Psalms 103:16

16 For the spirit shall pass in him, and it shall not abide; and it shall no more know his place. (For the wind passeth over it, and it shall not remain there long; and then its place shall know it no more.)

Psalms 103:16 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 103:16

For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone
A stormy wind, as the Targum, which tears it up by its roots, or blows off the flower, and it is seen no more; or a blighting easterly wind, which, blowing on it, shrivels it up, and it dies at once; such an one as blasted the seven ears of corn in Pharaoh's dream, ( Genesis 41:23 ) or any impetuous, drying, and noxious wind: and so when the east wind of adversity passes over a man, his riches, and honour, and estate, are presently gone; or some bodily distemper, which takes away health, strength, and beauty, and impairs the mind; and especially death, which removes at once into another world.

And the place thereof shall know it no more;
the place where the flower grew shall know it no more; or it shall be seen no more in it: so man, when he dies, though he is not annihilated, he is somewhere; he is in another world, either of happiness or woe; yet he is not in this world, in the house and family, in the station and business he was; he is no longer known nor seen among men on earth; see ( Job 7:10 ) .

Psalms 103:16 In-Context

14 for he knew our making. He bethought that we be dust (He remembered that we be but dust),

15 a man is as hay; his day[s] shall flower out so as a flower of the field. (for a person's days be like the hay, or the grass; and he shall flower out like the flowers in the field.)

16 For the spirit shall pass in him, and it shall not abide; and it shall no more know his place. (For the wind passeth over it, and it shall not remain there long; and then its place shall know it no more.)

17 But the mercy of the Lord is from without beginning, and till into without end; on men dreading him. And his rightfulness is into the sons of sons; (But the Lord's love is without beginning, and without end; for those who fear him/for those who revere him. And his righteousness shall never fail the children of their children,)

18 to them that keep his testament. And be mindful of his commandments; to do those. (yea, they who keep his covenant; and who remember his commandments, and who do them.)