Psalms 103:8 (ASV)

Passage

Jehovah is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness.

Nearby Context

Psalms 103:6 Jehovah executeth righteous acts, And judgments for all that are oppressed.

Psalms 103:7 He made known his ways unto Moses, His doings unto the children of Israel.

Psalms 103:8 Jehovah is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness.

Psalms 103:9 He will not always chide; Neither will he keep [his anger] for ever.

Psalms 103:10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins, Nor rewarded us after our iniquities.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "jehovah", "merciful", "gracious", "slow", "anger", "abundant", and "lovingkindness". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "jehovah" and "merciful", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 7's "He made known his ways unto Moses..." into verse 9's "He will not always chide Neither will...", so "jehovah" and "merciful" belong inside that flow. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "jehovah" and "merciful" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.