Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
Read it in contextA Prayer of Moses
Start reading at Psalms 90:1 (Psalms 90:1 to Psalms 90:17).
The entire Psalm 90 is a unified prayer attributed to Moses.
90:1Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
90:2Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
90:3Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.
90:4For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
90:5Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.
90:6In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.
90:7For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.
90:8Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
90:9For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.
90:10The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
90:11Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.
90:12So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
90:13Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.
90:14O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
90:15Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil.
90:16Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.
90:17And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.
Study content, not yet reviewed.
Who
Who wrote the book? Multiple writers contributed to Psalms, including David, Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, and Moses; some psalms have no named attribution. The traditional Hebrew headings distinguish many of these contributions. Biblical references: Acts 2:25; Acts 4:25. book background
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Psalms 90:1–90:17): The community's prayer addresses the Lord concerning human mortality and asks for mercy and wisdom. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? Israel's worshipping community, including individuals and assemblies using the psalms for prayer, praise, lament, and instruction. A particular psalm may speak directly to God, to the congregation, or to another group. Biblical references: Psalms 22:22; Psalms 78:1; Psalms 100:1. book background
What
What is the main event or theme? The psalm contrasts God's eternal nature and sovereignty with the brevity and frailty of human life, often experienced under God's wrath due to sin, leading to a prayer for divine mercy and wisdom. The specific verse emphasizes God as an eternal dwelling place for His people.
What is God revealing? God is revealing His eternal nature ("from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God"), His role as a constant refuge and dwelling place, His power over life and death, and His justice in dealing with human sin and mortality.
What is the literary style? Hebrew poetry, specifically a prayer or lament, characterized by parallelism, vivid imagery (mountains, flood, grass, sleep), and direct address to God.
When
When was it written? Around 1400 B.C., during the period of the Exodus and wilderness wanderings, consistent with Moses' authorship and the broader collection period of Psalms (c. 1400 to 450 B.C.). book background
When does the event take place? The psalm reflects on God's eternal nature and human mortality across "all generations," making the 'event' timeless and ongoing, though the specific prayer likely arose from a period of hardship for Israel. stated in the text
Where
Where did it happen? During the wilderness wanderings, likely in the Sinai region or near the borders of Canaan, consistent with Moses' leadership of Israel. traditionally held
Where was the author located? Moses was located in the wilderness during the Exodus, likely in the Sinai region. traditionally held
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in A Prayer of Moses (Psalms 90:1 to Psalms 90:17).
Start reading at Psalms 90:1. The entire Psalm 90 is a unified prayer attributed to Moses.
How
How does it fit the broader context? Psalm 90 is the only psalm attributed to Moses and serves as a profound reflection on human transience in contrast to God's eternal nature. It sets a tone of humility and dependence on God, acknowledging human sin and the brevity of life, leading to a plea for divine mercy and wisdom. It is the first psalm in Book IV of the Psalter. interpretation
How does it point to Christ? Christ is the eternal God who became man, experiencing the brevity and frailty of human life (Psalm 90:3-10) yet remaining the "dwelling place" and refuge for His people (Psalm 90:1). Through Him, believers find an eternal dwelling place with God, overcoming the destruction and wrath mentioned in the psalm. He is the wisdom for which the psalmist prays (Psalm 90:12). interpretation
How do I apply it today? This psalm calls believers to acknowledge God's eternal sovereignty and our own mortality, prompting us to live wisely, seeking God's mercy and applying our hearts unto wisdom (Psalm 90:12). It encourages us to find our ultimate security and dwelling place in God amidst the fleeting nature of life and its troubles. interpretation
Cited: Psalms 90:1, Psalms 90:3, Psalms 90:7, Psalms 90:8, Psalms 90:12, Psalms 90:1-6, Psalms 90:1-12, Psalms 90:1-17, Psalms 90:3-10, John 1:1, John 1:14, Colossians 2:3, John 14:2-3
Who wrote it, and how we know
David and others, including Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, and MosesNamed in Scripture
What Scripture saysThe superscriptions name their writers: David most often, and also Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, and Moses. The New Testament quotes psalms as David's words. Psalm 3:1Psalm 90:1Acts 2:25Acts 4:25
Early traditionJewish and Christian tradition preserves the superscriptions as ancient.
What is debatedSome scholars regard certain superscriptions as later additions. The collection was assembled over centuries.
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Psalms 90
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Psalms is a collection of prayers and songs with multiple attributed writers and many unspecified occasions. Read each psalm as a poetic unit and distinguish a speaker's lament, petition, vow, and praise. The five-book arrangement does not make all psalms one continuous speech. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement. A quoted heading uses the opening KJV words of that stanza; the speaker and the psalm as a whole still govern its meaning.
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. These psalms include reflection on human frailty, the LORD's kingship, worship, and Israel's history, and close with a doxology.
interpretation
“Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye…”
Connection to the wholeThese psalms include reflection on human frailty, the LORD's kingship, worship, and Israel's history, and close with a doxology.
Connection to the wholeThese psalms include reflection on human frailty, the LORD's kingship, worship, and Israel's history, and close with a doxology.
interpretation
“Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according…”
Connection to the wholeThese psalms include reflection on human frailty, the LORD's kingship, worship, and Israel's history, and close with a doxology.
Connection to the wholeThese psalms include reflection on human frailty, the LORD's kingship, worship, and Israel's history, and close with a doxology.
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. These psalms include reflection on human frailty, the LORD's kingship, worship, and Israel's history, and close with a doxology.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Psalms
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Psalms is a collection of prayers and songs with multiple attributed writers and many unspecified occasions. Read each psalm as a poetic unit and distinguish a speaker's lament, petition, vow, and praise. The five-book arrangement does not make all psalms one continuous speech.
Connection to the wholeThe opening collection brings individual and communal prayer into the setting introduced by Psalms 1 and 2, ending with a doxology.
Connection to the wholeThe second collection continues varied prayers and songs and closes with royal prayer and a doxology; its individual psalms retain distinct voices and occasions.
FocusThe sanctuary, the nation, and covenant questions
Connection to the wholeThis collection gives prominent space to communal distress and worship, ending with the tension between the Davidic promise and the king's humiliation.
Connection to the wholeThese psalms include reflection on human frailty, the LORD's kingship, worship, and Israel's history, and close with a doxology.
FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise
Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.