Psalms 103 · Verse 17

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;
Psalms 103:17, King James Version

Psalms 103:17 in other translations

BSBBut from everlasting to everlasting the loving devotion of the LORD extends to those who fear Him, and His righteousness to their children’s children—
WEBBut the LORD’s loving kindness is from everlasting to everlasting with those who fear him, his righteousness to children’s children,
ASVBut the lovingkindness of Jehovah is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, And his righteousness unto children’s children;
YLTAnd the kindness of Jehovah Is from age even unto age on those fearing Him, And His righteousness to sons' sons,
DARBYBut the loving-kindness of Jehovah is from everlasting and to everlasting, upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children,
BBEBut the mercy of the Lord is eternal for his worshippers, and their children's children will see his righteousness;
WebsterBut the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness to children's children;

What does Psalms 103:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 103:17-18
17-18. For similar contrast compare Psa 90:2-6; 102:27, 28.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting - חסד chesed signifies more particularly the exuberant goodness of God. This is an attribute of his nature, and must be from everlasting to everlasting; and hence, his righteousness (צדקת tsidketh) - his merciful mode of justifying the ungodly, is extended from one generation to another. Unto children's children - It is still in force, and the doctrine of reconciliation through Christ shall continue to be preached till the conclusion of time.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 103:15-18

How short is man's life, and uncertain! The flower of the garden is commonly more choice, and will last the longer, for being sheltered by the garden-wall, and the gardener's care; but the flower of the field, to which life is here compared, is not only withering in itself, but exposed to the cold blasts, and liable to be cropt and trod on by the beasts of the field. Such is man. God considers this, and pities him…

Read the full comment on Psalms 103:15-18 →

Psalms 103:17 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.

וְחֶ֤סֶדve.Che.sedand [the] covenant loyalty ofH2617
יְהוָ֨ה\׀Yah.wehYahwehH3068
מֵעוֹלָ֣םme.'o.Lamfrom antiquityH5769
וְעַד\־ve.'ad-and untilH5704
ע֭וֹלָםo.lomperpetuityH5769
עַל\־'al-[is] towardsH5921
יְרֵאָ֑יוye.re.'Av[those] fearing himH3373
וְ֝צִדְקָת֗וֹve.tzid.ka.Toand righteousness hisH6666
לִבְנֵ֥יliv.Nei[is] to [the] children ofH1121
בָנִֽים\׃va.NimchildrenH1121

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

Cross references for Psalms 103:17

  • Psalms 100:5

    For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

  • Ephesians 2:4-7

    But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

  • 2 Timothy 1:9

    Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

  • Exodus 20:6

    And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

  • Romans 1:17

    For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

  • Isaiah 51:6

    Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.

  • Ephesians 1:4-8

    According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; …

  • Romans 8:28-30

    And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14

    But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

  • 2 Peter 1:1

    Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

  • Jeremiah 33:24-26

    Considerest thou not what this people have spoken, saying, The two families which the Lord hath chosen, he hath even cast them off? thus they have despised my people, that they should be no more a nation before them. Thus saith the Lord; If my covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth; Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David my servant, so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them.

  • Acts 13:32-34

    And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the mercy.
89:1,2; 100:5; 118:1; 136:1-26; Jer 31:3; Ro 8:28-30; Eph 1:4-8
Eph 2:4-7; 2Th 2:13,14; 2Ti 1:9
his righteousness.
22:31; Isa 46:13; 51:6; Da 9:24; Mic 6:5; Ro 1:17; 3:21-25; 2Pe 1:1
unto children's.
90:16; Ex 20:6; De 10:15; Isa 41:8; Jer 33:24-26; Ac 13:32-34
Ro 15:8

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

Context

  • Psalms 103:16

    For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

  • 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;

  • Psalms 103:18

    To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

Read all of Psalms 103

Psalms 103:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Mas la misericordia de Jehová desde el siglo y hasta el siglo sobre los que le temen, y su justicia sobre los hijos de los hijos;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Mais la bonté de l’ Éternel est de tout temps et à toujours sur ceux qui le craignent, et sa justice pour les fils de leurs fils,
German
Elberfelder 1871
Die Güte Jehovas aber ist von Ewigkeit zu Ewigkeit über die, welche ihn fürchten, und seine Gerechtigkeit auf Kindeskinder hin;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
illic passeres nidificabunt: herodii domus dux est eorum.