Psalms 90 · Verse 3

Psalms 90:3

Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.
Psalms 90:3, King James Version

Psalms 90:3 in other translations

BSBYou return man to dust, saying, “Return, O sons of mortals.”
WEBYou turn man to destruction, saying, “Return, you children of men.”
ASVThou turnest man to destruction, And sayest, Return, ye children of men.
YLTThou turnest man unto a bruised thing, And sayest, Turn back, ye sons of men.
DARBYThou makest mortal man to return to dust, and sayest, Return, children of men.
BBEYou send man back to his dust; and say, Go back, you children of men.
WebsterThou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.

What does Psalms 90:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. to destruction--literally, "even to dust" (Ge 3:19), which is partly quoted in the last clause.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 Thou turnest man to destruction - Literally, Thou shalt turn dying man, אנוש enosh, to the small dust, דכא dacca but thou wilt say, Return, ye children of Adam. This appears to be a clear and strong promise of the resurrection of the human body, after it has long slept, mingled with the dust of the earth.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 90:1-6

It is supposed that this psalm refers to the sentence passed on Israel in the wilderness, Nu 14. The favour and protection of God are the only sure rest and comfort of the soul in this evil world. Christ Jesus is the refuge and dwelling-place to which we may repair. We are dying creatures, all our comforts in the world are dying comforts, but God is an ever-living God, and believers find him so. When God, by…

Read the full comment on Psalms 90:1-6 →

Psalms 90:3 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.

תָּשֵׁ֣בta.Shevyou returnH7725
אֱ֭נוֹשׁ'E.no.oshhumankindH582
עַד\־'ad-toH5704
דַּכָּ֑אda.Ka'crushed matterH1793
וַ֝תֹּ֗אמֶרva.To.merand you saidH559
שׁ֣וּבוּShu.vureturnH7725
בְנֵי\־ve.nei-O children ofH1121
אָדָֽם\׃'a.DamhumankindH120

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

Cross references for Psalms 90:3

  • Genesis 3:19

    In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

  • Ecclesiastes 12:7

    Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

  • Psalms 104:29

    Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.

  • Psalms 146:4

    His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

  • Numbers 14:35

    I the Lord have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.

  • Job 34:14-15

    If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

  • Job 12:10

    In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.

  • Genesis 6:6-7

    And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Thou.
104:29; 146:4; Ge 3:19; 6:6,7; Nu 14:35; Job 12:10; 34:14,15
Ec 12:7
Return ye children of men.Rather, "Return ye children of Adam;" i.e., to that dust out of which ye were originally formed.

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

Context

  • Psalms 90:2

    Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

  • Psalms 90:3

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

  • Psalms 90:4

    For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.

Read all of Psalms 90

Psalms 90:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Vuelves al hombre hasta ser quebrantado, y dices: Convertíos, hijos de los hombres.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Tu fais retourner l’homme jusqu’à la poussière, et tu dis: Retournez, fils des hommes.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Du lässest zum Staube zurückkehren den Menschen, und sprichst: Kehret zurück, ihr Menschenkinder!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quoniam ipse liberavit me de laqueo venantium, et a verbo aspero.