Psalms 90:6 — Word Study
WLCבַּ֭בֹּקֶר יָצִ֣יץ וְחָלָ֑ף לָ֝עֶ֗רֶב יְמוֹלֵ֥ל וְיָבֵֽשׁ׃
BSAin the morningbôqer [at the break of day, dawn] it springs uptsûwts▸ [flourishes, blossoms] newchâlaph [but] by eveningʻereb [sunset, end of day] it fadesmûwl▸ [is cut down, withers away] and withersyâbêsh [dries up, becomes barren]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| בַּ֭בֹּקֶר | in the morning | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| יָצִ֣יץ | it flourishes | Verb, Hiphil, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| וְחָלָ֑ף | and it sprouts up | Verb, Qal, sequential perfect third person masculine singular |
| לָ֝עֶ֗רֶב | to the evening | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| יְמוֹלֵ֥ל | it withers | Verb, Piel, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| וְיָבֵֽשׁ׃ | and it dries up | Verb, Qal, sequential perfect third person masculine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | in the morning it springs up new, but by evening it fades and withers. |
| KJV | In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth. |
| ASV | In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; In the evening it is cut down, and withereth. |
| YLT | In the morning it flourisheth, and hath changed, At evening it is cut down, and hath withered. |
| WEB | In the morning it sprouts and springs up. By evening, it is withered and dry. |
| BBE | In the morning it is green; in the evening it is cut down, and becomes dry. |
Where they part company is יְמוֹלֵ֥ל — see How Translations Differ.
Two main clauses connected by a contrast, highlighting the shift from morning to evening.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbצוּץ
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 90:6
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Fragility of Lifegenerated
Psalm 90:6 reflects on how life is like grass that flourishes in the morning but fades by evening. This imagery emphasizes the transient nature of human existence, contrasting our fleeting life with God's eternal nature. The verses surrounding it further explore themes of mortality and divine judgment, reminding us of our dependence on God.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 92:7 | that though the wicked sprout like grass, and all evildoers flourish, they will be forever destroyed. |
| 2 | Job 14:2 | Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure. |
| 3 | Matthew 6:30 | If 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? |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יָצִ֣יץ, ya.Tzitzgenerated
The verb צוּץ (tsuwts) is a Hiphil form meaning 'to flourish' or 'to blossom.' It conveys the idea of something coming into full bloom, representing vitality and beauty. In this context, it highlights the brief moment of life and growth that occurs in the morning.
This word is used to evoke a sense of freshness and new beginnings, contrasting sharply with the later imagery of fading and withering. The parsing indicates it is in the imperfect tense, suggesting an ongoing action, which aligns with the idea of life springing forth anew each day.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In the Berean Standard Bible, the verse uses it springs up for יָצִ֣יץ, while the KJV and ASV also use it shall blossom.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse consists of two main clauses connected by 'but.' The first clause begins with a prepositional phrase, בַּ֭בֹּקֶר (in the morning), followed by a verb phrase that describes the flourishing action. The second clause introduces the contrasting time frame, לָ֝עֶ֗רֶב (by evening), leading into the actions of fading and withering.
This structure emphasizes the contrast between the vitality of the morning and the decline by evening, highlighting the fleeting nature of life.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יָצִ֣יץ as ἀνθήσαι, which carries a similar meaning of blossoming. This choice reflects a direct connection to the idea of flourishing life.
For יְמוֹלֵ֥ל, the LXX does not provide a direct equivalent in this instance, which may indicate a different interpretation of the withering aspect in the Greek tradition.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 90:6 compares life to grass that grows in the morning but fades by evening. This shows how quickly life can change, reminding us of our mortality and the need for God.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It illustrates the brief nature of life, highlighting how quickly it can flourish and then fade.
It emphasizes the transient nature of human existence, contrasting it with God's eternal nature.
It suggests that life can quickly lose its vitality and beauty, much like grass without water.
Morning symbolizes new beginnings and opportunities, reflecting the hope and potential of each new day.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How can I appreciate the fleeting moments of life more fully?
- In what ways do I see the cycle of flourishing and fading in my own experiences?
- What does it mean for me to rely on God's eternal nature in the face of life's transience?
