Psalms 103:1–5

In its context

Its words in the original

• דָוִדdavid· David

  David, youngest son of Jesse, of Bethlehem; the second king of Israel. The name means "beloved."

• בָּרֲכִיbarachi· bless, kneel

  Bless. When God blesses, he gives good: life, children, fruit, prosperity. When a person "blesses God", he gives him nothing: he praises and thanks him. Between people, it is wishing the other the good that comes from God; also greet. The root also means kneel.

• נַפְשִׁnafshi· soul, living being, life

  A breathing being, a living being. It is translated "living being" (people and animals), "life" (when living or dying is at stake), "person" (in counts and laws), "soul" (the person at the innermost: desires, joy, anguish) or "myself". In the Old Testament it names the whole living being, not only a part of it.

• יְהוָהyehva· YHWH

  The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

• קְרָבַkerava· inside, midst

  The inside, what is within; "in the midst of", "within".

• שֵׁםshem· name

  Name. In the Bible a name says who someone is; so it also means fame, renown or reputation.

• קָדְשׁkadsh· holiness, holy place

  Holiness: what is set apart for God. Also a holy place or a holy thing; "the holy of holies" is the most holy place.

• תִּשְׁכְּחִיtishkchi· forget

  Forget.

• גְּמוּלָיgemulay· recompense, deed

  What is due, repayment: what someone receives for what he has done, whether good or bad; also the deed itself.

• סֹּלֵחַsoleach· forgive

  Forgive, pardon. In the Bible this verb has only God as its subject.

• עֲוֺנֵavone· iniquity

  Iniquity: wickedness, a serious wrong. The same word covers the wrong, the guilt it leaves and the punishment it brings.

• רֹפֵאrofe· heal

  Heal, cure; restore.

• תַּחֲלֻאָיְtachaluay· diseases

  Diseases, ailments that leave one bedridden.

• גּוֹאֵלgoel· redeem; redeemer

  Redeem: recover, by paying whatever is needed, a relative who sold himself or the land he lost; take responsibility for him. Of God, deliver his people. The one who does it is the "redeemer" (kinsman-redeemer).

• שַּׁחַתshachat· pit, destruction

  A pit, a hole, sometimes one dug as a trap; figuratively, the grave or destruction.

• חַיָּיְchayay· living, animal, life

  Living, alive; also fresh (of water). As a noun, "living thing" or "animal" (above all wild animals); in the plural, "life".

• מְעַטְּרֵmeatre· surround, crown

  Surround, encircle (to attack or to protect); also crown.

• חֶסֶדchesed· loyal love

  "Chesed": love that stays faithful to a commitment. It is kindness that does not remain a feeling: it acts in favor of the other and does not abandon him. The Bible says it above all of God's love for his people.

• רַחֲמִיםrachamim· compassion

  Deep compassion, tender mercy like that of a mother; also the womb.

• מַּשְׂבִּיַעmasbiya· be satisfied

  Be filled, be satisfied.

• טּוֹבtov· good

  Good in the widest sense: pleasant, beautiful, useful, right, of good quality. As a noun, "good", "good things", "well-being".

• עֶדְיֵedye· ornaments

  Ornaments, jewelry worn on the body.

• תִּתְחַדֵּשׁtitchadesh· renew, repair

  To renew, to make new again; also to repair or rebuild.

• נֶּשֶׁרnesher· eagle, vulture

  Eagle; it may also refer to another large bird of prey, such as the vulture.

• נְעוּרָיְneuray· youth

  Youth: the time of being young.