Psalms 103:9 — Word Study
WLCלֹֽא־ לָנֶ֥צַח יָרִ֑יב וְלֹ֖א לְעוֹלָ֣ם יִטּֽוֹר׃
BSAHe will notlôʼ [never, at no time] alwaysnetsach accuse usrîyb▸ [chide, rebuke] norlôʼ [neither] harbor [His anger]nâṭar▸ [keep, watch over, wrath, indignation] foreverʻôwlâm [for all eternity, perpetually]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לֹֽא־ | not | Particle |
| לָנֶ֥צַח | to perpetuity | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| יָרִ֑יב | he will conduct a case | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| וְלֹ֖א | and not | Conjunction, particle |
| לְעוֹלָ֣ם | for ever | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| יִטּֽוֹר׃ | he will keep | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | He will not always accuse us, nor harbor His anger forever. |
| KJV | He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. |
| ASV | He will not always chide; Neither will he keep his anger for ever. |
| YLT | Not for ever doth He strive, Nor to the age doth He watch. |
| WEB | He will not always accuse; neither will he stay angry forever. |
| BBE | His feeling will no longer be bitter; he will not keep his wrath for ever. |
Where they part company is לֹ֖א — see How Translations Differ.
One main verb with a conjunction phrase following it, emphasizing the dual nature of God's mercy.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbרִיב
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 103:9
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — God's Mercy and Compassiongenerated
Psalms 103:9 speaks to the nature of God, emphasizing His compassion and grace. The psalmist reassures us that God does not hold onto anger or continually accuse us. This verse is part of a larger reflection on God's loving devotion, highlighting His mercy in contrast to our failings, as seen in the surrounding verses.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 30:5 | For His anger is fleeting, but His favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may stay the night, but joy comes in the morning. |
| 2 | Isaiah 57:16 | For I will not accuse you forever, nor will I always be angry; for then the spirit of man would grow weak before Me, with the breath of those I have made. |
| 3 | Jeremiah 3:5 | Will He be angry forever? Will He be indignant to the end?’ This you have spoken, but you keep doing all the evil you can.” |
| 4 | Micah 7:18–19 | Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance— who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion? |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יָרִ֑יב, ya.Rivgenerated
The verb יָרִ֑יב (ya.Riv) is in the imperfect tense, indicating an ongoing action or state. It comes from the root רִיב (riyb), which means to contend or argue. In this context, it refers to God's action of accusing or bringing a case against us, suggesting that He does not engage in constant accusations.
This word captures the essence of God's justice and mercy. While He has the right to accuse us for our wrongdoings, the psalmist reassures us that He chooses not to do so indefinitely, reflecting His grace and willingness to forgive.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verbs יָרִ֑יב and יִטּֽוֹר govern the two main clauses of the verse, with the adverbial negations לֹֽא־ and וְלֹ֖א modifying them. This structure emphasizes the actions of God, underscoring His choice not to accuse or harbor anger.
The Hebrew word order places the negations at the forefront, drawing attention to the absence of accusation and the temporary nature of His anger.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, יָרִ֑יב is rendered as ὀργισθήσεται, which implies a sense of being provoked to anger. This choice indicates a slight shift in focus from the act of accusing to the emotional response of anger, highlighting God's capacity for wrath.
The use of τέλος for לָנֶ֥צַח suggests a broader interpretation of perpetuity, emphasizing an end point rather than an ongoing state.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalms 103:9 tells us that God does not always accuse us or keep His anger forever. This verse shows God's mercy and compassion, reminding us that He is slow to anger and gracious.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that while God has the right to point out our wrongs, He chooses not to do so continuously, reflecting His mercy.
This verse indicates that God's anger is not everlasting; He does not hold grudges against us indefinitely.
It reassures us of God's loving nature and His willingness to forgive, providing comfort and hope.
God's compassion is evident in His choice to not accuse us continually, showing His desire for reconciliation rather than punishment.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I need to remember God's mercy and forgiveness?
- How can I reflect God's compassion towards others who may have wronged me?
- What does it mean for me personally that God does not harbor anger forever?
- How can I cultivate a heart that mirrors God's grace and forgiveness?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Augustine of Hippo references this verse to discuss God's nature of mercy, emphasizing that He does not always chide or keep His anger.
"He will not always be chiding: neither keeps He His anger for ever" [Psalms 103:9].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 103 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 103:9 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHe will not always chide,.... He sometimes does chide his children, though never but when they have done a fault; always for their sins, in order to bring them to a sense and acknowledgment of them,
Read John Gill on Psalms 103 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThe LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 103 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleHe will not always chide, or contend, by his judgments with sinners, but is ready to be reconciled to them, to wit, upon their true repentance, as is manifest from innumerable texts, and from the whole scope and design of Scripture. Anger; which word is understood here, as also , as is evident from the thing itself, and from the former clause. The Hebrew is a concise language, and there are many such ellipses in it, as , compared with ; and , compared with .
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 103 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 103:9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep [his anger] for ever.Ver. 9. He will not always chide] His still revenges are terrible, Genesis 6:3, with 1 Peter 3:19, but God, being appeased towards the penitent people, will not show his anger so much as in words, Isaiah 57:16. Neither will he keep his anqer for ever] Much less must we, Leviticus 19:18 Ephesians 4:26, though against his enemies God is expressly said to keep it, Nahum 1:2.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 103 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(9, 10) This reflection naturally follows after the last quotation from Exodus.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 103 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 9. He will not always chide] He will not contend with us continually. He has often reproved, often punished us; but his mercy ever rejoiced over judgment.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 103 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges9. Cp. Isaiah 57:16; Jeremiah 3:12. chide] Or, contend. He is slow to anger, yet the time comes when He must as it were bring a suit against His people, and convict them of their sin (Isaiah 3:13; Micah 6:2; Jeremiah 2:9), and shew His indignation by punishing them for it; but even then His anger does not last for ever.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 103 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleHe will not always chide - Rebuke; contend; strive; for so the Hebrew word means. He will not always contend with people, or manifest his displeasure. See the notes at Isaiah 57:16; notes at Psalms 78:38-39.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 103 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
He will not always accuse us, nor harbor His anger forever.
He will not always accuse; neither will he stay angry forever.
He will not always accuse us, nor harbor His anger forever.
He does not always accuse, and does not stay angry.
Tyndale line
He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
He will not always chide; Neither will he keep his anger for ever.
He will not always chide; neither will he keep his anger for ever.
He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
He will not alway chide, neither keepe his anger for euer.
Strictly literal
He will not always chide, neither will he keep [his anger] for ever.
Not for ever doth He strive, Nor to the age doth He watch.
He does not strive forever, || Nor does He watch for all time.
Not for all eternity will he contend; nor will he for ever retain his anger.
He will not always discipline; he is not always angry.
From the Latin
Thou hast set a bound which they shall not pass over; neither shall they return to cover the earth.
Simplified
He doesn't keep on accusing us; he doesn't stay angry with us forever.
His feeling will no longer be bitter; he will not keep his wrath for ever.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text reads: "לֹֽא־ לָנֶ֥צַח יָרִ֑יב וְלֹ֖א לְעוֹלָ֣ם יִטּֽוֹר׃" which translates to "He will not always accuse us, nor harbor His anger forever." The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in meaning, as all six words correspond, although the word order and articles differ due to its Greek structure. The Dead Sea Scrolls, specifically 2Q14 and 4Q84, also align with the Masoretic Text, preserving the same key terms, though they contain some restored and supplied words by editors. Overall, there is a strong agreement among the witnesses regarding this verse, affirming the consistency of the text across different manuscripts.
לֹֽא־ לָנֶ֥צַח יָרִ֑יב וְלֹ֖א לְעוֹלָ֣ם יִטּֽוֹר׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
לוא [לנצח] [יריב] [ולוא] [לעולם] [יטור]
nothing on the leather here — 1 partly restored, 5 supplied entire by an editor.
לא [לנצח] [יריב] [ולא] [לעולם] [יטור]
nothing on the leather here — 1 partly restored, 5 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 103:9
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Part — ParticleHTn
נֵ֫צַח (netsach) encompasses concepts of eminence, enduring strength, and perpetuity. It is derived from a root meaning 'goal' or 'bright object' and conveys ideas of splendor, truthfulness, and confidence. The term is used to express notions of victory and continual existence, often implying an everlasting quality.
