Psalm 78:39 kjv
For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
Psalm 78:39 nkjv
For He remembered that they were but flesh, A breath that passes away and does not come again.
Psalm 78:39 niv
He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return.
Psalm 78:39 esv
He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and comes not again.
Psalm 78:39 nlt
For he remembered that they were merely mortal,
gone like a breath of wind that never returns.
Psalm 78 39 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 6:3 | Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh; his days shall be 120 years.” | God limits man's life because he is flesh. |
| Job 7:7 | “Remember that my life is a breath; my eye will never again see good." | Life's brevity and transient nature. |
| Job 10:9 | "Remember that you have made me like clay; and will you return me to dust?" | God's awareness of man's fragile creation. |
| Job 14:1-2 | "Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble...He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and does not continue." | Human life is short and temporary. |
| Psa 90:3 | "You return man to dust and say, 'Return, O children of man!'" | God determines the brevity of life and mortality. |
| Psa 90:5-6 | "You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream...like grass that springs up in the morning." | Life's fleeting, temporary existence. |
| Psa 102:26 | "They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away..." | God's eternality contrasted with creation's perishability. |
| Psa 103:14-16 | "For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust...The wind blows over it, and it is gone..." | God's compassion stems from knowing our frail, mortal nature. |
| Psa 144:4 | "Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow." | Emphasizes humanity's brevity. |
| Ecc 1:4 | "A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever." | Human transience across generations. |
| Isa 40:6-7 | "All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field...the grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it." | Humanity's weakness and perishability. |
| Lam 3:39 | "Why should a living man complain, a man in the full vigor of his life, because of his sins?" | Human complaint contrasted with sin and divine justice/mercy. |
| Rom 5:6 | "For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly." | Christ's death for man in his state of weakness. |
| Rom 7:18 | "For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh..." | Paul's acknowledgement of the sinfulness of flesh. |
| 1 Cor 15:50 | "I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God..." | Flesh's limitation regarding eternal inheritance. |
| Gal 5:17 | "For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh..." | Inherent conflict between human nature and God's Spirit. |
| James 1:10-11 | "...the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises...and withers the grass..." | Warning against earthly pride due to life's brevity. |
| James 4:14 | "Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." | Life as an extremely temporary vapor. |
| 1 Pet 1:24 | "For 'All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls..." | Humanity's perishing nature contrasted with the eternal Word. |
| John 3:6 | "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." | Flesh represents humanity's fallen, mortal nature. |
| Heb 9:27 | "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment..." | Certainty of human mortality. |
Psalm 78 verses
Psalm 78 39 Meaning
Psalm 78:39 reveals God's merciful nature, explaining His forbearance towards Israel's repeated sin by acknowledging humanity's inherent weakness and fleeting mortality. God remembered that humans are but temporary, frail beings, like a breath that vanishes and cannot be recalled, prompting His compassion and steadfast love despite their rebellion.
Psalm 78 39 Context
Psalm 78 is a historical psalm, recounting God's steadfast dealings with Israel from the Exodus through David's reign, emphasizing Israel's repeated rebellion and God's unwavering faithfulness. Leading up to verse 39, the psalm details how Israel provoked God in the wilderness (vv. 17-31) and, despite experiencing His provisions, quickly forgot Him and tested Him (vv. 32-34). Even when they sought Him under duress, their hearts were insincere (vv. 36-37). Verse 39 serves as the divine explanation for God's profound patience and repeated mercy—He did not utterly destroy them but relented because He fully comprehended their frail, mortal existence as human beings. It sets God's deep understanding and compassion against humanity's innate weakness.
Psalm 78 39 Word analysis
- For (כִּי - ki): A causal conjunction, meaning "because," "indeed," or "surely." It introduces the reason for God's actions (His relenting and not destroying them, as mentioned in the preceding verse 38). It links God's forbearance directly to His knowledge of human nature.
- he remembered (וַיִּזְכֹּר - vayyizkor, from זָכַר - zakhar): This verb signifies more than simple recall. In biblical Hebrew, zakhar often implies an active remembering that leads to action, an intentional consideration or recognition that influences subsequent behavior. God's "remembering" here means He actively took into account, acknowledged, and acted based on the truth of their nature, leading to compassion.
