Psalms 103:15-17: “As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone, and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the LORD [is] from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;”
Flower – Tsits – צוצ Sade Yod Sade
Flower: tsits
Strong’s 6731
Root: צִיץ.
Sounds like: tseets.
Flowers are mentioned all through the Bible.
Roses – Song of Solomon 2:1,
lilies – 1 Kings 7:19,22,
myrtle – Isaiah 55:12-13,
lily of the valley – Song of Solomon 2:1,
hyssop – Leviticus 14:51-52,
and all manner of fruit trees, apples, almonds, pomegranates.
Used of artificial flowers in candlesticks – Exodus 25:31.
(5) tsits, “flower” Isaiah 40:6;
plural tsitstsim,flowers as
architectural ornaments –1 Kings 6:18;
tsitsah,“the fading flower of his glorious beauty” Isaiah 28:1,4; also Numbers 17:8; Job 14:2.
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance.
blossom, flower, plate, wing.
Or tsits {tseets}; from tsuwts; properly, glistening, i.e.
A burnished plate; also a flower (as bright-colored);
a wing (as gleaming in the air) ––
blossom, flower, plate, wing.
Strong’s Hebrew: 6733. צִיצָה tsitsah — flower
Original Word: צִיצָה.
Transliteration: tsitsah.
Phonetic Spelling: see-tsaw’
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon:
6731b. tsits –– a blossom, flower, shining thing
tsı̂yts / tsits
1) flower, bloom
1b) shining thing (of gold plate on high priest’ s mitre) (metaphorically)
It seems as if this scripture is saying that life is just here today and gone tomorrow? Many years from today no one will even know we were alive and does it really matter?
The root word for
grass is chatsar
however in its Semitic root, it has the idea of
something that quickly perishes; which is very interesting.
As already noted above the word for
flower is tsits or zits,
which is a word used in ancient
Canaanite cultures for
colorful wings and feathers.
It’s not a standard word for flower, however, we can find some further meaning from this word. There is a focus on
its bright colors and
the transient wonder that it brings.
At the time this was written there was a lack of variety in colors because there was so much sand and desert, everything was monotone and looked the same until there was a rare sighting of some wildflowers or perhaps a colorful bird flew overhead.
It is similar image if we look back to the 1950’s, when television first became available to the general public; everything on the screen was only in black and white. Some years later the first color models were produced and only those with a good income could afford them. Today of course everything is available in full HD and the difference is profound. Back when color TV became available, the first people to view them were mesmerized by the life like images, that is what tsits – flower– means and is giving us the picture of. However after some time, just like most new things in life, we become accustomed to the colors and the fascination fades.
In Hebraic tradition it is taught and understood, that this imagery is not about life, but about the gifts and opportunities that our Heavenly Father gives us throughout this life. We are to seize these opportunities and use the gifts He has placed within us when they are manifested; because all too soon, these opportunities will be gone and we will outgrow many of those imparted gifts.
However inverse 17we are told that our Heavenly Father’s mercy endures forever. Is it possible that somewhere in the word mercy or chasad – goodness, kindness, and faithfulness – is the meaning of life? It is indeed in His mercy – chasad,- His goodness, kindness, and faithfulness – that we’ll experience new opportunities and with them, come the appropriate giftings to fulfill His purposes, not ours. This indicates that as we grow older and mature, we are still able to receive new gifts from our Heavenly Father, this can be in the form of other gifts that we were not initially born with; and as long as Father gives us life, we have opportunities to minister to others as and how He leads us.
The Hebrew Rabbis teach that the meaning to life is to discover the Father’s purpose, to find out the reason He created us, and then to discover the gifts He has given us to carry out that purpose.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 affirms this concept:
When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man. Berean Standard Bible.
When all has been heard, the end of the matter is: fear God [worship Him with awe-filled reverence, knowing that He is almighty God] and keep His commandments, for this applies to every person. Amplified Bible.
The end of the matter in its sum: listen to everything and be in awe before LORD JEHOVAH, and keep his commandments, for this is of One Craftsman which is given to every person. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear the LORD and keep his commandments; this is given by one Master to every man. Lamsa Bible.
These verses inform and remind us that in the end, the only point to anything is our Heavenly Father and that we are created for His pleasure to give Him glory and honor, by obeying His commands, and accepting that His Way is always the best and perfect plan; and understanding that as humans created by Him, we are beings with limited, finite power. It is a journey that takes a lifetime, whatever our age, we continue to learn His purposes and to discover the talents both old and new that He has gifted us with and the opportunities to use those gifts.
It’s our Heavenly Father Who reveals to each of us the gifts He has given, and they are revealed in His time, just when they are needed; not simply so we can use them to promote ourselves as being super- spiritual. So sometimes they are revealed later in life, when we are mature in the faith; however, every time that happens it’s like a tsits, the discovery of bright, beautiful colors. We need therefore to be ready when that opportunity arises, to take hold of it it with both hands, and use it for our Heavenly Father’s glory, for it will soon fade and pass away.
Numbers 17:4-11records one of the first mentions of a flower, and it was as a result of the Lord God performing a miracle; when He showed the people which of the 12 tribes of Israel would be the priests for His Holy nation.
“Place the staffs in the Tent of Meeting in front of the Testimony, where I meet with you. The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid Myself of the constant grumbling of the Israelites against you.”
Moses spoke to the Israelites, and each of their 12 leaders gave him a staff and Aaron’s staff was among them as his staff was to stand for the tribe of Levi. Moses placed the staffs before the Lord God in the Tent of Meeting and the next day when Moses entered the Tent he saw that Aaron’s staff had not only sprouted, but had put forth buds, flowered – wey-ya-tsits, and produced almonds!
