Psalm 103:18 kjv
To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
Psalm 103:18 nkjv
To such as keep His covenant, And to those who remember His commandments to do them.
Psalm 103:18 niv
with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.
Psalm 103:18 esv
to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.
Psalm 103:18 nlt
of those who are faithful to his covenant,
of those who obey his commandments!
Psalm 103 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 7:9 | Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love... for a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. | God keeps covenant with those who keep His. |
| Exod 19:5 | Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. | Obedience as a condition for covenant blessings. |
| Psa 25:10 | All the ways of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. | Reiterates God's character toward covenant keepers. |
| Psa 103:17 | But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children. | Preceding verse, showing the scope of God's love. |
| Psa 112:1 | Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! | Blessing for delighting in and keeping commands. |
| Psa 119:1 | Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD! | Blessing for walking in God's law. |
| Psa 119:6 | Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments. | Active focus on commandments prevents shame. |
| Psa 119:34 | Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. | Seeking understanding for wholehearted observance. |
| Psa 119:56 | This I have had, that I kept your precepts. | Blessing derived from keeping precepts. |
| Psa 119:93 | I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life. | Remembering precepts gives life. |
| Prov 3:1 | My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments. | Exhortation to remember and keep teachings. |
| Isa 56:4 | For thus says the LORD: "To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant..." | Specific group commended for holding fast covenant. |
| Jer 31:33 | For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them... | New Covenant heart obedience. |
| Matt 7:21 | "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." | Emphasis on doing, not just knowing. |
| Matt 7:24 | "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock." | Doing Jesus' words brings stability. |
| Luke 11:28 | He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it." | Blessing linked to hearing and obeying. |
| John 14:15 | "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." | Love for Christ expressed through keeping commands. |
| John 14:21 | "Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me..." | Keeping commandments reveals true love for Christ. |
| Rom 2:13 | For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. | Righteousness is for doers of the law. |
| Jas 1:22 | But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. | Warning against mere hearing without doing. |
| 1 John 2:3 | And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. | Keeping commands is a sign of knowing God. |
| Rev 22:14 | "Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates." | Blessedness in action (obeying God) for eternal life. |
Psalm 103 verses
Psalm 103 18 Meaning
Psalm 103:18 defines the specific recipients of God's unfailing love, enduring righteousness, and covenant faithfulness, as stated in the preceding verse. It declares that God's blessings and mercy are bestowed upon those who actively keep His covenant and diligently remember to practice His precepts. This highlights that while God's character is eternal and gracious, its blessings are channeled through a relationship marked by responsive obedience and faithfulness to His revealed will.
Psalm 103 18 Context
Psalm 103 is a vibrant hymn of praise and thanksgiving, attributed to David. It opens with a call to bless the LORD (vv. 1-5), moves into an expansive declaration of God's character, detailing His mercy, compassion, slowness to anger, and abounding steadfast love (vv. 6-12). It then contrasts humanity's frailty and ephemerality with God's eternal mercy (vv. 13-16). Verse 17 states God's "steadfast love" and "righteousness" are "from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him." Psalm 103:18 serves as a specific elucidation of who "those who fear him" are – precisely defining them by their active engagement with God's covenant and precepts. The historical context reflects Israel's relationship with God under the Mosaic Covenant, where blessings and cursings were contingent on obedience and disobedience to the revealed Law. The psalm moves from personal adoration to universal declaration of God's rule and majesty, culminating in a cosmic call to bless the Lord.
Psalm 103 18 Word analysis
- to those: Identifies the specific recipients. This indicates a targeted nature of the blessing; while God's love is universal, its covenantal application is particular to those who respond in faith and obedience.
- who keep: (Hebrew: shamar, שָׁמַר) - To watch, guard, observe, protect, preserve. This is not passive acceptance but active diligence. It implies vigilance, heedfulness, and faithful adherence. It suggests not only upholding but also protecting the covenant from anything that would diminish or violate it. This guarding reflects deep commitment.
- His covenant: (Hebrew: berit, בְּרִית) - A solemn agreement, bond, or alliance. In biblical usage, often initiated by God with humanity (e.g., Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic covenants). Here, it primarily refers to the Mosaic Covenant, encompassing the entirety of God's revealed law and promises to Israel. "Keeping His covenant" signifies fidelity to the divine-human relationship and its foundational terms, which transcends mere legalism; it's about loyalty to the covenant-making God. This concept implicitly challenges polytheistic worship where commitments to deities were fluid or transactional based on perceived benefits.
- and remember: (Hebrew: zakhar, זָכַר) - To recall, bring to mind, be mindful of, think upon. Biblical "remembering" is more than a mental act; it's an active recollection that leads to corresponding action. It signifies an intentional and deliberate engagement with God's commands, not allowing them to fade into obscurity or neglect. To "remember to do" means that memory fuels action. It can also imply remembering God's past acts of deliverance and His nature, which then motivates obedience.
- to do: (Hebrew: asah, עָשָׂה) - To do, make, perform, accomplish. This emphasizes the practical, active execution of the precepts. It underlines that faith in God's covenant and remembering His will are incomplete without actual, lived obedience. This is a recurring biblical theme: knowing or hearing God's word is insufficient; it must be followed by doing.
- His precepts: (Hebrew: piqqûdîm, פִּקּוּדִים) - Mandates, decrees, statutes, or specific instructions given by God. Often used in Psalms (especially Psa 119) synonymously with other terms for God's Law (e.g., commands, statutes, judgments, testimonies). They are the practical outworkings and detailed expressions of the broader covenant. They are the means by which the covenant is lived out daily.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "who keep His covenant and remember to do His precepts": This phrase beautifully pairs two essential aspects of responsive faith: "keeping" (active guarding, enduring loyalty to the relationship and its terms) and "remembering to do" (intentional recall leading to active obedience of the specific instructions). "Covenant" represents the broad relationship and divine-human agreement, while "precepts" are the concrete, specific directives that flow from that covenant. The conjunction "and" signifies both aspects are necessary. This group of words defines practical, living faith and shows that God's eternal love is met with a living human response, manifesting in ongoing devotion and ethical action.
Psalm 103 18 Bonus section
The active verbs "keep" (shamar) and "do" (asah), paired with "remember" (zakhar), underscore a deeply pragmatic and active piety. This isn't just about believing or feeling; it's about daily engagement with God's word and living consistently with His expectations. The inclusion of "remember" before "to do" highlights the spiritual discipline of intentional recollection – that obedience often stems from deliberately bringing God's truths to mind and letting them inform one's actions. The verse stands in poetic parallelism with "those who fear Him" from the preceding verse, defining this 'fear' not as dread but as reverence demonstrated through active fidelity to God's covenant and commands. This emphasizes the Old Testament understanding that genuine 'fear of the Lord' expresses itself in practical obedience.
Psalm 103 18 Commentary
Psalm 103:18 acts as a crucial qualification, explaining how individuals enter into the flow of God's "everlasting steadfast love" and "righteousness" mentioned in verse 17. It affirms that the divine promises are not indiscriminately given but are conditioned upon a responsive heart and life. "Keeping His covenant" signifies a foundational faithfulness to the relationship God has initiated, encompassing loyal devotion to Him as the sovereign Lord. This involves an internal commitment that is externally demonstrated. "Remembering to do His precepts" emphasizes the active, practical outworking of this covenant faithfulness in daily life. It implies more than cognitive recall; it is a remembrance that directly compels obedience. Neglecting or forgetting God's commands often leads to disobedience. Therefore, the verse presents a vibrant picture of genuine faith—it is not merely assent or profession, but a dynamic, active commitment that diligently observes, cherishes, and lives out God's revealed will. God's grace is foundational, but it calls for a responsible and obedient response from His people, demonstrating the reciprocal nature of the covenant relationship. This truth resonates throughout Scripture, consistently linking blessing and fellowship with active obedience.