Psalm 103:3 BSB

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 103:3

(3) Forgiveth.—The first “benefit” to one who aims at the higher life is the knowledge of the Divine readiness to forgive and renew, and this, as Augustine remarks, implies a quick moral sense: “God’s benefits will not be before our eyes unless our sins are also before our eyes.”Diseases.—Here chiefly in a moral sense, as the parallelism “iniquity” shows, even if the next verse, taken literally, implies an allusion to physical suffering as well. read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Psalms 103:1-22

Psalms 103:1-6 We have here a succession of scenes: (1) We are introduced to the law court, and we have a graphic picture of the condemned sinner brought before the bar of God and forced to plead guilty. The great act of Justification 'Who forgiveth all thine iniquities'. (2) We are taken to the hospital ward 'Who healeth all thy diseases'. Sin as a disease dealt with by the Great Physician. (3) The slave market 'Who redeemeth thy life from destruction'. (4) The throne room 'Who crowneth thee... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Psalms 103:1-22

Psalms 103:1-22THERE are no clouds in the horizon, nor notes of sadness in the music, of this psalm. No purer outburst of thankfulness enriches the Church. It is well that, amid the many psalms which give voice to mingled pain and trust, there should be one of unalloyed gladness, as untouched by sorrow as if sung by spirits in heaven. Because it is thus purely an outburst of thankful joy, it is the more fit to be pondered in times of sorrow.The psalmist’s praise flows in one unbroken stream.... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Psalms 103:1-22

Psalms 103:0 The Praise of Israel 1. The benefits of full salvation (Psalms 103:1-7 ) 2. Merciful and gracious (Psalms 103:8-18 ) 3. His throne and His kingdom (Psalms 103:19-22 ) This is the well-beloved Psalm, because God’s people love it for its precious and beautiful expressions, telling out the full salvation of our Saviour Lord and the gracious compassion which He manifests towards His own. But we must not overlook the prophetic aspect, which but few believers have recognized. It... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Psalms 103:3

103:3 Who {b} forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;(b) That is, the beginning and chiefest of all benefits, remission of sin. read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Psalms 103:1-22

The first psalm in this lesson suggests Psalms 74:0 on which we did not dwell, but both of which depict the desolations of Judah by the Babylonians (compare Jeremiah 52:12-14 ). On this supposition their date would be that of the captivity, and their author a later Asaph than the Asaph mentioned in David’s time. Psalms 80:0 Has captivity features also. Some would say it relates to the ten tribes, as the preceding psalm does to Judah. The next several psalms are much alike in this respect and... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Psalms 103:3-5

Observe what motives the sacred writer adopts to awaken the soul to the praise and love of God: as if he had said, My soul, hast thou sinned? God in Christ pardons thy sins. Art thou diseased in body and soul, by reason of sin? God in Christ healeth all thy diseases. Art thou ruined and undone in all the circumstances of nature, by reason of the fall? It is God, in Christ, that redeemeth thy life from destruction, and crowneth thee with all that is needful for thee in grace. Art thou feeling... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Psalms 103:3

Water. The Fathers are not agreed about the nature or situation of these waters. Some take them to be angels. (St. Jerome; Genesis i. 7.) --- Others suppose that the waters in the clouds, (Calmet) or the crystalline substance in the region of the stars are designated. (Worthington) --- These waters are represented as the roof of God's palace. (Eusebius) --- Winds. With surprising velocity, his providence being every where. (Theodoret) --- The psalmist accommodates himself to our capacity, to... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 103:1-5

1-5 By the pardon of sin, that is taken away which kept good things from us, and we are restored to the favor of God, who bestows good things on us. Think of the provocation; it was sin, and yet pardoned: how many the provocations, yet all pardoned! God is still forgiving, as we are still sinning and repenting. The body finds the melancholy consequences of Adam's offence, it is subject to many infirmities, and the soul also. Christ alone forgives all our sins; it is he alone who heals all our... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Psalms 103:1-22

Hymn to the Mercy of God. A psalm of David, voicing his thankful acknowledgment of God's gifts and blessings upon himself, the conclusion calling upon all creatures to join in his song of praise. v. 1. Bless the Lord, O my soul, a most emphatic invitation and admonition, a joyful self-encouragement; and all that is within me bless His holy name, all the organs of the body being called upon to give thanks for the rich blessings of the Lord, to make known the revelation of His essence and all... read more