Psalm 103:14 kjv
For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
Psalm 103:14 nkjv
For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.
Psalm 103:14 niv
for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.
Psalm 103:14 esv
For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.
Psalm 103:14 nlt
For he knows how weak we are;
he remembers we are only dust.
Psalm 103 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 2:7 | "the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." | Humanity's origin from dust. |
| Gen 3:19 | "for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." | The return to dust due to mortality. |
| Job 4:19 | "How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust..." | Metaphor for human fragility and mortal nature. |
| Job 10:9 | "Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again?" | Plea to God as Creator, acknowledging human form/dust. |
| Job 34:15 | "All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust." | Universal mortality of all flesh. |
| Ps 8:4 | "What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?" | God's mindful consideration of insignificant man. |
| Ps 78:38-39 | "But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity... For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away..." | God's compassion despite sin, remembering human frailty. |
| Ps 90:3 | "Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men." | God's authority over human mortality. |
| Ps 90:10-12 | "The days of our years are threescore years and ten... so teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." | Briefness of human life. |
| Ps 139:1-4 | "O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off." | God's intimate and exhaustive knowledge of individuals. |
| Ps 139:13-16 | "For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made..." | God as the ultimate fashioner of human beings. |
| Isa 29:16 | "Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it..." | Creator-creature distinction (Potter/Clay). |
| Isa 45:9 | "Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth..." | Humanity as clay, unable to contend with its Maker. |
| Isa 64:8 | "But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand." | Direct affirmation: God as Potter, we as clay. |
| Jer 1:5 | "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee..." | God's foreknowledge of individuals from conception. |
| Matt 6:8 | "for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." | God's omniscience, knowing human needs. |
| Lk 12:7 | "But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows." | God's detailed knowledge and care for every individual. |
| Rom 5:6-8 | "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly... while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." | Christ's death demonstrates God's love for the weak/sinful. |
| Rom 9:20-21 | "Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?" | God's sovereign right as the Potter over the clay. |
| 1 Cor 15:47 | "The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven." | Adamic man's earthly, mortal nature contrasted. |
| Jas 4:14 | "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanish." | Human life's fleeting and transient nature. |
| 1 Pet 1:24 | "For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:" | Humanity's short-lived existence compared to grass. |
Psalm 103 verses
Psalm 103 14 Meaning
Psalm 103:14 explains the profound basis of God's compassion and steadfast love towards humanity. It states that God knows our fundamental makeup and our fragile constitution, remembering that we are intricately formed yet ultimately finite and mortal, derived from the earth. This verse serves as the rationale for God's merciful dealings with His people, emphasizing that His divine understanding of human weakness drives His patience and forgiveness.
Psalm 103 14 Context
Psalm 103 is a fervent psalm of praise and thanksgiving to God for His manifold mercies. David calls upon his soul to bless the LORD for all His benefits. The preceding verses (103:8-13) speak extensively of God's character as "merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy," emphasizing His forgiveness of sins and His deep compassion, like a father pitying his children. Verse 14 provides the crucial explanation for this divine posture. God is not distant or unaware of humanity's limitations; rather, His awareness of our created "frame" and our humble origin in "dust" directly informs and fuels His profound, patient mercy. This verse connects God's immense power and transcendence with His intimate understanding and gentle dealings with frail humanity, bridging the gap between divine majesty and human weakness.
Psalm 103 14 Word analysis
For (כִּ֣י, ki): A connective particle indicating cause or reason. It explains why God deals mercifully with His people, building on the preceding descriptions of His compassion.
He knoweth (יָדַ֣ע, yada'): This Hebrew verb denotes an intimate, experiential, and often relational knowing, not merely intellectual awareness. It implies profound understanding, recognition, and often care. God's knowledge of us is not abstract; it is personal and complete.
Our frame (יֵצֶרְנוּ, yetsernu): The word יֵצֶר (yetser) means "form," "molding," "fashioning," or "what is formed." It is derived from the verb יָצַר (yatsar), which means "to form" or "to fashion," typically used of a potter shaping clay (e.g., Isa 64:8). This term emphasizes humanity as a product of divine craftsmanship, with all the inherent qualities and limitations of its material and design.
He remembereth (זָ֫כוּר, zakhar): More than a simple recall of information, זָכַר (zakhar) often implies an active remembering that leads to action, care, or intervention. When God "remembers," it suggests He is moved to act according to that memory, in this case, to show compassion. It underscores God's persistent mindfulness and active care for His creation.
That (כִּי, ki): Another causal particle, similar to the first, further detailing the content of God's remembrance.
We are (הוּא, hu'/אַֽנוּ, anu): The construction implies a strong affirmation of being, stating our inherent nature.
Dust (עָפָ֑ר, aphar): This term (עָפָר, aphar) signifies loose earth, powder, or dirt. It powerfully symbolizes humanity's humble origin (Gen 2:7), frailty, mortality (Gen 3:19), and transitory nature. It serves as a stark reminder of human insignificance and dependence compared to the Almighty Creator.
"For he knoweth our frame": This phrase highlights God's perfect and intimate understanding of our essential being. He is not unaware of the inherent limitations, weaknesses, and tendencies of the human constitution that He Himself designed and formed. It underscores His comprehensive insight into our physical and spiritual makeup, including our fallen nature.
"He remembereth that we are dust": This clause deepens the reason for God's compassion, rooting it in our shared mortal condition. "Dust" represents ultimate vulnerability, decay, and the brevity of life. God's act of "remembering" this signifies His ongoing awareness and consideration of our mortality, prompting His merciful response. It's not a forgetful recollection but a continual recognition that influences His benevolent disposition.
Psalm 103 14 Bonus section
The phrase "our frame" (yetsernu) is especially potent as it connects directly to the imagery of a potter shaping clay. Just as a potter knows the properties and limitations of the clay in his hands, so God, our divine Potter, perfectly understands the nuances of human nature, including its weaknesses. This divine artisan's knowledge underpins His mercy. Furthermore, this verse provides a polemic against any philosophy or pagan belief system that views deity as indifferent to human suffering or weaknesses, or one that demands perfect, unattainable standards without grace. It champions a God who is both omnipotent and intimately empathetic, contrasting sharply with capricious or distant gods of other belief systems who might view human weakness with contempt rather than compassion.
Psalm 103 14 Commentary
Psalm 103:14 presents a profound theological truth about the character of God and His relationship with humanity. God's mercy and patient dealing are not random acts but are directly rooted in His intimate knowledge of His creation. He knows our "frame," our very design and constitution, recognizing that we are not self-sufficient but exquisitely fashioned beings, albeit with inherent limitations and a predisposition to weakness stemming from the fall. Moreover, He actively "remembers" that we are "dust," fragile, transient, and mortal creatures whose very existence depends on Him. This divine remembrance is not passive; it compels Him to act with tender compassion, to be slow to anger, and abounding in love, as articulated in the preceding verses. It reassures believers that God's justice is always tempered by His deep understanding of human frailty, allowing for grace, forgiveness, and renewal rather than constant judgment based solely on our shortcomings. This verse beautifully bridges God's infinite transcendence with His empathetic immanence.Example: When a parent deals patiently with a struggling child, knowing the child's developmental limitations or past trauma, it mirrors God's patience rooted in His understanding of our human "frame" and "dust" nature.