New International Version
Psalms 115:16
16The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to mankind.
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.
- 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.
- 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 cause you to flourish, both you and your children. 15May you be blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to mankind. 17It is not the dead who praise the Lord, those who go down to the place of silence; 18it is we who extol the Lord, both now 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, and yours also the earth; you founded the world and all that is in it.
- Psalms 144:5Part your heavens, Lord, and come down; touch the mountains, so that they smoke.
- Psalms 148:4Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.
- Isaiah 66:1This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be?
- Lamentations 3:66Pursue them in anger and destroy them from under the heavens of the Lord.
- John 14:2My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
- Genesis 1:28God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
- Genesis 9:1Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.
- Deuteronomy 32:8When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when he divided all mankind, he set up boundaries for the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel.
- Jeremiah 27:5With my great power and outstretched arm I made the earth and its people and the animals that are on it, and 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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