Psalms 103:16

16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.

Psalms 103:16 in Other Translations

KJV
16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
ESV
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.
NLT
16 The wind blows, and we are gone— as though we had never been here.
MSG
16 But a storm snuffs them out just as quickly, leaving nothing to show they were here.
CSB
16 when the wind passes over it, it vanishes, and its place is no longer known.

Psalms 103:16 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 103:16

For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone
A stormy wind, as the Targum, which tears it up by its roots, or blows off the flower, and it is seen no more; or a blighting easterly wind, which, blowing on it, shrivels it up, and it dies at once; such an one as blasted the seven ears of corn in Pharaoh's dream, ( Genesis 41:23 ) or any impetuous, drying, and noxious wind: and so when the east wind of adversity passes over a man, his riches, and honour, and estate, are presently gone; or some bodily distemper, which takes away health, strength, and beauty, and impairs the mind; and especially death, which removes at once into another world.

And the place thereof shall know it no more;
the place where the flower grew shall know it no more; or it shall be seen no more in it: so man, when he dies, though he is not annihilated, he is somewhere; he is in another world, either of happiness or woe; yet he is not in this world, in the house and family, in the station and business he was; he is no longer known nor seen among men on earth; see ( Job 7:10 ) .

Psalms 103:16 In-Context

14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.
15 The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—
18 with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Isaiah 40:7; Haggai 1:9
  • 2. S Job 7:8; Job 7:10
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