Sunday, August 28, 2022

Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13 annotated

The bolded scriptural citation will take you to additional translations. The entire chapter is included to provide context. 

 

Information about the meaning the original Hebrew of what seem to be key words is provided in blue.  

 

Excerpts collected in yellow  at the end of this post tell us something about God’s nature or our relationship to Him. 

 

Excerpts collected in green  at the end of this post tell us about something God wants us to do. 

 

Collections of scriptures dealing principles similar to those addressed here are hyperlinked at the end of this post.

 

Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13   

R (8a) The Lord is kind and merciful.
Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.


R The Lord is kind and merciful.
He pardons all your iniquities, heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction, crowns you with kindness and compassion.


R The Lord is kind and merciful.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes.


R The Lord is kind and merciful.
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
R The Lord is kind and merciful.

 

kind, Merciful = רַחוּם = raḥûm  Blue Letter Bible  compassionate; full of compassion

 

merciful, gracious = חַנּוּן = ḥannûn  Blue Letter Bible  gracious; benignant, hearing the cry of the vexed debtor 

 

bless = בָּרַךְ = bāraḵ  Blue Letter Bible to kneel; be adored; to praise, salute; celebrate, adore

 

benefits = גְּמוּל = gmûl  Blue Letter Bible  dealing, recompense, benefit; treatment; that which he hath given; reward; work

 

pardons = סָלַח = sālaḥ  Blue Letter Bible  forgive, pardon; spare; lifting up 

 

iniquities = עָוֹן = ʿāôn  Blue Letter Bible  perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity; fault, mischief

 

heals = רָפָא = rāp̄ā'  Blue Letter Bible to heal, make healthful; mend, stich, sew together; make whole; repair; let down, relax; heal hurts of nation

 

redeems = גָּאַל = gā'al   Blue Letter Bible to redeem, act as kinsman-redeemer, avenge, revenge, ransom, do the part of a kinsman; deliver; purchase; buy back

 

destruction = שַׁחַת = šaḥaṯ  Blue Letter Bible  pit, destruction, grave; corruption; sepulcher

 

crowns = עָטַר = ʿāṭar  Blue Letter Bible  surround, encircle; crown; bestow 

 

kindness = חֶסֶד = ḥeseḏ Blue Letter Bible goodness, kindness, faithfulness; favour, good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-) kindness, merciful (kindness), mercy; kindness (especially as extended to the lowly, needy and miserable), mercy; lovely appearance; of God: kindness, lovingkindness in condescending to the needs of his creatures; redemption from enemies and troubles; in preservation of life from death; in quickening of spiritual life; in redemption from sin; in keeping the covenants; fidelity; abundant, plenteous in kindness (goodness); greatness of thy mercy; everlasting; plural mercies, deeds of kindness, the historic displays of lovingkindness; desire, ardor; zeal; benignity, benevolence, pity, mercy; grace

 

compassion = רַחַם = raḥam  Blue Letter Bible  womb, pity, mercy; tender love; grace, favor; tender affection

 

abounding= רַב = raḇ  Blue Letter Bible  much, many, great, vast; numerous, abundant, enough; exceedingly; plenteous

 

compassion = רָחַם = rāḥam  Blue Letter Bible   to love, love deeply, have mercy, be compassionate, have tender affection, have compassion; to fondle; behold with tenderest affection

 

fear = יָרֵא = yārē'  Blue Letter Bible  to fear, revere, be afraid; to stand in awe of, be awed; reverence, honour, respect; tremble for joy

 

Scriptures addressing similar principles are collected at  Wisdom Principles—God Loves and Calls Us to Him, In Spite of our Sin

 

 

What this tells us about God’s nature or our relationship to Him:

The Lord is kind and merciful.

The Lord is kind and merciful.
He pardons all your iniquities
He redeems your life from destruction

crowns you with kindness and compassion

The Lord is kind and merciful.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD

slow to anger

abounding in kindness.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us

nor does he requite us according to our crimes.

The Lord is kind and merciful.
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
The Lord is kind and merciful.

 

What this tells us to do:

Bless the LORD, O my soul

all my being, bless his holy name
Bless the LORD, O my soul

forget not all his benefits

 

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