Psalms 103:3

KJV

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

KJV (with Strong's)

Who forgiveth {H5545} all thine iniquities {H5771}; who healeth {H7495} all thy diseases {H8463};

Complete Jewish Bible

He forgives all your offenses, he heals all your diseases,

Berean Standard Bible

He who forgives all your iniquities and heals all your diseases,

American Standard Version

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 103:3 stands as a profound declaration of Yahweh's unparalleled benevolence, celebrating two of His most fundamental and comprehensive benefits bestowed upon humanity: the complete forgiveness of all sin and the holistic healing of all ailments. This verse, nestled within a psalm of Davidic praise, encapsulates God's character as a compassionate and restorative Father, actively engaged in addressing both the spiritual brokenness and physical suffering of His people, thereby laying a foundational truth for understanding divine grace and mercy.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 103:3 is an integral part of a larger hymn of praise and thanksgiving, opening with David's heartfelt exhortation to his soul in [Psalms 103:1-2](/psalms/103-1 "Psalms 103:1-2 - David's Call to Praise"). These initial verses serve as a direct command to remember and not forget the Lord's "benefits" (Hebrew: *g'mulim*, acts of kindness or recompense). Verses 3-5 then meticulously enumerate these benefits, with forgiveness and healing leading the list, establishing them as primary expressions of God's goodness. The psalm continues by expounding upon God's merciful nature, His slowness to anger, His steadfast love, and His eternal reign, culminating in a universal call for all creation to bless the Lord. The structure moves from personal experience to universal praise, with verse 3 acting as a cornerstone for the specific blessings that prompt such adoration.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Composed by David, a king deeply familiar with both personal sin and physical affliction, Psalms 103 reflects the covenant relationship between God and Israel. In ancient Israelite thought, there was often a strong, though not always direct or simplistic, correlation perceived between sin and suffering (e.g., [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses")). While the Old Testament does not present a rigid one-to-one causation for every instance of illness, it frequently portrays God as the ultimate source of healing and restoration, both physically and spiritually. The concept of "iniquity" (Hebrew: *avon*) carried significant weight, referring not merely to individual acts of sin but to the twistedness and guilt inherent in rebellion against God's law. Thus, God's forgiveness was understood as a profound act of covenant faithfulness, restoring the broken relationship, and His healing as a demonstration of His sovereign power over the physical realm, often seen as a sign of His favor and presence among His people.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the Psalms and broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights **God's comprehensive grace**, emphasizing that His forgiveness extends to "all thine iniquities" and His healing to "all thy diseases." This totality underscores the boundless nature of His mercy, a theme echoed in passages like [Isaiah 55:7](/isaiah/55-7 "Isaiah 55:7 - God's Abundant Pardon"). Secondly, it reinforces **God's character as a Redeemer and Restorer**, portraying Him not as a distant deity but as an intimately involved Father who actively intervenes to alleviate human suffering and guilt. This aligns with the biblical portrayal of God as [Yahweh Rapha, "the Lord who heals"](/exodus/15-26 "Exodus 15:26 - The Lord Who Heals"). Thirdly, the verse subtly introduces the theme of **holistic salvation**, recognizing that human brokenness encompasses both spiritual (sin) and physical (disease) dimensions, and that God's redemptive work addresses both. This foreshadows the New Testament's emphasis on Christ's ministry of both forgiving sins and healing the sick, as seen in [Matthew 9:6](/matthew/9-6 "Matthew 9:6 - The Son of Man Has Authority to Forgive Sins").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Forgiveth (Hebrew, _nāśā'_):** This verb literally means "to lift up," "to bear," or "to carry away." In the context of sin, it vividly portrays God actively removing the burden, guilt, and consequences of iniquity from the individual. It's not merely overlooking sin but an active, decisive act of removal, signifying a complete pardon and restoration of relationship. This is a powerful image of God taking upon Himself the weight of human transgression.
* **Iniquities (Hebrew, _‘āwōn'_):** More than just "sins," *‘āwōn* refers to twistedness, perversity, or moral distortion. It implies a deviation from the right path, a bending of God's law, and the resulting guilt or punishment. The plural "all thine iniquities" emphasizes the totality of one's accumulated moral failings, highlighting the comprehensive nature of God's pardon that leaves no transgression unaddressed.
* **Healeth (Hebrew, _rāphā'_):** This verb signifies "to heal," "to restore," or "to make whole." It encompasses physical recovery from illness, but can also extend to spiritual, emotional, or even national restoration. The active participle "healeth" indicates God as the continuous and active agent of healing, emphasizing His ongoing power and willingness to intervene in human suffering.
* **Diseases (Hebrew, _taḥalû’_):** This noun refers to sickness, illness, or affliction. It is a general term for various forms of physical ailments and infirmities. The plural "all thy diseases" mirrors the comprehensive nature of "all thine iniquities," asserting God's power over every kind of physical malady, whether minor or life-threatening.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Who forgiveth all thine iniquities;":** This clause establishes God as the sovereign agent of pardon. The phrase "all thine iniquities" underscores the boundless scope of divine forgiveness, implying that no sin, no matter how grievous or numerous, lies beyond the reach of God's grace. It speaks to a radical cleansing and removal of guilt, addressing the deepest spiritual need of humanity—reconciliation with a holy God. This is the primary and foundational benefit, as sin is the ultimate cause of separation and spiritual death.
* **"who healeth all thy diseases;":** Following the spiritual benefit, this clause presents God as the ultimate source of physical restoration. The parallel structure with "all thine iniquities" emphasizes the comprehensive nature of God's healing power, extending to every form of physical ailment. While not every individual experiences immediate physical healing in this life, this declaration affirms God's inherent power over sickness and His concern for the holistic well-being of His creation, pointing to His ultimate desire for wholeness and the future eradication of all suffering.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful **literary devices**. The most prominent is **Parallelism**, specifically **synonymous parallelism**, where the second clause ("who healeth all thy diseases") echoes and reinforces the meaning of the first ("Who forgiveth all thine iniquities"). This structure emphasizes the comprehensive nature of God's benefits, presenting forgiveness and healing as two distinct yet equally profound manifestations of His benevolent character. The use of the quantifier "all" (Hebrew: *kol*) in both phrases ("all thine iniquities," "all thy diseases") is a form of **Hyperbole** or **Totalization**, stressing the absolute and complete extent of God's work in both spiritual and physical realms. It communicates that God's grace is exhaustive, leaving no sin unforgiven and no disease beyond His power to address. Furthermore, the verse implicitly uses **Anthropomorphism** by attributing human-like actions (forgiving, healing) to God, making His divine attributes relatable and comprehensible to the human experience.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 103:3 is a cornerstone verse for understanding God's character as both a righteous judge and a merciful redeemer. It highlights the profound truth that God's primary disposition towards His people is one of grace and restoration. The pairing of forgiveness and healing is significant, reflecting a holistic view of human brokenness and divine intervention. Theologically, it affirms God's sovereignty over both the moral and physical orders, demonstrating His power to undo the effects of the Fall—sin and its resultant suffering. This verse also implicitly points to the covenant faithfulness of God, who, despite human rebellion, continues to extend His benefits and uphold His promises to His people, demonstrating His steadfast love (*hesed*) and compassion. It serves as a powerful reminder that true well-being begins with spiritual reconciliation, from which other forms of restoration often flow.