Moses brought out all the staffs and each man took his own staff. Then the Lord God said to Moses, “Put Aaron’s staff back in front of the Testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebellious, so that you may put an end to their grumbling against Me, lest they die.” So Moses did as YHWH/God had commanded him.
He also instructed that the flowering branch be left in the Tabernacle, no doubt this is why when Solomon built the 1st Temple, replacing the wilderness Tabernacle, he decorated it with carved open flowers according to:
1 Kings 6:31-35
For the entrance of the inner sanctuary, Solomon constructed doors of olive wood with five-sided doorposts. The double doors were made of olive wood, and he carved into them cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers (tsits-im) and overlaid the cherubim and palm trees with hammered gold.
In the same way, he made four-sided doorposts of olive wood for the sanctuary entrance. The two doors were made of cypress wood, and each had two folding panels. And he carved into them cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers (tsits-im) and overlaid them with gold hammered evenly over the carvings.
As well as decoration the word flower is often used to describe the mortal life of men.
Job 14:1-2
Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble.
Like a flower – k’tsits, he comes forth, then withers away;
like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.
Isaiah 40:6-8 encourages us that there is hope:
A voice says, “Cry out!”
And I asked, “What should I cry out?”
“All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower – k’tsits of the field.
The grass withers, the flower – tsits fades when the breath of YHWH blows on them;
indeed, the people are grass.
The grass withers and the flower – tsits fades, but the word of our God stands forever.”
Like flowers and grass, flesh can be glorious especially when we are young, however it does not last; the words of our Heavenly Father and the covenant He has made with us are the only things that last forever.
Our physical bodies are like grasses and flowers, remarkable, handsome, beautiful and pretty, but they are mortal and they will eventually die. It is our spirit that will live forever and immortality is for those whose faith and trust is in our Fathers written word.
In quoting Isaiah in 1 Peter 1:22-25 he said:
Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For,
“All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like a flower of the field;
the grass withers and the flower falls away, but the word of the Lord stands forever.”
And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.
The image of a flower is used to make the same point in
Psalm 103:13-19
As a father has compassion on his children,
so YHWH has compassion on those who fear Him.
For He knows our frame; He is mindful that we are dust.
As for man, his days are like grass— he blooms like a flower – k’tsits of the field;
when the wind has passed over, it vanishes, and its place remembers it no more.
But from everlasting to everlasting the loving devotion of YHWH extends to those who fear Him, and His righteousness to their children’s children— to those who keep His Covenant and remember to obey His precepts. YHWH has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.
Even though the days of our lives are like a breeze blowing by, or a flower that blooms and then is gone; there is hope – because our Heavenly Father provides salvation for those who keep and obey the Covenant He has made with His children. Sadly the modern day focus on physical beauty, strength and prosperity is based solely in the world and is a distraction from our true godly purpose, which is to focus on, love and live for our Heavenly Father.
Isaiah 28:1-2 has this to say about those who live only for themselves, those who rely only on outward physical beauty and the ‘splendour’ of their bodies:
Woe to the majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards, to the fading flower – w’tsits of his glorious splendour, set on the summit above the fertile valley, the pride of those overcome by wine. Behold, the Lord has a strong and mighty one. Like a hailstorm or destructive tempest, like a driving rain or flooding downpour, He will smash it to the ground.
Our bodies are simply containers, vessels that we as spirit beings occupy while here on the earth; and when we fill them with drugs and strong liquor, it’s equal to filling them with nothing of any value or that will bear any good and lasting fruit. Our Heavenly Father does not pay any attention to our physical beauty, strength or splendor; and the scripture says that those who do rely only on themselves will be destroyed. We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit of our Heavenly Father.
Paul told us in Ephesians 5:18
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
Being filled with the Spirit means living beyond what our physical bodies are able to do; it’s by the Spirit of the Lord God that we flourish not through human strength.
As Zechariah 4:6 reminds us, it’s:
Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit.
James wrote in 1:9-12 that
The brother in humble circumstances should exult in his high position. But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its flower falls and its beauty is lost. So too, the rich man will fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
This crown of life, is our Father’s promise to those who love Him and the symbol of a crown is also associated with a flower. In Exodus 39:30 there is a description of the crown designed for the priestly garments as a pure gold engraved flower:
They also made the flower – tsits, (often translated as plate]) of the Holy crown of pure gold, and they engraved on it, like an inscription on a seal:
Holy to the Lord/YHWH.
Kodesh YHWH – yud hey vav hey.
The Priests wore a crown like a flower as a reminder that Aaron and the Levites were chosen to be the Priestly tribe, mentioned earlier. Just as our Father took Aaron’s staff and made it bloom, He does the same thing with peoples lives.
Sadly we often ignore Gods Holiness, focusing only on our basic human desires and what we want; which includes fashion, food, beauty, strength, and wealth. However our attempts to pursue these things only end up causing us worry, stress and anxiety and we are left with a feeling of emptiness.
In Matthew 6:25-30 Jesus/Yeshua uses flowers to highlight this human condition:
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns—and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you, by worrying, can add a single hour to his lifespan?
And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the lilies of the field grow: They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Our Heavenly Father created the
tsits – flowers of the fields,
and the beauty we see all around us in nature, is there to be for us a constant reminder that life is short on this planet; and we all have an expiry date. In contrast, life with our Heavenly Father is eternal, it’s forever, for all those who desire to follow Him, trust Him, love Him, and place their lives in His hands. He is faithful and true and unlike a flower -tsits, that fades and dies, He will never leave us nor forsake us.
Shalom aleikhem
chaverim and mishpachah!
Peace to friends and family.
Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week.
Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.
It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.
You are very precious in His sight.
Not sure ..you can be…
SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute,
SAY IT RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.
I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name.
Psalms 103:15-17: “As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone, and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the LORD [is] from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;”
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