Psalms 90:6

6 In the morning it blossoms and grows up; in the evening it is cut down and withers.

Psalms 90:6 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 90:6

In the morning it flourisheth and groweth up
That is, the grass, through the dew that lay all night on it, and by the clear shining of the sun after rain, when it appears in great beauty and verdure; so man in the morning of his youth looks gay and beautiful, grows in the stature and strength of his body, and in the endowments of his mind; and it may be also in riches and wealth; it is well if he grows in grace, and in the knowledge of Christ:

in the evening it is cut down, and withereth;
the Targum adds, "through heat"; but it cannot be by the heat of the sun, when it is cut down at evening; but it withers in course, being cut down. This respects the latter part of life, the evening of old age; and the whole expresses the shortness of life, which is compared to grass, that now is in all its beauty and glory, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, ( Matthew 6:30 ) . This metaphor of grass, to set forth the frailty of man, and his short continuance, is frequently used; see ( Psalms 37:2 ) ( 102:11 ) ( Isaiah 40:6-8 ) ( 1 Peter 1:24 ) . It may be observed, that man's life is represented but as one day, consisting of a morning and an evening, which signifies the bloom and decline of life.

Psalms 90:6 In-Context

4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past and as a watch in the night.

5 Thou dost cause them to pass by as the waters of a river; they are as a dream, which is strong in the morning like grass.

6 In the morning it blossoms and grows up; in the evening it is cut down and withers.

7 For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath we are troubled.

8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.