Psalms 103 · Verse 13

Psalms 103:13

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.
Psalms 103:13, King James Version

Psalms 103:13 in other translations

BSBAs a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
WEBLike a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
ASVLike as a father pitieth his children, So Jehovah pitieth them that fear him.
YLTAs a father hath mercy on sons, Jehovah hath mercy on those fearing Him.
DARBYAs a father pitieth his children, so Jehovah pitieth them that fear him.
BBEAs a father has pity on his children, so the Lord has pity on his worshippers.
WebsterLike as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

What does Psalms 103:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
13. pitieth--literally, "has compassion on."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 Like as a father pitieth his children - This is a very emphatic verse, and may be thus translated: "As the tender compassions of a father towards his children; so the tender compassicns of Jehovah towards them that fear him." Nothing can place the tenderness and concern of God for his creatures in a stronger light than this. What yearnings of bowels does a father feel toward the disobedient child, who, sensible of his ingratitude and disobedience, falls at his parent's feet, covered with confusion and melted into tears, with, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am not worthy to be called thy son!" The same in kind, but infinitely more exquisite, does God feel when the penitent falls at his feet, and implores his mercy through Christ crucified.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 103:6-14

Truly God is good to all: he is in a special manner good to Israel. He has revealed himself and his grace to them. By his ways we may understand his precepts, the ways he requires us to walk in; and his promises and purposes. He always has been full of compassion. How unlike are those to God, who take every occasion to chide, and never know when to cease! What would become of us, if God should deal so with us? The…

Read the full comment on Psalms 103:6-14 →

Psalms 103:13 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

כְּרַחֵ֣םke.ra.Chemas has compassionH7355
אָ֭ב'ava fatherH1
עַל\־'al-onH5921
בָּנִ֑יםba.NimchildrenH1121
רִחַ֥םri.Chamhe has compassionH7355
יְ֝הוָ֗הYah.wehYahwehH3068
עַל\־'al-onH5921
יְרֵאָֽיו\׃ye.re.'Av[those] fearing himH3373

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 103:13

  • Luke 11:11-12

    If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?

  • Hebrews 12:5-11

    And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. …

  • Luke 15:21-22

    And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

  • Psalms 103:17

    But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;

  • Jeremiah 31:20

    Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord.

  • Proverbs 3:12

    For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

  • Jeremiah 31:9

    They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.

  • Malachi 4:2

    But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

  • Malachi 3:16-17

    Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

  • Psalms 147:11

    The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

  • Matthew 6:32

    (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

  • Psalms 103:11

    For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Like.
Nu 11:12; De 3:5; Pr 3:12; Isa 63:15,16; Jer 31:9,20; Mt 6:9,32
Lu 11:11,12; 15:21,22; Joh 20:17; Heb 12:5-11
them.
11,17; 147:11; Mal 3:16,17; 4:2; Ac 13:26

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 103:12

    As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

  • Psalms 103:13

    Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.

  • Psalms 103:14

    For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

Read all of Psalms 103

Psalms 103:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Como el padre se compadece de los hijos, se compadece Jehová de los que le temen.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Comme un père a compassion de ses fils, l’ Éternel a compassion de ceux qui le craignent.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Wie ein Vater sich über die Kinder erbarmt, so erbarmt sich Jehova über die, welche ihn fürchten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Rigans montes de superioribus suis; de fructu operum tuorum satiabitur terra: