Psalms 37:2
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
Original Language Analysis
כִּ֣י
H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 7
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
מְהֵרָ֣ה
For they shall soon
H4120
מְהֵרָ֣ה
For they shall soon
Strong's:
H4120
Word #:
3 of 7
properly, a hurry; hence (adverbially) promptly
יִמָּ֑לוּ
be cut down
H5243
יִמָּ֑לוּ
be cut down
Strong's:
H5243
Word #:
4 of 7
to become clipped or (specifically) circumcised
Cross References
Psalms 92:7When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever:Job 14:2He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.1 Peter 1:24For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
Historical Context
Palestinian climate featured rainy and dry seasons. Green vegetation flourished briefly after rains but quickly withered, providing a vivid object lesson about the fleeting nature of the wicked's prosperity.
Questions for Reflection
- How does remembering life's brevity help you maintain eternal perspective?
- What 'grass-like' things in your life need to be viewed with proper perspective?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The metaphor of grass and herbs speaks to transience—what appears vibrant today withers tomorrow. This imagery appears throughout Scripture (Isaiah 40:6-8, James 1:10-11, 1 Peter 1:24) to contrast human temporality with divine permanence. The word 'soon' is relative to God's timing but promises brevity from eternal perspective. This agricultural image would resonate powerfully in ancient agrarian society where grass literally withered rapidly under the Middle Eastern sun, making the comparison visceral and memorable.