Psalms 103:2-5

2 ¹Bless the LORD, O my soul, and ²forget not all his benefits,

3 who ³forgives all your iniquity, who ⁴heals all your diseases,

4 who ⁵redeems your life from the pit, who ⁶crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

5 who ⁷satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like ⁸the eagle's.

Psalms 103:2-5 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 103

\\<>\\. The Targum adds, ``spoken in prophecy,'' as doubtless it was, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Some think it was written by David, after a fit of illness, and his recovery from it, since he speaks of his diseases being healed, and his youth renewed; for which reason the Syriac interpreter suggests it was written in his old age; for he makes the subject of the psalm to be, ``concerning coldness which prevailed upon him in old age;'' but rather he wrote it when his heart was warm with a sense of the love of God, and spiritual blessings of grace flowing from thence; and in it celebrates and sings the benefits of New Testament times; and it is a psalm suitable to be sung by every believer, under a quick sense of divine favours: wherefore the above interpreter better adds, ``also an instruction and thanksgiving by men of God;'' whom the psalmist may very well be thought to personate, even in Gospel times; and much rather than the Jews in captivity, as Kimchi thinks.

Cross References

• 1. [See ver. 1 above]
• 2. Deuteronomy 6:12; Deuteronomy 8:11
• 3. Exodus 34:7; Isaiah 33:24; Matthew 9:2; Mark 2:5; [Luke 7:47]
• 4. Psalms 107:20; Psalms 147:3; Exodus 15:26; [Matthew 8:17]
• 5. See Psalms 56:13
• 6. [Psalms 5:12]
• 7. Psalms 107:9
• 8. Isaiah 40:31