Psalm 108:4 kjv
For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.
Psalm 108:4 nkjv
For Your mercy is great above the heavens, And Your truth reaches to the clouds.
Psalm 108:4 niv
For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Psalm 108:4 esv
For your steadfast love is great above the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
Psalm 108:4 nlt
For your unfailing love is higher than the heavens.
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
Psalm 108 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 36:5 | Your mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. | Mercy and faithfulness extending to the heavens. |
| Psa 57:10 | For Your mercy is great above the heavens, And Your truth to the clouds. | Direct parallel, identical wording. |
| Psa 103:11 | For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy... | Magnitude of mercy compared to heaven's height. |
| Psa 103:17 | But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting... | Everlasting nature of God's mercy. |
| Exo 34:6-7 | The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth. | God's character revealed: merciful and truthful. |
| Psa 85:10 | Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed. | Mercy and truth as interconnected attributes. |
| Psa 89:2 | For I have said, "Mercy shall be built up forever; Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very heavens." | God's faithfulness established in the heavens. |
| Psa 89:14 | Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face. | Mercy and truth precede God's presence. |
| Psa 92:2 | To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, And Your faithfulness every night, | Faithfulness declared constantly. |
| Psa 119:64 | The earth, O LORD, is full of Your mercy; Teach me Your statutes. | Earth full of God's mercy. |
| Psa 119:90 | Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth, and it abides. | God's faithfulness endures forever, creation relies on it. |
| Num 23:19 | God is not a man, that He should lie... Has He said, and will He not do it? | God's unwavering truth and faithfulness. |
| Isa 40:8 | The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever. | God's word (truth) is eternal and reliable. |
| Lam 3:22-23 | Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. | God's mercy and faithfulness are new daily. |
| 2 Tim 2:13 | If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. | God's inherent faithfulness despite human failing. |
| Titus 1:2 | ...in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised... | God cannot lie; His truth is foundational. |
| Heb 6:18 | ...that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation... | God's unchangeable truth guarantees His promises. |
| Rev 19:11 | ...and He who sat on him was called Faithful and True. | Jesus described as "Faithful and True." |
| 1 John 1:9 | If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us... | God's faithfulness in forgiveness. |
| Rom 11:33 | Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! | God's unsearchable nature, echoing immeasurability. |
Psalm 108 verses
Psalm 108 4 Meaning
Psalm 108:4 declares the immeasurable and transcendent nature of God's covenant loyalty (mercy) and absolute reliability (truth). It conveys that these core attributes of the Almighty are not merely vast, but are so boundless that they extend beyond the highest heavens and reach the furthest clouds, encompassing all existence and perception. This signifies the unlimitable extent of His faithful love and unwavering truthfulness towards His creation and especially His people.
Psalm 108 4 Context
Psalm 108 is a composite psalm, formed by combining verses from Psalm 57 (specifically 57:7-11 for Psalm 108:1-5) and Psalm 60 (specifically 60:5-12 for Psalm 108:6-13). It is attributed to David, likely composed during a time of national distress, perhaps facing military challenges, yet underpinned by deep trust in God. The first part (verses 1-5), where Psalm 108:4 is located, is a vibrant declaration of God's glory, a solemn vow of praise, and a profound expression of unwavering faith in His character. This praise section sets the foundation for the subsequent prayer for divine intervention and victory. Verse 4 highlights God's attributes as the basis for the psalmist's confidence in asking for deliverance and success in battle.
Psalm 108 4 Word analysis
- For Your mercy (כִּי־גָדוֹל עַל־שָׁמַיִם חַסְדֶּךָ - ki-gadol ‘al-shamayim chasdecha):
- For (כִּי - ki): Introduces the reason for the psalmist's declaration of trust and praise, grounding his hope in God's nature.