- How can I find hope in the midst of life's inevitable changes?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early interpretations of this verse, such as those from Augustine of Hippo, explore the themes of life’s brevity and divine judgment.
but "in the evening," it means after they come, "let it fall, and be dried up, and withered" [Psalms 90:6].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 90 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 90:6 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleIn the morning it flourisheth and groweth up,.... That is, the grass, through the dew that lay all night on it, and by the clear shining of the sun after rain, when it appears in great beauty and
Read John Gill on Psalms 90 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryIn the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 90 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThe whole space of man’ s life is compared to one day, and his prosperity is confined to a part of that day, and ended in the close of it.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 90 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 90:6 In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.Ver. 6. In the morning it flourisheth] So doth man in his prime and vigour, his bones full of marrow, his breasts of milk. In the evening it is cut down] So is man by death’ s mortal scythe, which moweth down the lilies of the crown as well as the grass of the field. In the evening grass will cut better, and the mowers can better work at it.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 90 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(5, 6) The following is suggested as the most satisfactory rendering of these verses: Time (literally, a year; but the root-idea is the repetition or change of the seasons) carries them away with its flood; they are in the morning like grass sprouting; in the morning it flourishes and sprouts, in the evening it is cut down and withered.This is obtained by taking the verb as third feminine instead of second masculine, and slightly changing the vowels of the noun rendered in Authorised Version sleep. The confusion of the metaphor is thus avoided, and immediately on the mention of the stream of time is suggested the image of the vegetation springing into life at the first touch of rain, and…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 90 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges6. it is cut down] Or, it fadeth. Cp. Psalms 37:2.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 90 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleIn the morning it flourisheth - This does not mean that it grows with any special vigor or rapidity in the morning, as if that were illustrative of the rapid growth of the young; but merely that, in
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 90 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible6. In the morning it flourisheth and groweth up—In the morning it blossoms and revives, or freshens with new life.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 90 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
in the morning it springs up new, but by evening it fades and withers.
In the morning it sprouts and springs up. By evening, it is withered and dry.
in the morning it springs up new, but by evening it fades and withers.
in the morning it glistens and sprouts up; at evening time it withers and dries up.
Tyndale line
In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.
In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; In the evening it is cut down, and withereth.
In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.
In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.
In the morning it florisheth and groweth, but in the euening it is cut downe and withereth.
Strictly literal
In the morning it flourisheth and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down and withereth.
In the morning it flourisheth, and hath changed, At evening it is cut down, and hath withered.
In the morning it flourishes, and has changed, || At evening it is cut down, and has withered.
In the morning it blossometh, and is changed: in the evening it is mowed off, and withereth.
In the morning it blooms and grows up; in the evening it withers and dries up.
From the Latin
Of the arrow that flieth in the day, of the business that walketh about in the dark: of invasion, or of the noonday devil.
Simplified
it sprouts in the morning, fresh and new, but by the evening it is withered and dead.
In the morning it is green; in the evening it is cut down, and becomes dry.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text of Psalms 90:6 reads: "בַּ֭בֹּקֶר יָצִ֣יץ וְחָלָ֑ף לָ֝עֶ֗רֶב יְמוֹלֵ֥ל וְיָבֵֽשׁ׃" which translates to "in the morning it springs up new, but by evening it fades and withers." The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text, matching all six words in a word-by-word correspondence, though the order and articles may differ in the Greek translation. There are no significant differences noted in the Samaritan Pentateuch or the Dead Sea Scrolls for this verse, indicating a strong textual consistency across these ancient witnesses.
בַּ֭בֹּקֶר יָצִ֣יץ וְחָלָ֑ף לָ֝עֶ֗רֶב יְמוֹלֵ֥ל וְיָבֵֽשׁ׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 90:6
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
בֹּ֫קֶר (boqer) means 'morning' and is derived from the root word for 'dawn.' It encompasses the time of day when light begins to appear, marking the end of night and the start of a new day. The term can also refer to the next day or morning after a specific point in time. It is associated with brightness and joy following periods of distress.
בֹּ֫קֶר 214 n.m. morning
morning (of point of time, time at which, never during which, Eng. morning = forenoon
morrow, next day
base
H1242 בֹּ֫קֶר morning . morning (of point of time, time at which, never during which, Eng. morning = forenoon
. morrow, next day
1242 boqer bo'-ker
from 1239; properly, dawn (as the break of day); generally,
morning:--(+) day, early, morning, morrow.
see HEBREW for 01239
בֹּ֫קֶר (bo.qer) — morning.
