The Meaning of Psalms 103:17 Explained

Psalms 103:17

KJV: But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

YLT: And the kindness of Jehovah Is from age even unto age on those fearing Him, And His righteousness to sons' sons,

Darby: But the loving-kindness of Jehovah is from everlasting and to everlasting, upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children,

ASV: But the lovingkindness of Jehovah is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, And his righteousness unto children's children;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But the mercy  of the LORD  [is] from everlasting  to  everlasting  upon them that fear  him, and his righteousness  unto children's  children; 

What does Psalms 103:17 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 103:13-22 - Everlasting Loving-Kindness
The psalmist comes from the far-reaching sky to the homely image of a father's pity. God is a great King, the mighty Creator, but the Spirit witnesses that we are His children and teaches us to say, Abba, Father. The idea of dust is that of frailty. Made of dust and fragile as an earthen vessel, man by his weakness appeals to Jehovah's compassion. The thought of frailty and helplessness is still further impressed by the figure of the fading flower, scorched by the hot desert wind. But, by force of contrast, the psalmist passes from man's brief span of life to God's eternal years. And God's love is as His life. Because God is eternal, His love is eternal. When once He loves, He loves always; He never wearies, never cools, and never lets go. A parent who fears God may leave a legacy of priceless worth to his children's children. See Psalms 103:17.
From Psalms 103:19 to the end, the psalmist pulls out all the stops in the great organ of existence. Angels and hosts of other intelligent beings who perform the Lord's will, all his works animate and inanimate, all saints, all souls, stars and suns, oceans, and mountains-all must join the "Hallelujah Chorus." [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 103

1  An exhortation to bless God for his mercy
5  And for the constancy thereof

What do the individual words in Psalms 103:17 mean?

But the mercy of Yahweh [is] from everlasting and to everlasting On those who fear Him and His righteousness of to children children
וְחֶ֤סֶד יְהוָ֨ה ׀ מֵעוֹלָ֣ם וְעַד־ ע֭וֹלָם עַל־ יְרֵאָ֑יו וְ֝צִדְקָת֗וֹ לִבְנֵ֥י בָנִֽים

וְחֶ֤סֶד  But  the  mercy 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: חֶסֶד 
Sense: goodness, kindness, faithfulness.
יְהוָ֨ה ׀  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
מֵעוֹלָ֣ם  [is]  from  everlasting 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹולָם  
Sense: long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world.
וְעַד־  and  to 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
ע֭וֹלָם  everlasting 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹולָם  
Sense: long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world.
יְרֵאָ֑יו  those  who  fear  Him 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: יָרֵא  
Sense: fearing, reverent, afraid.
וְ֝צִדְקָת֗וֹ  and  His  righteousness 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: צְדָקָה  
Sense: justice, righteousness.
לִבְנֵ֥י  of  to  children 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
בָנִֽים  children 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.