Psalms 144:4

4 (143-4) Man is like to vanity: his days pass away like a shadow.

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 (143-2) My mercy, and my refuge: my support, and my deliverer: My protector, and I have hoped in him: who subdueth my people under me.
3 (143-3) Lord, what is man, that thou art made known to him? or the son of man, that thou makest account of him?
4 (143-4) Man is like to vanity: his days pass away like a shadow.
5 (143-5) Lord, bow down thy heavens and descend: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
6 (143-6) Send forth lightning, and thou shalt scatter them: shoot out thy arrows, and thou shalt trouble them.
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