Psalms 103:13

Psalms 103:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.
• New International Version (NIV)As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
• English Standard Version (ESV)As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him.

Context of Psalms 103:13

11For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear and worship Him [with awe-filled respect and deepest reverence]. 12As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father loves his children, So the Lord loves those who fear and worship Him [with awe-filled respect and deepest reverence]. 14For He knows our [mortal] frame; He remembers that we are [merely] dust. 15As for man, his days are like grass; Like a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

Psalms 103:13 word by word

כְּרַחֵ֣ם אָ֭ב עַל־בָּנִ֑ים רִחַ֥ם יְ֝הוָ֗ה עַל־יְרֵאָֽיו׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Like as a fatherאָב'âb · fatherH1
• pitiethרָחַםrâcham · to have compassionH7355
• childrenבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• them that fearיָרֵאyârê' · afraidH3373

Cross-references for Psalms 103:13

• Numbers 11:12Was it I who conceived all these people? Was it I who brought them forth, that You should say to me, ‘Carry them in your arms as a nurse carries the nursing infant, to the land which You swore to their fathers’?
• Deuteronomy 3:5All these cities were fortified and unassailable with their high walls, gates, and bars; in addition, [there were] a very great number of unwalled villages.
• Proverbs 3:12For those whom the Lord loves He corrects, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
• Isaiah 63:15Look down from heaven and see from Your lofty dwelling place, holy and glorious. Where are Your zeal and Your mighty acts [Your miracles which you did for Your people]? The stirring of Your heart and Your compassion are restrained and withheld from me.
• Jeremiah 31:9They will come with weeping [in repentance and for joy], And by [their] prayer [for the future] I will lead them; I will make them walk by streams of waters, On a straight path in which they will not stumble, For I am a Father to Israel, And Ephraim (Israel) is My firstborn.”
• Matthew 6:9“Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
• Luke 11:11What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish?
• Luke 16:21He [eagerly] longed to eat the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores.
• John 20:17Jesus said to her, “Do not hold Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ”
• Hebrews 12:5and you have forgotten the divine word of encouragement which is addressed to you as sons, “My son, do not make light of the discipline of the Lord, And do not lose heart and give up when you are corrected by Him;
• Psalms 103:11For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear and worship Him [with awe-filled respect and deepest reverence].
• Psalms 147:11The Lord favors those who fear and worship Him [with awe-inspired reverence and obedience], Those who wait for His mercy and lovingkindness.
• Malachi 3:16Then those who feared the Lord [with awe-filled reverence] spoke to one another; and the Lord paid attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who fear the Lord [with an attitude of reverence and respect] and who esteem His name.
• Malachi 4:2But for you who fear My name [with awe-filled reverence] the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go forward and leap [joyfully] like calves [released] from the stall.
• Acts 13:26“Brothers, sons of Abraham’s family, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation [obtained through faith in Jesus Christ].

Commentaries on Psalms 103:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13Like as a father pitieth his children - This is a very emphatic verse, and may be thus translated: "As the tender compassions of a father towards his children; so the tender compassicns of Jehovah towards them that fear him." Nothing can place the tenderness and concern of God for his creatures in a stronger light than this. What yearnings of bowels does a father feel toward the disobedient child, who, sensible of his ingratitude and disobedience, falls…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13Like as a father pitieth his children - Hebrew, “Like the compassion of a father for his children.” See the notes at Matthew 7:7-11. God often compares himself with a father, and it is by carrying out our ideas of what enters into the parental character that we get our best conceptions of the character of God. See the notes at Matthew 6:9. That which is referred to here, is the natural affection of the parent for the child; the tender love which is borne…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-14Verses 6-14 Truly God is good to all: he is in a special manner good to Israel. He has revealed himself and his grace to them. By his ways we may understand his precepts, the ways he requires us to walk in; and his promises and purposes. He always has been full of compassion. How unlike are those to God, who take every occasion to chide, and never know when to cease! What would become of us, if God should deal so with us? The Scripture says a great deal…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13The Lord is like a father to his children. This idea is central to the teachings of Jesus about God's fatherhood (see Matthew 5:43–48; 6:1; 10:19–20; 12:50; Luke 6:36; 12:29–32; John 8:31–59; 15:1–8; see also 2 Samuel 7:14; Jeremiah 3:19; 31:9; Malachi 1:6; 2 Corinthians 6:16–18).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. pitieth--literally, "has compassion on."Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 103:13

• Afflictions and Adversities
• God Continued...
• Parents

In the dictionaries

• Benefit
• Bless
• Excel
• Forget
• Mouth
• Pity
• Prepare
• Renew
• Children of God
• Father

Commentaries on Psalms 103

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• The Treasury of David
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings