Psalms 103:10–12
As far as east from west, he removes our wrongs from us
Study it word by word10Not according to our sins has he dealt with us, nor according to our iniquities has he repaid us.
11For as the height of the heavens above the earth, so strong is his loyal love over those who fear him.
12As far as the east is from the west, so far he has removed from us our transgressions.
In its context
8Merciful and gracious is YHWH, slow to anger and abounding in loyal love.
9He will not always contend, nor forever will he bear a grudge.
…
13As a father has compassion on his sons, YHWH has compassion on those who fear him.
14For he knows our frame; he remembers that dust we are.
Its words in the original
- חֲטָאֵיchatae· offense, sin
Offense, sin; its penalty.
- עָשָׂהasa· do, make
Do, make, in the widest sense: build, produce, carry out, keep (a command), prepare.
- עֲוֺנֹתֵיavonote· iniquity
Iniquity: wickedness, a serious wrong. The same word covers the wrong, the guilt it leaves and the punishment it brings.
- גָּמַלgamal· wean, deal with
Wean: stop nursing a child, around two or three years of age. In other passages, deal well or ill with someone; ripen.
- גְבֹהַּgevoha· be high, be proud
To be high, to rise up; figuratively, to be exalted or to become proud.
- שָׁמַיִםshamayim· heavens, sky
The heavens: what is above, where the clouds, the sun and the stars are seen; also the dwelling of God. In Hebrew it is always plural. With birds, "the sky".
- אָרֶץarets· earth, land
The earth, in two senses: the whole world in contrast with the heavens, or a particular country or region ("the land of Egypt").
- גָּבַרgavar· prevail
Be strong, prevail, win out.
- חַסְדּchasd· 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.
- יְרֵאָיyereay· fearing, God-fearing
Fearing; above all, one who reveres God and therefore obeys him.
- רְחֹקrechok· be far
Be far, go far away; in the causative form, remove far away.
- מִזְרָחmizrach· east
Where the sun rises: the east.
- מַּעֲרָבmaarav· west
West: the side where the sun sets.
- פְּשָׁעֵיpeshae· transgression
A serious wrong against someone: rebellion, transgression.