New International Versionthe wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
New Living TranslationThe wind blows, and we are gone— as though we had never been here.
English Standard Versionfor the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.
Berean Standard Biblewhen the wind passes over, it vanishes, and its place remembers it no more.
King James BibleFor the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
New King James VersionFor the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more.
New American Standard BibleWhen the wind has passed over it, it is no more, And its place no longer knows about it.
NASB 1995When the wind has passed over it, it is no more, And its place acknowledges it no longer.
NASB 1977When the wind has passed over it, it is no more; And its place acknowledges it no longer.
Legacy Standard BibleWhen the wind has passed over it, it is no more, And its place acknowledges it no longer.
Amplified BibleFor the wind passes over it and it is no more, And its place knows it no longer.
Christian Standard Biblewhen the wind passes over it, it vanishes, and its place is no longer known.
Holman Christian Standard Biblewhen the wind passes over it, it vanishes, and its place is no longer known.
American Standard VersionFor the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; And the place thereof shall know it no more.
Contemporary English VersionBut a scorching wind blows, and they quickly wither to be forever forgotten.
English Revised VersionFor the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationWhen the wind blows over the flower, it disappears, and there is no longer any sign of it.
Good News Translationthen the wind blows on it, and it is gone--no one sees it again.
International Standard Versionbut when the wind blows through it, it withers away and no one remembers where it was.
NET Biblebut when the hot wind blows by, it disappears, and one can no longer even spot the place where it once grew.
New Heart English BibleFor the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
Webster's Bible TranslationFor the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and its place shall know it no more. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Biblewhen the wind passes over, it vanishes, and its place remembers it no more.
World English BibleFor the wind passes over it, and it is gone. Its place remembers it no more. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionFor a wind has passed over it, and it is not, "" And its place does not discern it anymore.
Young's Literal Translation For a wind hath passed over it, and it is not, And its place doth not discern it any more.
Smith's Literal TranslationFor the wind passed over upon it and it is not; and its place shall know it no more. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleFor the spirit shall pass in him, and he shall not be: and he shall know his place no more.
Catholic Public Domain VersionFor the spirit in him will pass away, and it will not remain, and he will know his place no longer.
New American Bible
A wind sweeps over it and it is gone; its place knows it no more.
New Revised Standard Version
for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.Translations from Aramaic Lamsa Bible
For when the wind passes over it, it is gone; and the place thereof is known no more.
Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
For when the wind has blown upon it, it is not, neither is his place known.OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917
For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; And the place thereof knoweth it no more.
Brenton Septuagint Translation
For the wind passes over it, and it shall not be; and it shall know its place no more.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Bless the LORD, O My Soul… 15As for man, his days are like grass—he blooms like a flower of the field; 16whenthe windpassesover,it vanishes,and its placeremembers itnomore.17But from everlasting to everlasting the loving devotion of the LORD extends to those who fear Him, and His righteousness to their children’s children—…
Cross References James 4:14You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
Isaiah 40:7-8The grass withers and the flowers fall when the breath of the LORD blows on them; indeed, the people are grass. / The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”
1 Peter 1:24For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,
Job 14:1-2“Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble. / Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.
Psalm 90:5-6You sweep them away in their sleep; they are like the new grass of the morning— / in the morning it springs up new, but by evening it fades and withers.
Isaiah 64:6Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.
1 John 2:17The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.
Matthew 6:30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Job 7:7Remember that my life is but a breath. My eyes will never again see happiness.
1 Corinthians 7:31and those who use the things of this world, as if not dependent on them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
Psalm 37:2For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants.
Psalm 78:39He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return.
Ecclesiastes 1:4Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.
2 Corinthians 4:18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Isaiah 51:12“I, even I, am He who comforts you. Why should you be afraid of mortal man, of a son of man who withers like grass?