* [Isaiah 33:24](/isaiah/33-24 "Isaiah 33:24 - Forgiveness and Healing")
* [Matthew 9:2-6](/matthew/9-2 "Matthew 9:2-6 - Jesus Forgives and Heals the Paralytic")
* [James 5:15-16](/james/5-15 "James 5:15-16 - Prayer for the Sick and Forgiveness of Sins")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 103:3 offers profound comfort and a powerful call to worship. It invites us to pause and truly internalize the magnitude of God's grace: that He not only overlooks our transgressions but actively removes them, and that He is intimately concerned with our physical well-being, possessing the power to heal. This verse encourages a posture of humble confession and confident trust, knowing that our God is eager to forgive and able to heal. It challenges us to cultivate a heart of deep gratitude, echoing David's exhortation to "forget not all his benefits." In a world burdened by guilt and suffering, this verse stands as a beacon of hope, reminding us that our ultimate source of cleansing and wholeness is found in God alone. It compels us to bring our whole selves—our sins, our sicknesses, our anxieties—before Him, confident in His boundless capacity to restore.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding God as the one who "forgiveth all thine iniquities" impact your approach to confession and repentance?**
* **In what ways have you experienced God's healing power, whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually?**
* **How can remembering "all" of God's benefits, as this verse describes, deepen your daily gratitude and praise?**
* **What does the pairing of forgiveness and healing in this verse teach us about God's holistic concern for humanity?**

### FAQ
**Does "healeth all thy diseases" mean every believer will be physically healed of every illness in this life?**

Answer: While Psalms 103:3 declares God's comprehensive power to heal "all thy diseases," the biblical witness, including the New Testament, indicates that not every believer experiences immediate, miraculous physical healing in this earthly life. The phrase "all thy diseases" speaks to God's ultimate sovereignty over all forms of sickness and His inherent character as a healer, rather than a blanket promise of immediate physical restoration for every individual in every circumstance. We see instances of God's people experiencing illness and even death (e.g., [2 Corinthians 12:7-10](/2_corinthians/12-7 "2 Corinthians 12:7-10 - Paul's Thorn in the Flesh")). However, the verse powerfully affirms God's ability and willingness to intervene in sickness, whether through miraculous means, the natural healing processes He established, or the skill of medical professionals. Ultimately, this promise finds its complete fulfillment in the eschatological reality of the new heavens and new earth, where there will be no more sickness or pain ([Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Death or Pain")). In the present, it encourages prayer for healing and trust in God's perfect will and timing, knowing that He cares deeply for our holistic well-being.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 103:3 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the embodiment of God's comprehensive forgiveness and healing power. Jesus's earthly ministry was characterized by both forgiving sins and healing diseases, demonstrating His divine authority over both spiritual and physical brokenness, as seen in the account of the paralytic in [Matthew 9:1-8](/matthew/9-1 "Matthew 9:1-8 - Jesus Heals and Forgives"). The "all thine iniquities" of Psalms 103:3 is definitively addressed through Christ's atoning sacrifice on the cross, where He bore the full weight of humanity's sin, offering complete and eternal forgiveness to all who believe ([Colossians 1:13-14](/colossians/1-13 "Colossians 1:13-14 - Redemption Through Christ's Blood")). Similarly, the promise that God "healeth all thy diseases" points directly to Jesus, by whose "stripes we are healed" ([Isaiah 53:5](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5 - By His Wounds We Are Healed"), quoted in [1 Peter 2:24](/1_peter/2-24 "1 Peter 2:24 - Christ Bore Our Sins")). While physical healing is a present reality for some, the ultimate healing promised here encompasses not just physical restoration but also freedom from the curse of sin and death, culminating in the resurrection body and the eradication of all suffering in the new creation ([Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Death or Pain")). Thus, Jesus is the divine Forgiver and Healer, bringing the benefits of Psalms 103:3 to their glorious and eternal consummation.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Exodus 15:26

And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I [am] the LORD that healeth thee.

Isaiah 53:5

But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Psalms 30:2

O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.

Jeremiah 17:14

Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou [art] my praise.

Psalms 41:3

The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

Psalms 41:4

I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.

Psalms 147:3

He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.