New Living Translation
Psalms 103:13
13The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
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 his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. 12He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. 14For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust. 15Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die.
Read all of Psalms 103Psalms 103:13 word by word
כְּרַחֵ֣ם אָ֭ב עַל־בָּנִ֑ים רִחַ֥ם יְ֝הוָ֗ה עַל־יְרֵאָֽיו׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 103:13
- Numbers 11:12Did I give birth to them? Did I bring them into the world? Why did you tell me to carry them in my arms like a mother carries a nursing baby? How can I carry them to the land you swore to give their ancestors?
- Deuteronomy 3:5These towns were all fortified with high walls and barred gates. We also took many unwalled villages at the same time.
- Proverbs 3:12For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.
- Isaiah 63:15Lord, look down from heaven; look from your holy, glorious home, and see us. Where is the passion and the might you used to show on our behalf? Where are your mercy and compassion now?
- Jeremiah 31:9Tears of joy will stream down their faces, and I will lead them home with great care. They will walk beside quiet streams and on smooth paths where they will not stumble. For I am Israel’s father, and Ephraim is my oldest child.
- Matthew 6:9Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
- Luke 11:11“You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead?
- Luke 16:21As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.
- John 20:17“Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
- Hebrews 12:5And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you.
- Psalms 103:11For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
- Psalms 147:11No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love.
- Malachi 3:16Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name.
- Malachi 4:2“But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.
- Acts 13:26“Brothers—you sons of Abraham, and also you God-fearing Gentiles—this message of salvation has been sent to us!
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
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
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