Psalms 144:4

4 People are like a breath; their lives are like passing shadows.

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.

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Psalms 144:4 In-Context

2 He protects me like a strong, walled city, and he loves me. He is my defender and my Savior, my shield and my protection. He helps me keep my people under control.

3 Lord, why are people important to you? Why do you even think about human beings?

4 People are like a breath; their lives are like passing shadows.

5 Lord, tear open the sky and come down. Touch the mountains so they will smoke.

6 Send the lightning and scatter my enemies. Shoot your arrows and force them away.