Psalms 78:39

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 78:39 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And he remembered that they were but flesh, A wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And he remembered that they were but flesh, A wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
Psalms 78:39 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 78

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
39And he remembered that they were but flesh, A wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Thus were they defiled with their own works, etc.] Not the land only, but they themselves also; or “with their works” f1532, with the works of the Heathen they learned, (<19A635>Psalm 106:35), or rather with their own works, the works of the flesh, especially their shocking idolatries: sin is of a defiling nature; it has defiled all men, it defiles all of men, all the faculties of their souls, and all the members of their bodies; nor can anything truly and thoroughly cleanse from it but the blood of Christ: even men’s works of righteousness are as filthy rags and defiling, and much more their evil works. And went a whoring with their own inventions; after other gods; idolatry is often in…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“For he remembered that they were but flesh - That they were human; that they were weak; that they were prone to err; that they were liable to fall into temptation. In his dealings with them he took into view their fallen nature; their training; their temptations; their trials; their weaknesses; and he judged them accordingly. Compare Psalms 103:14. So it was with the Saviour in his treatment of his disciples, “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak,” Matthew 26:41. God will judge people as they are; he will not in his judgments forget that they are people, and that they are weak and feeble. People often judge their fellow-men with much more harshness, with much less allowance…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“For he: Psa 103:14-16; Gen 6:3; Joh 3:6 a wind: Or, as the Hebrew rooach holaich welo yashoov may be rendered, "the spirit goeth away and returneth not again." To this purpose the Arabic, "He remembered that they were flesh; and a spirit which when it departs, returneth not again." The human being is composed of flesh and spirit, or body and soul: these are easily separated, and when separated, the body turns to dust, and the spirit returns no more to animate the body in a state of probation. Job 7:7, Job 7:16; Jam 4:14 Psalms 78:40”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Sources and verification