Psalms 90:3

90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.

KJV

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You turn man to destruction, saying, “Return, you children of men.”

Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.

You turn man to destruction; and say, Return, you children of men.

90:4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. when: or, when he hath passed them

What does Psalms 90:3 mean?

Psalms 90:3 is a verse in the book of Psalms, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include שׁוּב (shûwb), אֱנוֹשׁ (ʼĕnôwsh), דַּכָּא (dakkâʼ).

Hebrew interlinear

Thou

turnestשׁוּבshûwb/shoob/H7725to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again

manאֱנוֹשׁʼĕnôwsh/en-oshe'/H582a man in general (singly or collectively)

destruction;דַּכָּאdakkâʼ/dak-kaw'/H1793crushed (literally powder, or figuratively, contrite)

and

sayest,אָמַרʼâmar/aw-mar'/H559to say (used with great latitude)

Return,שׁוּבshûwb/shoob/H7725to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again

childrenבֵּןbên/bane/H1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)

men.אָדָםʼâdâm/aw-dawm'/H120ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Psalms 90:3.

Genesis 6:4

There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

Genesis 1:26

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Genesis 2:16

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: thou: Heb. eating thou shalt eat

Genesis 2:18

And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. meet: Heb. as before him

Genesis 2:23

And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Woman: Heb. Isha Man: Heb. Ish

Genesis 3:12

And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

Genesis 3:16

Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. to thy: or, subject to thy husband

Genesis 3:22

And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

Frequently asked questions

What does Psalms 90:3 say?

Psalms 90:3 (King James Version) reads: "Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men."

Is Psalms 90:3 in the Old or New Testament?

Psalms 90:3 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Psalms.

Reflect

As you read Psalms 90:3, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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