The Bible Says
Psalm 90:3-6 Meaning

In Psalm 90:3-6, traditionally attributed to Moses who lived around 1526-1406 BC, the fragility of humanity is set against the eternal sovereignty of God. When Moses declares, You turn man back into dust And say, Return, O children of men (v. 3), he paints the profound reality of our origin and our end. Psalm 90:3-6 underscores that God holds the power of life and death, humbling human pride by reminding us that our physical bodies will one day return to the very dust from which they were formed (Genesis 3:19). In light of this truth, believers are encouraged to live with holy reverence and to remember that a gracious God has invited His creation to trust Him.

The next verse offers a breathtaking perspective on God’s timelessness: For a thousand years in Your sight Are like yesterday when it passes by, Or as a watch in the night (v. 4). While human lives fade swiftly, God’s vantage point is not limited by time or momentary circumstances. Centuries and millennia pass in what seems like an instant to Him. This reality points forward to passages that emphasize God’s patience and kindness, such as 2 Peter 3:8, where believers are reminded that God’s eternal nature operates beyond our temporal concerns. From a New Testament perspective, Jesus’ coming reconciles a timeless God with a time—bound humanity, providing hope that transcends our earthly lifespan.

Further emphasizing the fleeting nature of life, Moses proclaims, You have swept them away like a flood, they fall asleep; In the morning they are like grass which sprouts anew (v. 5). The image is stark: life can be swept away abruptly, as though rushed off by overpowering waters. In the ancient Near East, floods were sudden and destructive, taking entire communities by surprise. Here Moses compares that suddenness to the inevitability of mortals’ end. Yet amid the upheaval, morning arrives, and the grass sprouts anew, reflecting God’s mercy in letting new life begin another day.

The contrast continues in the next statement: In the morning it flourishes and sprouts anew; Toward evening it fades and withers away (v. 6). While humanity may rise to its peak, our powers eventually dwindle by the day’s end. The swift cycle of grass turning from fresh to withered points to how people, too, face decline. From a broader biblical perspective, however, this is not a reason for despair but a reminder that our hope rests in God’s unchanging faithfulness (James 4:14). Though our physical bodies may fade, Jesus offers eternal life and a promise of renewal that transcends the daily decay of this world.