Select Language
AaSelect font sizeDark ModeSet to dark mode
Browse by Book

Psalms 90:6 meaning

Life passes quickly, so we must anchor our hope in God’s eternal presence.

“In the morning it flourishes and sprouts anew; Toward evening it fades and withers away” (v.6). These poetic words, attributed to Moses who likely served as Israel’s leader around the 15th century BC, convey the short-lived vibrancy of human life. In this single verse, Moses employs the image of grass flourishing at dawn but wilting by nightfall, underscoring the fleeting days we enjoy on earth (James 4:14). The same theme appears elsewhere, tying the effects of scorching heat to life’s brevity, as illustrated by blight drying vegetation in Deuteronomy, which references Psalm 90:5-6 to highlight how swiftly circumstances can change.In the broader Psalm 90, Moses prays for God’s favor and acknowledges that the Lord has been Israel’s eternal dwelling place. By contrasting God’s everlasting nature with the transitory state of humanity, Moses expresses our dependence on divine mercy (Psalm 90:1-2). While we may bloom like grass in the sunshine, our vitality soon dwindles, reminding us to seek God’s guidance. This imagery also echoes the exhortations found in the New Testament to remain humble and thankful, since “all flesh is like grass” and only God’s Word endures forever (1 Peter 1:24).

The mention of morning bloom and evening withering reflects the swift cycle from energy to fatigue that typifies each day of our lives. Such honest realism about human fragility does not cast hope aside; rather, it directs us to a God who far transcends the limits of time and offers steadfast compassion (Psalm 90:14). In coloring our existence with both promise and impermanence, verse 6 foreshadows the biblical invitation to trust the One who “does not become weary or tired” (Isaiah 40:28).

Psalms 90:6