Read
Psalm 90:3
You turn man to destruction, saying, “Return, you children of men.”
1A Prayer by Moses, the man of God. Lord, you have been our dwelling place for all generations.
2Before the mountains were born, before you had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, you are God.
3You turn man to destruction, saying, “Return, you children of men.”
4For a thousand years in your sight are just like yesterday when it is past, like a watch in the night.
5You sweep them away as they sleep. In the morning they sprout like new grass.
Notice
“Return” is God’s command here, making human mortality a matter of his authority and confronting the limits of your hold on life.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What feels hardest to acknowledge about God’s authority over the end of human life?
Write on thisHow does being addressed among the “children of men” affect the way you think about mortality?
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Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Genesis 3:19You will eat bread by the sweat of your face until you return to the ground, for you were taken out of it. For you are dust, and you shall return to dust.”Both passages describe God declaring humanity’s return, with Genesis naming the dust from which humans were taken.
Ecclesiastes 12:7and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.Both passages speak of human return at death; Ecclesiastes distinguishes the dust returning to earth from the spirit returning to God.
2 Samuel 14:14For we must die, and are like water spilled on the ground, which can’t be gathered up again; neither does God take away life, but devises means, that he who is …Both speak of human death, though the passage in Samuel also describes God making provision for the banished.
Psalm 146:4His spirit departs, and he returns to the earth. In that very day, his thoughts perish.Both psalms describe humanity’s return at death, with Psalm 146 naming the earth and the end of human thoughts.
Numbers 14:35I, the LORD, have spoken. I will surely do this to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against me. In this wilderness they shall be consumed, …Both connect human death with God’s spoken word; Numbers addresses a specific congregation gathered against him.
Psalm 104:29You hide your face; they are troubled. You take away their breath; they die and return to the dust.Both psalms name God’s action in death, with Psalm 104 describing breath taken away and a return to dust.
Job 34:14–15If he set his heart on himself, if he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath,Job considers God gathering back spirit and breath; the psalm describes God commanding humans to return.
Job 12:10in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?Both place human life under God’s authority: Job names his hand, while the psalm names his command.
Genesis 6:6–7The LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him in his heart.Both concern God’s dealings with humanity; Genesis names his grief, while the psalm describes his command that humans return.
Genesis 3:18It will yield thorns and thistles to you; and you will eat the herb of the field.The connection is limited: Genesis describes thorns and food from the field, while the psalm speaks of human destruction.
Deuteronomy 2:14The days in which we came from Kadesh Barnea until we had come over the brook Zered were thirty-eight years, until all the generation of the men of war were …Both connect human death with God’s word; Deuteronomy recounts a generation’s death in keeping with what the LORD swore.
Job 10:9Remember, I beg you, that you have fashioned me as clay. Will you bring me into dust again?Both address God about humanity’s return to destruction or dust; Job pleads with the God who fashioned him.
Where this verse fits
Death and what comes after. aging. grief.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
Human frailty is spoken of within a prayer to the everlasting God. The God who commands humanity to return is also named a dwelling place for all generations.
Now put it in your words.
Start an entry on Psalm 90:3. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).