- that they (כִּי־הֵמָּה - ki-hemmah): Introduces the content of what was remembered—their essential identity and condition.
- were but flesh (בָשָׂר - basar): This Hebrew term refers to human physical and existential reality, emphasizing frailty, mortality, inherent weakness, and often, susceptibility to sin. It signifies that which is transient and impermanent compared to the divine. It highlights humanity's dependent, created nature, contrasting sharply with God's enduring strength and divine essence.
- a wind (רוּחַ - ruach): Here used as a metaphor for extreme transience. While ruach can also mean "spirit" or "breath," in this context, combined with "passeth away," it strongly conveys the idea of a fleeting, insubstantial, and quickly disappearing gust.
- that passeth away (הוֹלֵךְ - holekh, from הָלַךְ - halakh, "to go" or "walk"): This participle conveys the sense of something actively moving on, disappearing, or vanishing. It speaks to the ongoing, inevitable process of decay and disappearance characteristic of mortal existence.
- and cometh not again (וְלֹא יָשׁוּב - velo yashuv, from שׁוּב - shuv, "to return"): This phrase underscores the finality and irreversibility of this passing. Once gone, it is not brought back or renewed. It emphatically reinforces the brevity and ultimate end of mortal life, serving as a powerful image of irreversible dissolution.
- "he remembered that they were but flesh": This phrase captures God's divine compassion stemming from His understanding of human frailty. It means God didn't punish them to the extent of their desert because He considered their fundamental makeup – limited, mortal, prone to weakness and error. This is a theological bedrock: God's mercy is rooted in His perfect knowledge of our human condition.
- "a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again": This is a powerful dual metaphor illustrating humanity's transient nature. The image of "wind" (or breath) emphasizes lightness, insubstantiality, and quick disappearance. "Passeth away" denotes immediate vanishing, while "cometh not again" emphasizes finality and the impossibility of recovery. Together, these phrases vividly convey that human life is brief, fleeting, and irreversible once it concludes. This fleeting quality prompts God's forbearance.
Psalm 78 39 Bonus section
- Anthropomorphic Language: The phrase "He remembered" employs anthropomorphic language, attributing a human quality (remembering) to God. This helps human comprehension of divine action; it signifies that God acts with full awareness and intentionality based on this fundamental truth of humanity's condition. It does not imply forgetfulness on God's part, but rather a deliberate choice to factor human weakness into His dealings.
- Basis for Forbearance: This verse offers a theological reason for God's incredible forbearance throughout biblical history. It explains why He didn't completely eradicate rebellious Israel; His mercy prevailed because of His knowledge of their finite and fragile existence. This foreshadows the ultimate expression of divine compassion in Christ's coming to save weak humanity.
- Implication for Judgment: While affirming God's mercy, the verse also subtly reinforces the gravity of human accountability. Our fleeting existence makes our choices, particularly regarding God, all the more crucial within our limited time. Yet, the verse assures us that even in judgment, God always acts with full knowledge and understanding of our created limitations, blending justice with perfect mercy.
Psalm 78 39 Commentary
Psalm 78:39 unveils a profound aspect of God's character: His mercy is intimately tied to His deep understanding of humanity's fragile and finite nature. Even amidst Israel's repeated acts of rebellion and faithlessness, God did not abandon or utterly destroy them. The reason was not their merit, but God's compassionate remembrance that "they were but flesh." This "flesh" (basar) signifies human weakness, susceptibility to sin, and mortality—a creature made from dust, temporary and impermanent. The metaphor of "a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again" strikingly conveys the absolute transience of human life, an ephemeral puff of air that once exhaled cannot be recalled. This recognition by God underscores His divine patience and long-suffering (Hesed - steadfast love and Rachamim - deep compassion), which is not born of a disregard for sin, but of a perfect awareness of the limited, fallen condition of His created beings. This truth motivates His persistent grace and willingness to offer repentance rather than immediate, deserved judgment.