Psalms 103:8 (KJV)

What does Psalms 103:8 mean?

Psalms 103:8 describes how the LORD responds to people with patience and generous care. His mercy is not presented as a rare exception: the verse portrays it as abundant, alongside his readiness to show kindness.

Following the mention of God’s ways made known to Moses in verse 7, the psalm describes those ways through a set of qualities. “Slow to anger” pictures a delay before anger is expressed; “plenteous in mercy” gives the sentence its final emphasis on abundance.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 103:8

• “LORD” — יהוה (YHWH): This is God’s personal name in the Hebrew text. The KJV prints it as “LORD” in capital letters, distinguishing it from the ordinary title “Lord.”
• “slow to anger” — אֶרֶךְ (ʾerekh) and אַף (ʾaph): Together, these words express patience before anger. The expression uses the image of a “long nose,” an idiom connected with anger.
• “mercy” — חֶסֶד (ḥesed): This word often carries the sense of steadfast love or loyal kindness. Here, “plenteous” describes that kindness as abundant.

Why Psalms 103:8 matters

• The verse echoes words spoken about the LORD in Exodus 34:6. That connection gives the description a history reaching back to Moses, whom Psalm 103:7 has just mentioned.
• Mercy shapes the passage’s account of wrongdoing. Verse 10 says that God has not dealt with people according to their sins, giving a concrete example of the mercy named in verse 8.
• The description includes both anger and restraint. Verse 9 says that God “will not always chide,” or keep accusing, and will not keep his anger forever.