Psalms 103:11
in Psalms 103For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving devotion for those who fear Him.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is his lovingkindness toward them that fear him.
KJV
For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
⋯
This verse in Psalms 103
Commentary
2 notes on this verseFor as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. Boundless in extent towards his chosen is the mercy of the Lord; it is no more to be measured than the height of heaven or the heaven of heavens. "Like the height of the heavens" is the original language, which implies other points of comparison besides extent, and suggests sublimity, grandeur, and glory.
This site's exposition
nor harbor His anger forever
on Psalms 103:9-12
God's anger has an end, and He has held back the repayment the sins deserve. Two measures are given, height for the loving devotion and distance for the sin. The heavens stand above the earth, and east never reaches west.
The words behind it
9 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּ֤י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| כִגְבֹ֣הַּ | khigvoah | as is high | H1361 → | 34 times |
| שָׁ֭מַיִם | shamayim | heaven | H8064 → | 421 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | above | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| הָאָ֑רֶץ | haaretz | the earth | H776 → | 2504 times |
| גָּבַ֥ר | gavar | it is strong | H1396 → | 25 times |
| חַ֝סְדּ֗וֹ | chasdo | covenant loyalty his | H2617 → | 247 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | towards | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| יְרֵאָֽיו׃ | yereav | [those] fearing him | H3373 → | 64 times |
כִּ֤יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
כִגְבֹ֣הַּas is high
khigvoahH1361 →34 times
שָׁ֭מַיִםheaven
shamayimH8064 →421 times
עַל־above
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
הָאָ֑רֶץthe earth
haaretzH776 →2504 times
גָּבַ֥רit is strong
gavarH1396 →25 times
חַ֝סְדּ֗וֹcovenant loyalty his
chasdoH2617 →247 times
עַל־towards
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
יְרֵאָֽיו׃[those] fearing him
yereavH3373 →64 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Luke 1:50His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
it leads to
- Exodus 20:6
but showing loving devotion to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 103:17–18
But from everlasting to everlasting the loving devotion of the LORD extends to those who fear Him, and His righteousness to their children’s children—
- Genesis 17:7
I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
- Psalms 118:4
Let those who fear the LORD say, “His loving devotion endures forever.”
- Exodus 34:6–7
Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness,
- Exodus 20:6
Through
Psalms 36:5Your loving devotion, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the clouds.
it leads to
- Psalms 100:5
For the LORD is good, and His loving devotion endures forever; His faithfulness continues to all generations.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 100:5
Through
Psalms 57:10For Your loving devotion reaches to the heavens, and Your faithfulness to the clouds.
it leads to
- Psalms 108:4
For Your loving devotion extends beyond the heavens, and Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 36:5
Your loving devotion, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the clouds.
- Psalms 108:4
Where this verse is studied
By subject
Mercy35 verses
On this page
Studies4
On this verse
About Psalms

This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Psalms; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 4 and Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David.