1) morning, break of day
1a) morning
1a1) of end of night
1a2) of coming of daylight
1a3) of coming of sunrise
1a4) of beginning of day
1a5) of bright joy after night of distress (fig.)
1b) morrow, next day, next morning
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHRd/Ncmsa
mor'-ning: There are several Hebrew and Greek words which are rendered "morning," the most common in Hebrew being boqer, which occurs 180 times. It properly means "the breaking forth of the light," "the dawn," as in Ge 19:27; Jud 19:8,25,27. Another word with the same meaning is shachar (Ge 19:15; Ne 4:21; Isa 58:8). mishchar ("womb of the morning," Ps 110:3) is a poetical term derived from. the same root. See HIND OF THE MORNING. noghah, naghha' (Da 6:19 (Hebrew 20)), mean "brightness." hashkem, comes from…
- The second part of the day at the creation
Ge 1:5,8,13,19,23,31
- The first part of the natural day
- Ordained by God
- Began with first dawn
צוּץ (tsuwts) is a Hebrew verb with meanings related to blooming and shining. It can refer to blossoming or flourishing in a physical sense, as well as to gazing or glancing in a more figurative context. The entries indicate that it can be used in both the Qal and Hiphil forms, with specific references to shining and peeping, including a mention in Canticles 2:9.
[צוּץ, צִיץ] vb. 1. blossom. 2. shine, sparkle
Qal
flourish.
shine, gleam
Hiph. it put forth blossoms
base
[צוּץ] vb. Hiph. gaze, peep;—Ct 2:9
ref
H6692a צוּץ, צִיץ . blossom
. shine
H6692b צוּץ Hiph. gaze, peep
6692 tsuwts tsoots
a primitive root; to twinkle, i.e. glance; by analogy, to
blossom (figuratively, flourish):--bloom, blossom, flourish,
shew self.
צוּץ (tsuts) — to blossom.
1) to blossom, shine, sparkle
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to flourish
1a2) to shine, gleam
1b) (Hiphil) to blossom, put forth blossoms, produce blossoms
צוּץ (tsuts) — to gaze.
(Hiphil) to gaze, peep, glance, make the eyes sparkle
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person masculine singularHVhi3ms
חָלַף (chalaph) is a Hebrew verb meaning to pass on or away, with various nuances including to hasten, sprout anew, or change. It can refer to physical movement, such as passing through, as well as metaphorical changes like transgression or renewal. The word appears in poetic contexts and has different forms indicating causation or transformation.
חָלַף vb. pass on or away, pass through (mostly poet.)
Qal
pass on quickly
pass away, vanish
of grass, come on anew, i.e. sprout again
trans.
pass through, i.e. pierce
overstep, transgress
Pi. (cause to pass) change
Hiph.
change (trans.)
shew newness
base
H2498 חָלַף pass on or away, pass through (mostly poet.) .. . pass on quickly
. pass away, vanish
. of grass, come on anew, i.e. sprout again
. trans. . pass through, i.e. pierce
. overstep, transgress
. (cause to pass) change
. . change (trans.)
. shew newness
2498 chalaph khaw-laf'
a primitive root; properly, to slide by, i.e. (by
implication) to hasten away, pass on, spring up, pierce or
change:--abolish, alter, change, cut off, go on forward, grow
up, be over, pass (away, on, through), renew, sprout, strike
through.
חָלַף (cha.laph) — to pass.
1) to pass on or away, pass through, pass by, go through, grow up, change, to go on from
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to pass on quickly
1a2) to pass away (vanish)
1a3) to come on anew, sprout again (of grass)
1a4) to pass through
1a5) to overstep, transgress
1b) (Piel) to cause to pass, change
1c) (Hiph)
1c1) to change, substitute, alter, change for better, renew
1c2) to show newness (of tree)
Aramaic equivalent: cha.laph (חֲלַף "to pass" H2499)
Conj | V-Qal-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqq3ms
עֶ֫רֶב (ereb) refers to the time of day known as evening or dusk, originally associated with sunset. It can also denote night, particularly in poetic contexts. The phrase 'between two evenings' suggests a time frame between sunset and darkness.
