality of death, highlighting how ephemeral human existence truly is. The phrase "the place thereof shall know it no more" underscores the complete departure and absence, making the frailty of life profoundly clear and the ultimate dependence on God's enduring nature apparent.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; And the place thereof shall know it no more.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; And the place thereof shall know it no more.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949The wind goes over it and it is gone; and its place sees it no longer.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862For a wind hath passed over it, and it is not, And its place doth not discern it any more.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752The trees of the field shall be filled, and the cedars of Libanus which he hath planted:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone, and the place thereof knoweth it no more.
Context
Building on the analogy of human life as grass and flowers in verse 15, this verse provides the reason for its brevity: the destructive power of a passing wind. This emphasizes the stark reality of human impermanence, forming a powerful contrast that magnifies the eternal and unchanging nature of God's lovingkindness and righteousness, which is revealed as enduring "from everlasting to everlasting" in verse 17.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Job 7:6
My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, And are spent without hope.
- Job 8:18
If he be destroyed from his place, Then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee.
- Isaiah 40:7
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, because the breath of Jehovah bloweth upon it; surely the people is grass.
- Job 27:20
Terrors overtake him like waters; A tempest stealeth him away in the night.
- Genesis 5:24
and Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
- Job 14:10
But man dieth, and is laid low: Yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?
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