Psalm 104:29

29 If your face is veiled, they are troubled; when you take away their breath, they come to an end, and go back to the dust.

Psalm 104:29 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 104:29

Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled
God may be said to hide his face from the creatures when he withholds their food from them, when there is a scarcity of provisions, a famine in the land; when there is no pasture for them to feed on, nor brooks of water to drink of; then are they troubled or perplexed, as in ( Joel 1:18 Joel 1:20 ) and know not what to do, nor where to go for help, but faint, and sink, and die. So in a spiritual sense when God hides his face from his people, removes his Shechinah, or divine Majesty and Presence, as the Targum here; and withdraws the influences of his grace and Spirit; or when they have no food for their souls, or what they have is not blessed, then are they troubled, ( Psalms 30:7 ) .

Thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust;
their original dust, from whence they sprung, as man himself does; the breath of all is from the Lord; he gives it to his creatures, and when he pleases he takes it away; and when he does, they die and become dust again.

Psalm 104:29 In-Context

27 All of them are waiting for you, to give them their food in its time.

28 They take what you give them; they are full of the good things which come from your open hand.

29 If your face is veiled, they are troubled; when you take away their breath, they come to an end, and go back to the dust.

30 If you send out your spirit, they are given life; you make new the face of the earth.

31 Let the glory of the Lord be for ever; let the Lord have joy in his works: