Psalms 144:4

“Man is like to vanity, etc.] Is vanity itself, in every age, state, and condition; yea, in his best estate, (<193905>Psalm 39:5); or, “to the breath”f1923 of the mouth, as Kimchi; which is gone as soon as seen almost: or, to a vapourf1924; to which the life of man is compared, (<590414>James 4:14); his days [are] as a shadow that passeth away; as the former denotes the frailty and mortality of man, this the shortness of his duration; his days fleeing away, and of no more continuance than the shadow cast by the sun, which presently declines and is gone.”

“Man is like to vanity - See the notes at Psalms 39:5-6; Psalms 62:9. The idea here is, that man can be compared only with that which is utterly vain - which is emptiness - which is nothing. His days are as a shadow that passeth away - See the notes at Psalms 102:11 : “My days are like a shadow that declineth.” The idea is essentially the same. It is, that as a shadow has no substance, and that as it moves along constantly as the sun declines, until it vanishes altogether, so man has nothing substantial or permanent, and so he is constantly moving off and will soon wholly disappear. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Man: Psa 39:5, Psa 39:6, Psa 62:9, Psa 89:47; Job 4:19, Job 14:1-3; Ecc 1:2, Ecc 1:14, Ecc 12:8 his days: Psa 102:11, Psa 103:15, Psa 103:16, Psa 109:23; Sa2 14:14; Ch1 29:15; Job 8:9; Ecc 8:13 Psalms 144:5”