Psalm 103 15

Psalm 103:15 kjv

As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

Psalm 103:15 nkjv

As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

Psalm 103:15 niv

The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field;

Psalm 103:15 esv

As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field;

Psalm 103:15 nlt

Our days on earth are like grass;
like wildflowers, we bloom and die.

Psalm 103 verses

Psalm 103 15 Meaning

Psalm 103:15 poetically describes the fleeting nature of human existence, likening the brevity of human life and glory to that of grass or a wild flower. It highlights that though humanity may appear vibrant and flourishing for a time, its flourishing is temporary and inevitably gives way to swift decay. This verse serves to underscore human frailty and dependency, especially when juxtaposed with God's eternal, unwavering lovingkindness and enduring compassion described elsewhere in the psalm.

Psalm 103 15 Context

Psalm 103 is a fervent song of praise and thanksgiving, celebrating God's boundless goodness and compassionate character. David praises the Lord for His benefits, particularly His forgiveness, healing, redemption, and mercy. Leading up to verse 15, Psalm 103 emphasizes God's paternal love and understanding for humanity: "The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love" (v. 8). Verses 13-14 declare that just as a father pities his children, the LORD pities those who fear Him, "for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust." Verse 15 builds directly upon this by illustrating why God's compassion is so vital: because human existence is incredibly short-lived and fragile. The verse contrasts the fleeting life of humanity with the eternal, steadfast lovingkindness of the Lord detailed in subsequent verses (v. 17). It serves as a pivotal point, establishing humanity's profound need for divine mercy due to its inherent impermanence, which stands in stark opposition to pagan ideas of human inherent strength or glory apart from a deity.

Psalm 103 15 Word analysis

• As for man (אֱנוֹשׁ, enosh):
  • Word: This Hebrew word refers to "man" in the sense of a mortal, frail human being, emphasizing his weakness and limitations. It often appears in contexts that highlight humanity's dependency and perishable nature.
  • Significance: It deliberately distinguishes humanity from God, who is eternal and omnipotent, setting the stage for the contrast. It serves as a gentle but firm reminder of our dust-like origins and destiny, already introduced in Psalm 103:14. This term stands in implicit polemic against ancient near eastern views that sometimes deified rulers or celebrated human self-sufficiency; here, enosh is humble.
• his days (יָמָיו, yamav):
  • Word: "Days" signifies the span of one's life.
  • Significance: It emphasizes a defined, limited period, underscoring that human life is finite and brief, not endless or immortal in its earthly form. The plural form highlights accumulation of brief units, adding up to a short existence.
• are as grass (כַּחָצִיר, kachatsir):
  • Word: "Like grass" (chatzir) is a powerful and common biblical metaphor for transience, weakness, and perishability. Grass grows quickly, but also withers and dies swiftly, especially in arid climates.
  • Significance: This image speaks to the rapidity of growth and decay. It challenges any human pretense of permanence or self-reliance, visually representing life as ephemeral, dependent on external factors like rain and sun. In the agricultural context of ancient Israel, the rapid drying of grass was a familiar sight.
• as a flower of the field (כְּצִיץ הַשָּׂדֶה, ketsiyts hassadeh):
  • Word: "Flower" (tsiyts) evokes beauty, color, and fleeting vibrancy, while "of the field" (hassadeh) suggests wild, untended, and common growth.
  • Significance: This metaphor deepens the image of transience by adding the element of beauty and temporary glory. Humans might achieve a degree of outward splendor or accomplishment ("flourish"), but this, too, is as delicate and short-lived as a wild flower exposed to harsh elements. The term "field" indicates that this is not an artificially sustained hothouse flower, but one exposed to nature's whims, prone to swift wilting.
• so he flourishes (כֵּן יָצִיץ, ken yatsiyts):
  • Word: "So he flourishes" connects the imagery directly to human life. Yatsiyts (from tsiyts) echoes "flower" emphasizing growth and temporary blooming.
  • Significance: It affirms that just as a flower reaches its peak vibrancy, so does a person; however, the so implies a shared fate of eventual, rapid decline. It signifies a period of vitality and strength before the inevitable withering.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "As for man, his days are as grass": This phrase succinctly contrasts the finite, frail human being with the eternal, unchanging God described earlier and later in the Psalm. It immediately sets the tone for humility, stripping away any illusion of human immortality or inherent power. It speaks to a universal human condition, irrespective of status.
• "as a flower of the field, so he flourishes": This expansion of the initial metaphor adds layers of sensory experience – beauty, fragility, vibrancy, and a common setting (the field). The addition of "flourishes" implies that the human condition, while brief, includes moments of vitality, strength, and outward success, yet all these are equally subject to rapid decay, reinforcing the central message of human transience and the ultimate need for reliance on something greater than oneself. This image also implies that human life, like the flower, is beautiful in God's eyes, yet inherently delicate.

Psalm 103 15 Bonus section

The rapid life cycle of plants in the ancient Near East, particularly after winter rains and then intense summer heat, made these metaphors exceptionally potent and immediately understandable to the original audience. The images of "grass" and "flower of the field" carry an intrinsic element of being easily trodden upon or easily destroyed by elements, further emphasizing the human vulnerability. This truth implicitly stands in opposition to any humanistic glorification of humanity's inherent strength or claims to immortality, redirecting worship and trust back to the divine. The beauty of the flower before its swift decline also conveys a bittersweet aspect of human life: moments of joy and peak vibrancy are truly present, yet their transient nature urges a sober perspective.

Psalm 103 15 Commentary

Psalm 103:15 stands as a profound yet concise statement on the human condition. It masterfully uses two natural images—grass and the wild flower—to convey the swift and temporary nature of life. While beautiful and vibrant for a season, these plants are entirely dependent on their environment and quickly wither under the heat or wind. In the same way, human existence, though possessing its own unique splendor and vitality, is inherently fragile and ephemeral. This verse reminds humanity that its "days" are limited, a mere blip in the vast expanse of time. The flourishing mentioned is temporary, highlighting that worldly success, beauty, or strength ultimately give way to decline.

This brevity, however, is not a call to despair but rather serves as a crucial theological point within the Psalm: precisely because human life is so short and frail, God's enduring lovingkindness (Ps 103:17) and paternal compassion (Ps 103:13) become all the more profound and necessary. Our inherent weakness necessitates a powerful, merciful God. It invites humility, leading humanity to rely not on its fleeting strength but on the unchanging faithfulness of the Creator. This verse acts as a bridge from the acknowledgment of human frailty (v. 14) to the boundless, everlasting mercy of God that extends to those who revere Him (v. 17-18). It underscores the contrast between the Creator and the created, ensuring that proper perspective is maintained regarding who truly holds power and endurance. For example, understanding this can lead one to prioritize eternal values over temporary earthly gains, or to extend grace to others, recognizing our shared vulnerability.