Psalms 144:4

4 Man is like a breath. His days are like a shadow that passes away.

Psalms 144:4 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 144:4

Man is like to vanity
Is vanity itself, in every age, state, and condition; yea, in his best estate, ( Psalms 39:5 ) ; or, "to the breath" F8 of the mouth, as Kimchi; which is gone as soon as seen almost: or, to a vapour F9; to which the life of man is compared, ( James 4:14 ) ; his days [are] as a shadow that passeth away;
as the former denotes the frailty and mortality of man, this the shortness of his duration; his days fleeing away, and of no more continuance than the shadow cast by the sun, which presently declines and is gone.


FOOTNOTES:

F8 (lbhl) "halitui", Muis; so Kimchi.
F9 "Vapori", Cocceius; so the Syriac and Arabic versions

Psalms 144:4 In-Context

2 My lovingkindness, my fortress, My high tower, my deliverer, My shield, and he in whom I take refuge; Who subdues my people under me.
3 LORD, what is man, that you care for him? Or the son of man, that you think of him?
4 Man is like a breath. His days are like a shadow that passes away.
5 Part your heavens, LORD, and come down. Touch the mountains, and they will smoke.
6 Throw out lightning, and scatter them. Send out your arrows, and rout them.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.