Psalms 90 · Verse 4

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.
Psalms 90:4, King James Version

Psalms 90:4 in other translations

BSBFor in Your sight a thousand years are but a day that passes, or a watch of the night.
WEBFor a thousand years in your sight are just like yesterday when it is past, like a watch in the night.
ASVFor a thousand years in thy sight Are but as yesterday when it is past, And as a watch in the night.
YLTFor a thousand years in Thine eyes are as yesterday, For it passeth on, yea, a watch by night.
DARBYFor a thousand years, in thy sight, are as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
BBEFor to you a thousand years are no more than yesterday when it is past, and like a watch in the night.
WebsterFor a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.

What does Psalms 90:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. Even were our days now a thousand years, as Adam's, our life would be but a moment in God's sight (2Pe 3:8). a watch--or, third part of a night (compare Ex 14:24).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 For a thousand years in thy sight - As if he had said, Though the resurrection of the body may be a thousand (or any indefinite number of) years distant; yet, when these are past, they are but as yesterday, or a single thatch of the night. They pass through the mind in a moment, and appear no longer in their duration than the time required by the mind to reflect them by thought. But, short as they appear to the eye of the mind, they are nothing when compared with the eternity of God! The author probably has in view also that economy of Divine justice and providence by which the life of man has been shortened from one thousand years to threescore years and ten, or fourscore.

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 90:4 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.

כִּ֤יkiforH3588
אֶ֪לֶף'E.lefa thousandH505
שָׁנִ֡יםsha.NimyearsH8141
בְּֽעֵינֶ֗יךָbe.'ei.Nei.khain view yourH5869
כְּי֣וֹםke.Yom[are] like a day ofH3117
אֶ֭תְמוֹל'Et.molyesterdayH865
כִּ֣יkithatH3588
יַעֲבֹ֑רya.'a.Vorit passesH5674
וְאַשְׁמוּרָ֥הve.'ash.mu.Rahand a watchH821
בַלָּֽיְלָה\׃va.La.ye.lahin the nightH3915

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

Cross references for Psalms 90:4

  • 2 Peter 3:8

    But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

  • Psalms 39:5

    Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

  • Matthew 24:43

    But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

  • Luke 12:38

    And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

  • Matthew 14:25

    And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
For.
2Pe 3:8
is past. or, when he hath passed them. and as.
Mt 14:25; 24:43; Lu 12:38

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Psalms 90:5

    Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.

Read all of Psalms 90

Psalms 90:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque mil años delante de tus ojos, son como el día de ayer, que pasó, y como una de las vigilias de la noche.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car 1 000 ans, à tes yeux, sont comme le jour d’hier quand il est passé, et comme une veille dans la nuit.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn tausend Jahre sind in deinen Augen wie der gestrige Tag, wenn er vergangen ist, und wie eine Wache in der Nacht.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Scapulis suis obumbrabit tibi, et sub pennis ejus sperabis.