- Your mercy (חַסְדֶּךָ - chasdecha from חֶסֶד - chesed): This foundational Hebrew term is rich, embodying loyal love, steadfast love, unfailing grace, and covenant faithfulness. It describes God's committed and active benevolence, especially within His relationship with His people. It is not mere pity, but a resolute, unwavering loyalty that expresses itself in saving and providing for His people according to His promises.
- is great (גָּדוֹל - gadol): Means immense, vast, mighty, significant, or powerful. When applied to God's mercy, it implies boundlessness and overwhelming abundance, surpassing human capacity to measure or comprehend.
- above the heavens (עַל־שָׁמַיִם - ‘al-shamayim): Literally "upon/over the heavens." In ancient cosmology, "the heavens" (shamayim) represented the highest visible reaches, often associated with the dwelling place of God or the realm of divine power. This phrase emphasizes God's transcendence, indicating that His chesed is not just high or great, but literally surpasses and exceeds anything created or physically measurable, pointing to an infinite quality.
- And Your truth (וַעַד־שְׁחָקִים אֲמִתֶּךָ - v’ad-shechakim amitˈekha from אֱמֶת - 'emet):
- And Your truth (אֲמִתֶּךָ - amitˈekha from אֱמֶת - 'emet): Refers to God's faithfulness, reliability, firmness, and unwavering adherence to His word and character. God is truth itself; His promises are always certain to be fulfilled. This attribute is integral to His being and directly related to His covenant.
- reaches to the clouds (עַד־שְׁחָקִים - ‘ad-shechakim): Literally "to the skies" or "to the clouds." Similar to "above the heavens," this poetic expression signifies the highest physical or observable extent. It underscores that God's truth is all-pervading and universally evident, encompassing all realms and touching everything, without limitation or diminishment. The truth of God is firm and reliable, like a solid, unchanging fixture that reaches to the uttermost limits of human experience and perception.
Word Group Analysis:
- "For Your mercy is great above the heavens": This phrase establishes the immense, transcendent, and unfathomable nature of God's loyal love. It uses poetic hyperbole to emphasize that His mercy exceeds all earthly and cosmic boundaries, ensuring it is always available, never depleting. This points to a boundless wellspring of divine favor.
- "And Your truth reaches to the clouds": This line provides a complementary attribute, reinforcing the boundless extent of God's character. The parallelism of "mercy" and "truth," and "heavens" and "clouds," paints a comprehensive picture. It highlights the pervasive and undeniable nature of God's faithfulness; it penetrates and undergirds all creation and human experience, acting as a reliable and unchanging foundation. Together, these phrases depict God as utterly trustworthy and loving without measure.
Psalm 108 4 Bonus section
The profound expressions "great above the heavens" and "reaches to the clouds" are not merely quantitative statements; they are qualitative assertions about God's nature. They affirm His uniqueness, setting Him apart from any limited, localized deities. For the ancient audience, such language painted God as the sovereign over all creation, His very character encompassing and surpassing all known boundaries. This understanding empowers believers to pray with boldness, knowing they appeal to a God whose goodness and reliability are absolute. Furthermore, this verse inherently links God's character to His actions. Because His mercy and truth are infinite, His redemptive acts and fulfilled promises are certain, guaranteeing hope and demonstrating His unfailing commitment to His people across generations.
Psalm 108 4 Commentary
Psalm 108:4 offers a profound theological statement, laying the groundwork for trust and worship. It presents two primary attributes of God – His chesed (mercy/loyal love) and His 'emet (truth/faithfulness) – as infinite and transcending all created boundaries. The imagery of "above the heavens" and "to the clouds" serves as powerful hyperbole, conveying that these divine qualities are not merely vast, but truly limitless and eternal. God's chesed implies an enduring, covenantal love that will not fail, always reaching out to bless and redeem. His 'emet assures that He is completely trustworthy, His words immutable, and His promises unfailing. This dual declaration fosters a deep sense of security and adoration. In the face of uncertainty or human weakness, the psalmist rests on God’s boundless character, knowing that His mercy is always accessible and His truth forever firm, providing a stable foundation for prayer and confidence in future victory.