God’s Word Translation
Psalms 115:16
16The highest heaven belongs to the Lord, but he has given the earth to the descendants of Adam.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The heavens are the Lord's heavens, but the earth he has given to the children of man.
- 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.
Context of Psalms 115:16
14May the Lord continue to bless you and your children. 15You will be blessed by the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. The highest heaven belongs to the Lord, but he has given the earth to the descendants of Adam. 17Those who are dead do not praise the Lord, nor do those who go into the silence ⌞of the grave⌟. 18But we will thank the Lord now and forever. Hallelujah!
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 is also yours. You made the world and everything in it.
- Psalms 144:5O Lord, bend your heaven low, and come down. Touch the mountains, and they will smoke.
- Psalms 148:4Praise him, you highest heaven and the water above the sky.
- Isaiah 66:1This is what the Lord says: Heaven is my throne. The earth is my footstool. Where can you build a house or resting place for me?
- Lamentations 3:66Pursue them in anger, and wipe them out from under the Lord’s heaven.”
- John 14:2My Father’s house has many rooms. If that were not true, would I have told you that I’m going to prepare a place for you?
- Genesis 1:28God blessed them and said, “Be fertile, increase in number, fill the earth, and be its master. Rule the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that crawl on the earth.”
- Genesis 9:1God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fertile, increase in number, and fill the earth.
- Deuteronomy 32:8When the Most High gave nations their land, when he divided the descendants of Adam, he set up borders for the tribes corresponding to the number of the sons of Israel.
- Jeremiah 27:5‘I used my great strength and my powerful arm to make the earth along with the people and the animals on it. I give it to anyone I please.
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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