Psalms 78:39

39 Thus ¹He remembered that they were but ²flesh, A ³wind that passes and does not return.

Psalms 78:39 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 78:39

For he remembered that they [were but] flesh
Or "children of flesh", as the Targum; poor, frail, weak, mortal creatures, unable to bear the weight of his displeasure, the stroke of his hand, and the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his wrath; that they must be crushed before him, and would sink, and fail, and die; see ( Psalms 103:14 ) ( Isaiah 57:16 ) , or that they were naturally sinful and corrupt, prone to evil, easily drawn into sin; it was what their depraved natures inclined unto; they were impotent to that which is good, and unable to withstand temptations to evil; all which was taken notice of and considered by the Lord in his condescending goodness, and therefore he dealt gently with them; see ( Genesis 6:3 ) ( 8:21 ) ,

a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again;
such is the life of man; it may be fitly compared to the wind, which moves swiftly, and, passing on, loses its strength and subsides; so the life of man is quickly gone, his days move swiftly on, he dies, and returns not again to his former state, to a mortal life; and though the spirit returns to the body again, yet not till the resurrection; and then not of itself, but by the power of God; see ( Job 7:7 ) .

Psalms 78:39 In-Context

37 For their heart was not steadfast toward Him, Nor were they faithful in His covenant.

38 But He, being compassionate, forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them; And often He restrained His anger And did not arouse all His wrath.

39 Thus He remembered that they were but flesh, A wind that passes and does not return.

40 How often they rebelled against Him in the wilderness And grieved Him in the desert!

41 Again and again they tempted God, And pained the Holy One of Israel.

Cross References

• 1. Job 10:9; Psalms 103:14
• 2. Genesis 6:3
• 3. Job 7:7, 16; Psalms 103:14; James 4:14

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "breath"