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Mercifulרַחוּםand gracious isוְחַנּוּןYHWH,יְהוָהslowאֶרֶךְto angerאַפַּיִםand aboundingוְרַבin loyal love.חָסֶד
Psalms 103:8
Study it in the app“Merciful and gracious is YHWH, slow to anger and abounding in loyal love.”
David compares God to a father who knows what we are made ofWho God Is
With the Hebrew beneath
Psalms 103:8, word by word
- Mercifulרַחוּםrachum
merciful
Merciful: who feels tenderness and compassion. Said almost always of God.
Where else “rachum” appears- and gracious isחַנּוּןchanun
gracious
Gracious, merciful: who shows favor to one in need. Said almost always of God.
Where else “chanun” appears- YHWHיְהוָהyehva
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.
Where else “yehva” appears- slowאֶרֶךְerech
slow
Patient, unhurried to anger.
Where else “erech” appears- to angerאַפַּיִםapayim
anger
The rage of one who snorts; the "long of nose" is slow to become angry.
Where else “apayim” appears- and aboundingרַבrav
much
In great quantity, more than expected.
Where else “rav” appears- in loyal loveחָסֶדchased
loyal love
God's steadfast kindness, true to his covenant, never forsaking.
Where else “chased” appears
The context
7He made known his ways to Moses, to the sons of Israel his deeds.
8 · This verse (above)
9He will not always contend, nor forever will he bear a grudge.