נֵ֫צַח n.m. eminence, enduring, everlasting, perpetuity
base
H5331 נֵ֫צַח eminence, enduring, everlasting, perpetuity
5331 netsach neh'-tsakh
or netsach {nay'-tsakh}; from 5329; properly, a goal, i.e.
the bright object at a distance travelled towards; hence
(figuratively), splendor, or (subjectively) truthfulness, or
(objectively) confidence; but usually (adverbially),
continually (i.e. to the most distant point of
view); --alway(-s), constantly, end, (+ n-)ever(more),
perpetual, strength, victory.
see HEBREW for 05329
נֵ֫צַח (ne.tsach) — perpetuity.
1) eminence, perpetuity, strength, victory, enduring, everlastingness
1a) eminence
1b) enduring of life
1c) endurance in time, perpetual, continual, unto the end
1d) everlastingness, ever
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
רִיב (riyb) means to strive or contend, often in a figurative sense of grappling or wrangling. It can refer to physical struggle, verbal disputes, legal cases, or complaints. The entries indicate that it encompasses a range of meanings from quarreling to defending one's position. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
רִיב vb. strive, contend
Qal strive
Hiph. (those) displaying contention against him
base
H7378 רִיב strive, contend
7378 riyb reeb
or ruwb {roob}; a primitive root; properly, to toss, i.e.
grapple; mostly figuratively, to wrangle, i.e. hold a
controversy; (by implication) to defend:--adversary, chide,
complain, contend, debate, X ever, X lay wait, plead, rebuke,
strive, X thoroughly.
רִיב (riv) — to contend.
1) to strive, contend
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to strive
1a1a) physically
1a1b) with words
1a2) to conduct a case or suit (legal), sue
1a3) to make complaint
1a4) to quarrel
1b) (Hiphil) to contend against
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
kas: Ordinarily to describe the circumstances or condition of things; sometimes, juridically (aitia, Mt 19:10; Ac 25:14), as that for which a reckoning has to be given, as frequently the Latin res. In Ex 5:19, "they were in evil case," is interpreted by the Revised Version (British and American) as "were set on mischief."
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Conj | Part — Conjunction · particleHC/Tn
עוֹלָם (owlam) refers to concepts of long duration, antiquity, and futurity, encompassing meanings like eternity and perpetual existence. It is derived from a root meaning 'concealed' or 'the vanishing point.' The term is used to describe both ancient times and an indefinite future, indicating continuity and everlastingness.
עוֹלָם 439 n.m. long duration, antiquity, futurity
base
H5769 עוֹלָם long duration, antiquity, futurity
5769 `owlam o-lawm'
or lolam {o-lawm'}; from 5956; properly, concealed, i.e. the
vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future),
i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial
(especially with prepositional prefix) always:--alway(-s),
ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for,
(n-))ever(-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of)
old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world
(+ without end). Compare 5331, 5703.
see HEBREW for 05956
see HEBREW for 05331
see HEBREW for 05703
עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: enduring.
: enduring/eternal
1) long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world
1a) ancient time, long time (of past)
1b) (of future)
1b1) for ever, always
1b2) continuous existence, perpetual
1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity
עוֹלָם (o.lam) — Everlasting.
This name means long duration, everlasting, perpetual
Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: any time.
: any_time
1) long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world
1a) ancient time, long time (of past)
1b) (of future)
1b1) for ever, always
1b2) continuous existence, perpetual
1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity
עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: antiquity.
: old/ancient
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
נָטַר (natar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to keep or guard. It conveys the idea of maintaining or cherishing something, and can also imply bearing a grudge. The word appears in various contexts, emphasizing the act of preservation or protection.
[נָטַר] vb. keep
Qal
keep, maintain
keep, guard
base
H5201 [נָטַר] keep
5201 natar naw-tar'
a primitive root; to guard; figuratively, to cherish
(anger):--bear grudge, keep(-er), reserve.
נָטַר (na.tar) — to keep.
1) to keep, keep guard, reserve, maintain
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to keep, maintain
1a2) to keep, guard
Aramaic equivalent: ne.tar (נְטַר "to keep" H5202)
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms