Psalms 103 · Verse 15

Psalms 103:15

As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
Psalms 103:15, King James Version

Psalms 103:15 in other translations

BSBAs for man, his days are like grass— he blooms like a flower of the field;
WEBAs for man, his days are like grass. As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
ASVAs for man, his days are as grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
YLTMortal man! as grass are his days, As a flower of the field so he flourisheth;
DARBYAs for man, his days are as grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth:
BBEAs for man, his days are as grass: his beautiful growth is like the flower of the field.
WebsterAs for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

What does Psalms 103:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 103:15-16
15-16. So short and frail is life that a breath may destroy it. it is gone--literally, "it is not." know it no more--no more recognize him (Psa 90:6; Is 40:6-8).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 His days are as grass - See the note on Psa 90:5.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 103:15-18
How short is man's life, and uncertain! The flower of the garden is commonly more choice, and will last the longer, for being sheltered by the garden-wall, and the gardener's care; but the flower of the field, to which life is here compared, is not only withering in itself, but exposed to the cold blasts, and liable to be cropt and trod on by the beasts of the field. Such is man. God considers this, and pities him; let him consider it himself. God's mercy is better than life, for it will outlive it. His righteousness, the truth of his promise, shall be unto children's children, who tread in the footsteps of their forefathers' piety. Then shall mercy be preserved to them.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Psalms 103:15 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אֱ֭נוֹשׁ'E.no.oshhumankindH582
כֶּחָצִ֣ירke.cha.Tzir[are] like <the> grassH2682
יָמָ֑יוya.Mavdays hisH3117
כְּצִ֥יץke.Tzitzlike [the] flower ofH6731
הַ֝שָּׂדֶ֗הha.sa.Dehthe fieldH7704
כֵּ֣ןkensoH3651
יָצִֽיץ\׃ya.Tzitzhe flourishesH6692

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 103:15

  • 1 Peter 1:24

    For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

  • James 1:10-11

    But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

  • Isaiah 40:6-8

    The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

  • Isaiah 51:12

    I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;

  • Isaiah 28:1

    Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine!

  • Job 14:1-3

    Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?

  • Nahum 1:4

    He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.

  • Isaiah 28:4

    And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.

  • Psalms 90:5-6

    Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
his days.
90:5,6; Isa 40:6-8; 51:12; Jas 1:10,11; 1Pe 1:24
a flower.
Job 14:1-3; Isa 28:1,4; Na 1:4

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 103:14

    For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

  • Psalms 103:15

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

  • Psalms 103:16

    For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

Read all of Psalms 103

Psalms 103:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El hombre, como la hierba son sus días: florece como la flor del campo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		L’homme,… ses jours sont comme l’herbe; il fleurit comme la fleur des champs;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Der Mensch-wie Gras sind seine Tage; wie die Blume des Feldes, also blüht er.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		et vinum lætificet cor hominis: ut exhilaret faciem in oleo, et panis cor hominis confirmet.