God’s Word Translation
Psalms 103:11
11As high as the heavens are above the earth— that is how vast his mercy is toward those who fear him.
Psalms 103:11 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
- New International Version (NIV)For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
- English Standard Version (ESV)For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
- New King James Version (NKJV)For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
Context of Psalms 103:11
9He will not always accuse us of wrong or be angry ⌞with us⌟ forever. 10He has not treated us as we deserve for our sins or paid us back for our wrongs. As high as the heavens are above the earth— that is how vast his mercy is toward those who fear him. 12As far as the east is from the west— that is how far he has removed our rebellious acts from himself. 13As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.
Read all of Psalms 103Psalms 103:11 word by word
כִּ֤י כִגְבֹ֣הַּ שָׁ֭מַיִם עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ גָּבַ֥ר חַ֝סְדּ֗וֹ עַל־יְרֵאָֽיו׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 103:11
- Psalms 36:5O Lord, your mercy reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.
- Psalms 57:10because your mercy is as high as the heavens. Your truth reaches the skies.
- Psalms 89:2I said, “Your mercy will last forever. Your faithfulness stands firm in the heavens.”
- Job 22:12“Isn’t God high above in the heavens? Look how high the highest stars are!
- Proverbs 25:3⌞Like⌟ the high heavens and the deep earth, so the mind of kings is unsearchable.
- Isaiah 55:9“Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts.”
- Ephesians 2:4But God is rich in mercy because of his great love for us.
- Ephesians 3:18This way, with all of God’s people you will be able to understand how wide, long, high, and deep his love is.
- Psalms 103:17But from everlasting to everlasting, the Lord’s mercy is on those who fear him. His righteousness belongs to their children and grandchildren,
- Luke 1:50For those who fear him, his mercy lasts throughout every generation.
Commentaries on Psalms 103:11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11For as the heaven is high above the earth - Great and provoking as our crimes may have been, yet his mercies have, in their magnitude and number, surpassed these, as far as the heavens are elevated beyond the earth.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11For as the heaven is high above the earth - See the notes at Psalm 57:10. Compare the notes at Isaiah 55:9. The literal translation of the phrase here would be, “For like the height of the heavens above the earth.” The heavens - the starry heavens - are the highest objects of which we have any knowledge; and hence, the comparison is used to denote the great mercy of God - meaning that it is as great as can be conceived; that there is nothing beyond it…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. 11-12God’s love and forgiveness have no limits and are complete.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. great--efficient.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 103:11
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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