תהלים 103:11

Hebrew Modern Translation

כי כגבה שמים על הארץ גבר חסדו על יראיו׃

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Aleppo Codex
כגבה שמים על-הארץ גבר חסדו על-יראיו

Biblia Hebrica Stuttgartensia (1967/77)
כִּ֤י כִגְבֹ֣הַּ שָׁ֭מַיִם עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ גָּבַ֥ר חַ֝סְדֹּ֗ו עַל־יְרֵאָֽיו ׃

Westminster Leningrad Codex
כִּי כִגְבֹהַּ מַיִם עַל־הָאָרֶץ גָּבַר חַסְדּוֹ עַל־יְרֵאָֽיו ׃

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

as the: etc. Heb. according to the height of heaven, Psalms 36:5, Psalms 57:10, Psalms 89:2, Job 22:12, Proverbs 25:3, Isaiah 55:9, Ephesians 2:4-7, Ephesians 3:18, Ephesians 3:19

his mercy: Psalms 103:17, Luke 1:50

Reciprocal: Exodus 1:20 - God 2 Kings 4:1 - thy servant did fear Job 11:8 - It is as high as heaven Psalms 103:13 - them Psalms 108:4 - thy mercy Psalms 119:38 - who is devoted Lamentations 3:32 - General Matthew 7:11 - how Revelation 11:18 - and them

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For as the heaven is high above the earth,.... Which is the greatest distance known, or can be conceived of; the space between the heaven and the earth is seemingly almost infinite; and nothing can more illustrate the mercy of God, which reaches to the heavens, and is in heaven; though this is but a faint representation of the largeness and abundance of it, and which indeed is boundless and infinite:

so great is his mercy towards them that fear him, or, his mercy hath prevailed over them that fear him a; as the waters of the flood prevailed upon the earth, and reached and overflowed the highest hills, Genesis 7:18, so abundant and superabundant is the grace of God over them that "fear" him. Which character is given, not as being the cause of their obtaining mercy, but as descriptive of the persons that partake of it; on whom it has such an effect, as to cause them to fear the Lord, and his goodness; and is mentioned to prevent obstinate and presumptuous sinners expecting it, or trusting to it.

a גבר-על "praevalet super", Musculus; so Cocceius, Michaelis.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For as the heaven is high above the earth - See the notes at Psalms 57:10. Compare the notes at Isaiah 55:9. The literal translation of the phrase here would be, “For like the height of the heavens above the earth.” The heavens - the starry heavens - are the highest objects of which we have any knowledge; and hence, the comparison is used to denote the great mercy of God - meaning that it is as great as can be conceived; that there is nothing beyond it; that we cannot imagine that it could be greater - as we can imagine nothing higher than the heavens.

So great is his mercy toward them that fear him - To those who reverence and serve him. That is, His mercy is thus great in forgiving their offences; in imparting grace; in giving them support and consolation.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Psalms 103:11. For as the heaven is high above the earth — Great and provoking as our crimes may have been, yet his mercies have, in their magnitude and number, surpassed these, as far as the heavens are elevated beyond the earth.