English Standard Version
Psalms 115:16
16The heavens are the Lord's heavens, but the earth he has given to the children of man.
Psalms 115:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
- New International Version (NIV)The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to mankind.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s; But the earth He has given to the children of men.
- New Living Translation (NLT)The heavens belong to the Lord, but he has given the earth to all humanity.
Context of Psalms 115:16
14May the Lord give you increase, you and your children! 15May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth! The heavens are the Lord's heavens, but the earth he has given to the children of man. 17The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any who go down into silence. 18But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the Lord!
Read all of Psalms 115Psalms 115:16 word by word
הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם שָׁ֭מַיִם לַיהוָ֑ה וְ֝הָאָ֗רֶץ נָתַ֥ן לִבְנֵי־אָדָֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 115:16
- Psalms 89:11The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them.
- Psalms 144:5Bow your heavens, O Lord, and come down! Touch the mountains so that they smoke!
- Psalms 148:4Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!
- Isaiah 66:1Thus says the Lord: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?
- Lamentations 3:66You will pursue them in anger and destroy them from under your heavens, O Lord."
- John 14:2In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
- Genesis 1:28And God blessed them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
- Genesis 9:1And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.
- Deuteronomy 32:8When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God.
- Jeremiah 27:5"It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me.
Commentaries on Psalms 115:16
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16The heaven - Hebrew, “The heavens.” Even the heavens are the Lord‘s - A more literal and correct rendering of this would be, “The heavens are heavens for Jehovah.” That is, he has reserved the heavens as a home for himself, or as his special possession and home. Compare Isaiah 66:1; Matthew 5:34; Acts 7:49. But the earth - He propared earth for the abode of man; he has placed man upon it to cultivate it; he has given its fruits and productions to man…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-18Verses 9-18 It is folly to trust in dead images, but it is wisdom to trust in the living God, for he is a help and a shield to those that trust in him. Wherever there is right fear of God, there may be cheerful faith in him; those who reverence his word, may rely upon it. He is ever found faithful. The greatest need his blessing, and it shall not be denied to the meanest that fear him. God's blessing gives an increase, especially in spiritual blessings…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-18The highest heavens belong to the LORD: God's exaltation starts in heaven (Psalm 113:4), far above the gods of other nations. The earth also belongs to him (Psalm 47:9; 95:4). The dead cannot participate in God’s blessings. The living praise God in thanksgiving for his blessings (Psalm 79:13).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 15-1715-17. They were not only God's peculiar people, but as living inhabitants of earth, assigned the work of His praise as monuments of divine power, wisdom, and goodness.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 115:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 115
- 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
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Commentaries