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Psalms 103:8

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The LORD [is] merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

The LORD {H3068} is merciful {H7349} and gracious {H2587}, slow {H750} to anger {H639}, and plenteous {H7227} in mercy {H2617}.

ADONAI is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in grace.

The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion.

Jehovah is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness.

Commentary

Psalms 103:8 (KJV): The LORD [is] merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

Context

Psalm 103 is a psalm of David, a heartfelt hymn of praise and thanksgiving to God. It begins with a call to his soul to bless the LORD and remember all His benefits. Before listing specific acts of God's goodness like forgiveness of sins and healing, David first grounds his praise in the fundamental character of God Himself. Verse 8, therefore, serves as a foundational declaration of God's essential nature, which underpins all His actions towards humanity.

Key Themes

  • God's Character: This verse provides a concise and powerful summary of God's core attributes as they relate to His interaction with people. It paints a picture of a loving, patient, and abundant God.
  • Merciful and Gracious: The pairing of "merciful" and "gracious" highlights God's compassionate nature. Mercy speaks to His pity and kindness towards the afflicted and those in need, while grace emphasizes His unearned favor and benevolence, particularly towards the undeserving. This description echoes foundational passages about God's nature, such as Exodus 34:6.
  • Slow to Anger: This phrase emphasizes God's patience and forbearance. Despite human sin and rebellion, God does not quickly unleash His wrath. He provides ample opportunity for repentance. This aspect of God's character is a source of hope, as highlighted in verses like Nehemiah 9:17.
  • Plenteous in Mercy: The word "plenteous" (or "abundant") underscores the vastness and richness of God's mercy. It is not limited or scarce but is available in great supply for those who turn to Him. This abundance is a recurring theme, reflecting God's overflowing love and forgiveness.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew words used in this verse are significant:

  • "Merciful" comes from rachum (רַחוּם), related to the word for 'womb', suggesting a deep, motherly compassion.
  • "Gracious" is chanun (חַנּוּן), implying favor freely given, unearned kindness.
  • "Slow to anger" is 'erekh 'appayim (אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם), literally "long of nostrils/face," an idiom signifying great patience and slow indignation.
  • "Plenteous in mercy" uses rav chesed (רַב־חֶסֶד), where rav means 'great' or 'abundant', and chesed is a rich term often translated as 'mercy', 'lovingkindness', or 'steadfast love', denoting loyal, covenantal love and faithfulness.
These terms together paint a rich picture of God's compassionate and patient nature.

Reflection

Psalms 103:8 is a comforting reminder of who God is. In times of failure, doubt, or hardship, remembering that the LORD is merciful and gracious provides solace. His slowness to anger encourages us to seek Him rather than fear immediate judgment. His plenteous mercy assures us that forgiveness and restoration are always possible for those who humble themselves before Him. This verse calls us to respond to such a God with gratitude, trust, and worship, just as David did.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 86:15 (35 votes)

    But thou, O Lord, [art] a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

  • Joel 2:13 (29 votes)

    And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he [is] gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

  • Exodus 34:6 (26 votes)

    And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

  • Exodus 34:7 (26 votes)

    Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear [the guilty]; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth [generation].

  • Nahum 1:3 (24 votes)

    The LORD [is] slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit [the wicked]: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds [are] the dust of his feet.

  • Psalms 145:8 (23 votes)

    The LORD [is] gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

  • Psalms 86:5 (21 votes)

    For thou, Lord, [art] good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.