Psalm 103:10 kjv
He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
Psalm 103:10 nkjv
He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
Psalm 103:10 niv
he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
Psalm 103:10 esv
He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.
Psalm 103:10 nlt
He does not punish us for all our sins;
he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
Psalm 103 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 34:6-7 | The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger... | God's compassionate character |
| Num 14:18 | The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving... | God's forgiveness despite human sin |
| Neh 9:17 | You are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger... | God's continuous mercy for His people |
| Ps 78:38-39 | But he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity... remembered they were but flesh. | God's pity on human weakness |
| Ps 86:15 | But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger... | Reiterates God's character of mercy |
| Ps 103:3 | He forgives all your iniquity; he heals all your diseases. | Immediate context: God's forgiveness |
| Ps 103:8 | The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. | Immediate context: God's attributes |
| Ps 103:12 | As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions. | God's complete removal of sin |
| Ps 130:3-4 | If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? | No one could endure strict justice |
| Isa 43:25 | I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake... | God's initiative in forgiveness |
| Isa 55:7 | let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him... | God's willingness to pardon |
| Jer 31:34 | I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. | Future New Covenant forgiveness |
| Lam 3:22 | The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end. | God's enduring compassion |
| Mic 7:18-19 | Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression...? | God's unique nature as a pardoning God |
| Rom 3:23-24 | for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace... | Justification by grace, not merit |
| Rom 5:20-21 | where sin increased, grace abounded all the more... | Grace's triumph over sin |
| Rom 6:23 | For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life... | God gives gift, not just wages of sin |
| Eph 2:4-5 | But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us... | Salvation by grace, not works |
| Tit 3:5 | he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy | Salvation by mercy, not righteous deeds |
| Heb 8:12 | For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more. | New Covenant promise of forgotten sins |
| 1 Jn 1:9 | If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins... | God's character ensures forgiveness for the penitent |
Psalm 103 verses
Psalm 103 10 Meaning
Psalm 103:10 declares God's profound mercy, stating that He does not deal with His people according to the strict demands of their sins or iniquities. Instead of exact retribution for every transgression and perversity, the Lord demonstrates extraordinary patience and compassion, withholding the full measure of deserved punishment. This verse highlights a central aspect of God's character: His grace triumphs over judgment.
Psalm 103 10 Context
Psalm 103 is a fervent hymn of praise from David, urging his soul to bless the Lord for all His benefits. The psalm transitions from a personal call to worship (vv. 1-2) to recounting specific blessings God bestows upon His people, including forgiveness (v. 3), healing (v. 3), redemption (v. 4), and satisfaction (v. 5). Verse 10 directly follows the affirmation of God's character as "merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love" (v. 8) and His decision not to "contend forever" or "keep his anger for ever" (v. 9). This establishes a broader theme of God's compassionate dealings with humanity, where His mercy takes precedence over His justice when it comes to human failings. Historically and culturally, this presented a profound contrast to the common perception of capricious ancient Near Eastern deities who demanded strict obedience and offered little mercy. Yahweh is portrayed as uniquely righteous yet supremely merciful.
Psalm 103 10 Word analysis
- "He": Refers directly to Yahweh, "the LORD" (Hebrew: יְהוָה, YHWH), who is the subject of praise throughout the psalm. It emphasizes God's sovereign and personal action.
- "does not deal with us": Indicates an active decision and deliberate restraint on God's part. It is not an oversight, but a choice to withhold deserved consequences.
- Original Hebrew: יַעֲשֶׂה (ya'aseh), from the verb עָשָׂה ('asah), meaning to do, to make, to act, to perform. Here, it signifies how God "acts toward" or "treats" His people. The negative form underscores a divine unwillingness to mete out strict justice.
- "according to our sins": Signifies God's standard is not purely based on our shortcomings.
- Original Hebrew: כַחֲטָאֵינוּ (kachaṭa'enu), which is `כְּ` (ke-, meaning 'as' or 'according to') + חֲטָאֵינוּ (chaṭa'enu, 'our sins'). חַטָּאת (chaṭṭaʾt) denotes missing the mark, straying, or an offense committed, often including unintentional acts or failures to meet a divine standard.
- "nor repay us": A parallelism that reinforces and intensifies the preceding phrase. It implies the full requital or reciprocal action.
- Original Hebrew: גָּמַל (gamal), meaning to deal out, to recompense, to bestow upon, whether good or bad. In this negative context, it signifies not rendering strict, proportional payment.
- "according to our iniquities": Specifies another dimension of human wrongdoing that God mercifully does not fully address with judgment.
- Original Hebrew: כַעֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ (ka'awonotenu), which is `כְּ` (ke-) + עֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ (ʿawonotenu, 'our iniquities'). עָוֹן (ʿāwōn) often signifies a deeper moral twistedness, perversity, guilt, or the cumulative weight of transgressions, implying a more deliberate or grievous departure from God's way than chet.
- Words-group analysis "deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities": This entire phrase uses a literary device of synonymous parallelism, common in Hebrew poetry. "Sins" (חַטָּאת, chaṭṭaʾt) and "iniquities" (עָוֹן, ʿāwōn) collectively encompass the full spectrum of human wrongdoing, from inadvertent missteps to deliberate moral corruption. The repetition of the negative affirmation ("does not deal," "nor repay") underscores the unwavering and generous nature of God's mercy. It powerfully conveys that God's interactions with humanity are founded on grace, not punitive strictness, in contrast to what justice would demand.
Psalm 103 10 Bonus section
- This verse provides a crucial foundation for understanding the New Testament concept of justification by grace through faith. It foreshadows the ultimate mercy offered in Christ, where believers are declared righteous not on the basis of their deeds, but on the finished work of redemption.
- The forbearance demonstrated by God here is not merely tolerance but an active and gracious choice rooted in His character. He holds back deserved punishment to invite repentance and demonstrate His enduring love.
- This divine quality sets God apart from all human rulers or even pagan deities, highlighting His unique benevolence. He is not vengeful or capricious, but eternally good and merciful, patiently waiting for His children.
Psalm 103 10 Commentary
Psalm 103:10 encapsulates the profound theological truth of divine grace. It asserts that God's dealings with humanity are not strictly conditional on human performance or deserved retribution. While mankind constantly falls short through "sins" (missing the mark) and "iniquities" (deeper perversities), God chooses not to render judgment or consequence proportionate to this moral failing. This is not because He is unaware of sin, but because His nature is supremely compassionate and patient. This truth underpins the hope of salvation, demonstrating that God is merciful beyond what justice would allow, making a way for forgiveness and reconciliation through grace. It serves as a reminder that God’s steadfast love prevents His wrath from being fully poured out on deserving sinners, paving the way for the atoning work of Christ.