Psalms 104:29

29 When you turn away from them, they become frightened. When you take away their breath, they die and turn to dust.

Psalms 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.

Psalms 104:29 In-Context

27 All these things depend on you to give them their food at the right time.
28 When you give it to them, they gather it up. When you open your hand, they are filled with good food.
29 When you turn away from them, they become frightened. When you take away their breath, they die and turn to dust.
30 When you breathe on them, they are created, and you make the land new again.
31 May the glory of the Lord be forever. May the Lord enjoy what he has made.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.