What is the significance of "Ki Hu Yada Yitzrenu"?
Radak: This is why He distanced our sins - "Ki Yetzer Lev ha'Adam Ra mi'Ne'urav" (Bereishis 8:21). Animal lusts are fixed in him. It is man's nature to sin, if he will not be a Gibor to overcome his Yetzer ha'Ra. And in any case he cannot avoid sinning once or twice - "Ki Adam Ein Tzadik ba'Aretz Asher Ya'aseh Tov v'Lo Yecheta" (Koheles 7:20).
Malbim: This explains why man is quick to sin.
Why does it say "Zachor Ki Afar Anachnu"?
Rashi: He remembers; He did not forget that we are earth, and "man's days are like grass" (verse 15).
Radak: The matter is repeated in different words. "Zachor" is like Yada; it is always remembered in front of Him. "Afar Anachnu" is like "Yitzrenu"; the animal lusts are earth, for in those lusts he is like an animal, which is totally from earth. Man has a supreme Neshamah which has the form of angels. When man goes in the way of the supreme Neshamah, his face is human. When he goes in the way of lowliness, his face is that of a lion, ox and Nesher (the other faces on the legs of the Merkavah). Even though man is from all four 'elements' (earth, fire, wind and water), it mentions earth, for the bones are the body's foundation, and they are from earth, which are cold and dry, like earth. It says "Ki Afar Atah v'El Afar Tashuv" (Bereishis 3:19).
Malbim: This explains why the Nefesh's own motion is slow. Earth (the body) weighs it down.
