Psalms 102:3

For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like glowing embers.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The psalmist speaks to God during a period of acute distress, positioning this declaration between a direct plea for divine attention in verse 2 and a report of physical wasting in verse 4.

The words — כָל֣וּ (kha.Lu) literally means "they have come to an end," applying to the psalmist's days, while נִחָֽרוּ (ni.Cha.ru) literally means "they have been burned," applying to his bones.

The thread — The motif of consumed life and suffering bones appears in James 4:14, Psalms 31:10, and Lamentations 1:13.

Why it lands — The text states that human existence is brief and physical suffering is consuming, which grounds the psalmist's immediate demand for God to answer quickly.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

כִּֽי־ki-for כָל֣וּkha.Luthey have come to an end בְעָשָׁ֣ןve./'a.Shanin/ smoke יָמָ֑יya.Ma/idays/ my וְ֝עַצְמוֹתַ֗יve./'atz.mo.Ta/iand/ bones/ my כְּמוֹ־ke.mov-like קֵ֥דkeda hearth נִחָֽרוּ׃ni.Cha.ruthey have been burned

King James Version

For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.

Cross-references

James 4:14 You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
Psalms 31:10 For my life is consumed with grief and my years with groaning; my iniquity has drained my strength, and my bones are wasting away.
Lamentations 1:13 He sent fire from on high, and it overpowered my bones. He spread a net for my feet and turned me back. He made me desolate, faint all the day long.
Job 30:30 My skin grows black and peels, and my bones burn with fever.
Psalms 37:20 But the wicked and enemies of the LORD will perish like the glory of the fields. They will vanish; like smoke they will fade away.
Psalms 22:14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are disjointed. My heart is like wax; it melts away within me.
Psalms 119:83 Though I am like a wineskin dried up by smoke, I do not forget Your statutes.
Lamentations 3:4 He has worn away my flesh and skin; He has shattered my bones.
Psalms 38:3 There is no soundness in my body because of Your anger; there is no rest in my bones because of my sin.