עֶ֫רֶב 131 n.[m.] (sun)set, evening
evening, orig. sunset
du. in phrase between two evenings, i.e. prob. between sunset and dark
(late poet.) = night
base
H6153 עֶ֫רֶב (sun)set, evening . . evening, orig. sunset
. du. in phrase between two evenings, i.e. prob. between sunset and dark
. (late poet.) = night
6153 `ereb eh'-reb
from 6150; dusk:--+ day, even(-ing, tide), night.
see HEBREW for 06150
עֶ֫רֶב (e.rev) — evening.
1) evening, night, sunset
1a) evening, sunset
1b) night
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHRd/Ncmsa
Evening
The period following sunset with which the Jewish day began (Gen. 1:5; Mark 13:35). The Hebrews reckoned two evenings of each day, as appears from Ex. 16:12: 30:8; 12:6 (marg.); Lev. 23:5 (marg. R.V., “between the two evenings”). The “first evening” was that period when the sun was verging towards setting, and the “second evening” the moment of actual sunset. The word “evenings” in Jer. 5:6 should be “deserts” (marg. R.V.).
The Hebrews reckoned two evenings in each day; as in the phrase, "between the two evenings," Ex 12:6 Nu 9:3 28:4. In this interval the Passover was to be killed, and the daily evening sacrifice offered, Ex 29:39-41, Hebrew. According to the Carites, this time between the evenings is the interval from sunset to complete darkness, that is, the evening is the interval from sunset to complete darkness, that is, the evening twilight. Compare De 16:6. According to the Pharisees and the rabbins, the first evening began when the sun inclined to descend more rapidly, that is, at the ninth hour; while the second or real evening commenced at sunset. See DAY.
מוּל (muwl) is a Hebrew verb meaning to circumcise, with various forms indicating different grammatical aspects, such as being circumcised or causing circumcision. It also carries connotations of cutting off or destruction. The entries note its use in contexts like Joshua 5:2 and Genesis 17:11, where it specifically refers to the act of circumcision.
H4135a מוּל circumcise H4135b מָלַל circumcise
4135 muwl mool
a primitive root; to cut short, i.e. curtail (specifically
the prepuce, i.e. to circumcise); by implication, to blunt;
figuratively, to destroy:--circumcise(-ing), selves), cut
down (in pieces), destroy, X must needs.
מוּל (mul) — to circumcise.
1) to circumcise, let oneself be circumcised, cut, be cut off
1a) (Qal) to circumcise
1b) (Niphal) to be circumcised, circumcise oneself
1c) (Hiphil) to cause to be circumcised
1c1) of destruction (fig.)
1d) (Hithpolel) to be cut off
1e) (Polel) cut down
מָלַל (ma.lal) — to circumcise.
1) to circumcise
1a) (Qal)
1b) (Niphal)
2) (Hithpolel) to be cut off
Also means: mul (מוּל "to circumcise" H4135A)
V-m-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Piel · imperfect third person masculine singularHVpi3ms
יָבֵשׁ (yabesh) primarily means to be dry or to wither. It can refer to something that is dried up or lacking moisture, as well as the act of drying something out. The word has different forms, including Qal (to be dry), Piel (to make dry), and Hiphil (to dry up). It conveys a sense of desiccation or loss of vitality.
יָבֵשׁ vb. be dry, dried up, withered
Qal
be dry, dried up without moisture
be dried up
Pi. make dry, dry up
Hiph. dry up, make dry
dry up water
make dry, wither
exhibit dryness
base
H3001 יָבֵשׁ be dry, dried up, withered
3001 yabesh yaw-bashe'
a primitive root; to be ashamed, confused or disappointed;
also (as failing) to dry up (as water) or wither (as
herbage):--be ashamed, clean, be confounded, (make) dry (up),
(do) shame(-fully), X utterly, wither (away).
יָבֵשׁ (ya.vesh) — to wither.
1) to make dry, wither, be dry, become dry, be dried up, be withered
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be dry, be dried up, be without moisture
1a2) to be dried up
1b) (Piel) to make dry, dry up
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to dry up, make dry
1c1a) to dry up (water)
1c1b) to make dry, wither
1c1c) to exhibit dryness
Conj | V-Qal-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqq3ms