New Living Translation
Psalms 115:16
16The heavens belong to the Lord, but he has given the earth to all humanity.
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 richly bless both you and your children. 15May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth. The heavens belong to the Lord, but he has given the earth to all humanity. 17The dead cannot sing praises to the Lord, for they have gone into the silence of the grave. 18But we can praise the Lord both now and forever! 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 the earth is yours; everything in the world is yours—you created it all.
- Psalms 144:5Open the heavens, Lord, and come down. Touch the mountains so they billow smoke.
- Psalms 148:4Praise him, skies above! Praise him, vapors high above the clouds!
- Isaiah 66:1This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Could you build me a temple as good as that? Could you build me such a resting place?
- Lamentations 3:66Chase them down in your anger, destroying them beneath the Lord’s heavens.
- John 14:2There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
- Genesis 1:28Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”
- Genesis 9:1Then God blessed Noah and his sons and told them, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth.
- Deuteronomy 32:8When the Most High assigned lands to the nations, when he divided up the human race, he established the boundaries of the peoples according to the number in his heavenly court.
- Jeremiah 27:5With my great strength and powerful arm I made the earth and all its people and every animal. I can give these things of mine to anyone I choose.
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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