Psalm 90 3

Psalm 90:3 kjv

Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.

Psalm 90:3 nkjv

You turn man to destruction, And say, "Return, O children of men."

Psalm 90:3 niv

You turn people back to dust, saying, "Return to dust, you mortals."

Psalm 90:3 esv

You return man to dust and say, "Return, O children of man!"

Psalm 90:3 nlt

You turn people back to dust, saying,
"Return to dust, you mortals!"

Psalm 90 verses

Psalm 90 3 Meaning

Psalm 90:3 declares God's absolute sovereignty over human life and death, asserting that He sovereignly causes humanity to return to dust, their earthy origin, by divine decree. It emphasizes the inherent mortality and frailty of all human beings, stemming from their creation and the consequences of sin, in stark contrast to God's eternal nature.

Psalm 90 3 Context

Psalm 90 is titled "A Prayer of Moses, the man of God." This psalm is widely understood to have been composed by Moses during Israel's forty-year wandering in the wilderness, a period marked by divine judgment where an entire generation perished due to disobedience (Num 14:26-35). Against this backdrop of widespread death and transience, Moses reflects deeply on the contrast between God's eternal nature and power (vv. 1-2) and humanity's extreme fragility, mortality, and brevity of life, especially in the face of divine wrath (vv. 3-11). Verse 3 serves as a foundational declaration of this human mortality, stating God's direct agency in humanity's return to dust. The psalm then pleads for divine wisdom, favor, and restoration for the limited days of life that remain.

Psalm 90 3 Word analysis

• You (Heb. אָתָּה ’attah): Refers to the Lord God, whose dwelling place and eternality are established in the preceding verses (Ps 90:1-2). This highlights divine agency and ultimate authority.
• turn mortals back / return man (Heb. תָּשֵׁב אֱנוֹשׁ tashëv ’enosh):
  • tashëv: From the root שׁוּב (shuv), meaning "to turn," "return," "restore." In this context, it signifies God's action of turning human beings back to their origin, specifically their physical decomposition. It is an act of sovereign power.
  • ’enosh: Refers to mortal, weak, frail human beings. This term emphasizes humanity's inherent weakness and vulnerability, a stark contrast to God's enduring strength and immortality.
• to dust (Heb. עַד־דַּכָּא ‘ad dakkā’):
  • ‘ad: A preposition meaning "unto" or "to."
  • dakkā’: Signifies "dust," "powder," "pulverized material." This is a direct echo of Gen 3:19, recalling the original creation of humanity from dust and the curse pronounced after the Fall, stating that man would return to dust. It underscores humanity's earthly, finite nature.
• and say (Heb. וַתֹּאמֶר vatō’mer): Denotes God's authoritative verbal command. It's a declarative act, not a suggestion, demonstrating divine power over life and death through His word, consistent with God creating by speaking.
• Return (Heb. שׁוּבוּ shūvū): An imperative form of the same root שׁוּב (shuv) used for "turn back." Here, it's a direct divine command for all humans to go back to their state of dust. While "shuv" can often imply repentance, in this immediate context of human mortality and return to dust, it specifically refers to the physical return to their earthly origin, decreed by God.
• O children of Adam! / you children of man! (Heb. בְנֵי אָדָם benēy ’ādām):
  • benēy: "sons of" or "children of."
  • ’ādām: Can mean "man," "humankind," or specifically "Adam" (the first man). The phrase "children of Adam" emphasizes the universality of this decree; it applies to all humanity by virtue of their descent from the first man, who brought sin and death into the world. It connects all people to the common fate originating from the Fall (Gen 3).

Psalm 90 3 Bonus section

The stark contrast between God's eternal nature (vv. 1-2) and humanity's temporal existence (vv. 3-11) is a central theological tension of Psalm 90. Verse 3 is the pivot where this contrast becomes sharply evident, showcasing God's authority not just over the vastness of time but intimately over individual human lifespans. The word "return" (שׁוּב, shuv) used both for God turning humanity back and for His command to humanity to return to dust emphasizes a divinely ordained cycle: creation from earth, life under divine watch, and inevitable physical return to earth at God's command. This cycle is not arbitrary; for Moses in the wilderness, it underscored God's righteous judgment against a disobedient generation, highlighting that God’s wrath shortens human lives (Ps 90:7-9). Understanding this verse prompts a deep reflection on life's brevity and the urgency of living in accordance with God's will.

Psalm 90 3 Commentary

Psalm 90:3 is a profound statement of divine sovereignty and human mortality. Following the grand declaration of God's eternality and cosmic dominion in verses 1-2, this verse immediately plunges into the stark reality of human brevity and fragility. The phrase "You turn mortals back to dust" highlights God's active role in ending human life. It is not merely a natural process but a divine decree, an exercise of God's power as the ultimate giver and taker of life. The choice of "mortals" (enosh) reinforces humanity's inherent weakness, contrasting sharply with the immortal, omnipotent God.

The reference "to dust" explicitly connects back to the creation narrative in Genesis, where man was formed from the dust of the ground (Gen 2:7), and critically, to the curse pronounced after the Fall (Gen 3:19): "for dust you are, and to dust you shall return." This link solidifies the theological truth that death is both a consequence of humanity's creaturely status (made from dust) and a judgment upon sin.

God's command, "and say, 'Return, O children of Adam!'" reveals the authoritative and direct nature of this divine action. It is not a gentle invitation but an undeniable summons that none can resist. The phrase "children of Adam" universally applies this decree to all humanity, connecting every person to the shared origin and destiny sealed by the Fall. This universal mortality serves as a constant, sobering reminder of God's absolute power and the brevity of earthly existence, urging believers to seek wisdom and to live in light of eternity. This powerful truth ought to lead one to count one's days and to value wisdom, recognizing that true life is found in God's eternal presence (as further developed in the psalm).