Treasury of Scripture For the wind passes over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. the wind Job 27:20,21 Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night… Isaiah 40:7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the peopleis grass. it is gone. Job 7:6-10 My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope… Job 8:18,19 If he destroy him from his place, thenit shall deny him,saying, I have not seen thee… Job 20:9 The eye alsowhich saw him shallsee him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him. Jump to Previous AcknowledgesBlowsDiscernGoesLongerPassedPassesPassethRemembersThereofWindJump to Next AcknowledgesBlowsDiscernGoesLongerPassedPassesPassethRemembersThereofWindPsalm 103 1.An exhortation to bless God for his mercy5.And for the constancy thereofwhen the wind passes overThis phrase evokes the transient nature of human life, likening it to grass or flowers that are easily swept away by the wind. In biblical literature, wind often symbolizes the breath of God or divine intervention (e.g., Genesis 1:2, Exodus 14:21). Here, it underscores the fragility and brevity of human existence. The wind's passing can also be seen as a metaphor for God's judgment or the trials that test the faith of believers, reminding them of their dependence on God. it vanishes
The imagery of vanishing highlights the ephemeral nature of life. This concept is echoed in other scriptures, such asJames 4:14, which compares life to a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. The idea is that human life, in its temporal state, is fleeting and should be lived with an awareness of eternity. This serves as a call to focus on spiritual matters and the eternal promises of God rather than temporary earthly concerns. and its place remembers it no more
This phrase suggests the impermanence of human legacy and the inevitability of being forgotten by the world.Ecclesiastes 1:11 reflects a similar sentiment, noting that there is no remembrance of former things. Theologically, this can be seen as a reminder of the importance of storing up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21) rather than seeking earthly recognition. It also points to the hope of eternal remembrance by God, who knows and values each individual beyond their earthly life. Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidTraditionally attributed as the author of Psalm 103, David is a central figure in the Bible, known for his deep relationship with God, his psalms, and his role as the King of Israel. 2. The WindIn this verse, the wind symbolizes the transient nature of human life. It is a natural force that can be both gentle and destructive, often used in Scripture to represent the fleetingness of earthly existence. 3. The PlaceThis refers to the physical location or context where a person once existed. The verse highlights the idea that once a person is gone, their physical presence is no longer remembered by the place they occupied. Teaching Points The Transience of LifeLife is temporary and fleeting, much like the wind that passes by. This should encourage us to live with an eternal perspective, focusing on what truly matters. The Importance of LegacyWhile our physical presence may be forgotten, the impact of our actions and the legacy we leave behind can endure. We should strive to live in a way that honors God and influences others positively. God's Eternal NatureIn contrast to our temporary existence, God is eternal. This should lead us to place our trust and hope in Him, rather than in the temporary things of this world. Living with PurposeUnderstanding the brevity of life should motivate us to live purposefully, making the most of the time we have to serve God and others. The Comfort of God's RemembranceWhile the world may forget us, God never does. He knows each of us intimately and remembers us beyond our earthly existence. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 103
(Psalm 16:5-6) In light of historical changes in territory and borders, how can the 'pleasant places' and 'heritage' still be taken literally or reliably?
In Job 13:28, does the depiction of human frailty as a moth-eaten garment contradict archaeological or historical findings about human resilience?
Does Psalm 144:4's depiction of human life as fleeting contradict other scriptures that emphasize humanity's inherent value (e.g., Genesis 1:27)?
Why are many Christians unable to distinguish God's voice from their own thoughts?(16) The wind-- i.e.,the hot, scorching blast, as in Isaiah 40:7. Even in our humid climate, it may be said of a flower-- "If one sharp wind sweep o'er the field, It withers in an hour." But the pestilential winds of the East are described as bringing a heat like that of an oven, which immediately blasts every green thing. Know it no more.--Comp.Job 7:10. Man vanishes away without leaving a trace behind. The pathos of the verse has been well caught in the well-known lines of Gray:-- "One morn I missed him on the accustomed hill, Along the heath, and near his favourite tree: Another came, nor yet beside the rill, . . . Verse 16. - For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; literally, it is not. The burning sirocco, the wind of the desert, variously named in various places, blows upon the flower, and almost immediately scorches it up. So man, when he flourishes most, is for the most part brought low by the wind of suffering, trouble, sickness, calamity, and sinks out of sight. And the place thereof shall know it no more; rather, knows it no more. Seeing it not, forgets it, as if it had never been. So with the greatest men - they pass away and are forgotten (comp. Job 7:10).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew whenכִּ֤י(kî)Conjunction
Strong's 3588:A relative conjunctionthe windר֣וּחַ(rū·aḥ)Noun - common singular
Strong's 7307:Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirithas passed over,עָֽבְרָה־(‘ā·ḇə·rāh-)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5674:To pass over, through, or by, pass onit vanishes,וְאֵינֶ֑נּוּ(wə·’ê·nen·nū)Conjunctive waw | Adverb | third person masculine singular
Strong's 369:A non-entity, a negative particleand its placeמְקוֹמֽוֹ׃(mə·qō·w·mōw)Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4725:A standing, a spot, a conditionremembers itיַכִּירֶ֖נּוּ(yak·kî·ren·nū)Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5234:To regard, recognizenoוְלֹא־(wə·lō-)Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, nomore.ע֣וֹד(‘ō·wḏ)Adverb
Strong's 5750:Iteration, continuance, again, repeatedly, still, more
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OT Poetry: Psalm 103:16 For the wind passes over it (Psalm Ps Psa.) |
