Psalms 103:6-14

6 The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

7 He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel:

8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;

10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

Psalms 103:6-14 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. Psalms 9:8; Psalms 65:5; Isaiah 9:7
• 2. S Psalms 74:21; S Luke 4:19
• 3. Psalms 99:7; Psalms 147:19
• 4. S Exodus 33:13
• 5. Psalms 106:22
• 6. Exodus 34:6; S Exodus 22:27; S Psalms 86:15; Micah 7:18-19; James 5:11
• 7. Psalms 30:5; Psalms 79:5; Isaiah 57:16; Jeremiah 3:5,12; Micah 7:18
• 8. S Ezra 9:13; Romans 6:23
• 9. Psalms 13:5; Psalms 57:10; Psalms 100:5; Psalms 106:45; Psalms 117:2; Lamentations 3:22; Ephesians 3:18
• 10. S 2 Chronicles 6:31
• 11. S 2 Samuel 12:13; Romans 4:7; Ephesians 2:5
• 12. Malachi 3:17; 1 John 3:1
• 13. Psalms 119:73; Psalms 139:13-15; Isaiah 29:16
• 14. S Genesis 2:7; S Psalms 146:4