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Psalm 103:8
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness.
6The LORD executes righteous acts, and justice for all who are oppressed.
7He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the children of Israel.
8The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness.
9He will not always accuse; neither will he stay angry forever.
10He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor repaid us for our iniquities.
Notice
“Slow to anger” leaves room for God's anger while naming his patience, a distinction that can matter when you wonder how he regards you.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What do you tend to expect from God when you approach him after doing wrong?
Write on thisWhere does “abundant in loving kindness” agree with or challenge your present understanding of God?
Write on thisWhat difference do you notice between being slow to anger and never being angry?
Write on thisConnect
Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Psalm 86:15But you, Lord, are a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth.Both psalms describe God with the same words: merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness.
Joel 2:13Tear your heart and not your garments, and turn to the LORD, your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and …Joel grounds the call to turn to God in the mercy, grace, patience, and abundant loving kindness that Psalm 103 declares.
Exodus 34:6–7The LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, “The LORD! The LORD, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth,The LORD's proclamation in Exodus uses the same description of his mercy, grace, patience, and abundant loving kindness found in Psalm 103.
Psalm 145:8The LORD is gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and of great loving kindness.Both psalms praise the LORD as gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in loving kindness.
Nahum 1:3The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. The LORD has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and …Both passages say the LORD is slow to anger; Nahum also states that he will not leave the guilty unpunished.
Psalm 86:5For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, abundant in loving kindness to all those who call on you.Both psalms name God's abundant loving kindness, with Psalm 86 also describing his readiness to forgive those who call on him.
Ephesians 1:7–8In him we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his graceBoth passages speak of divine grace: Psalm 103 names God as gracious, while Ephesians describes forgiveness according to the riches of his grace.
Numbers 14:18‘The LORD is slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, forgiving iniquity and disobedience; and he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the …Both describe the LORD as slow to anger and abundant in loving kindness; Numbers also names forgiveness and judgment.
Jonah 4:2He prayed to the LORD, and said, “Please, LORD, wasn’t this what I said when I was still in my own country? Therefore I hurried to flee to Tarshish, for I knew …Jonah repeats the same description of God's grace, mercy, patience, and abundant loving kindness while explaining his flight to Tarshish.
Proverbs 16:32One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.The phrase “slow to anger” describes the LORD in Psalm 103 and a person praised for self-control in Proverbs.
James 5:11Behold, we call them blessed who endured. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and have seen the Lord in the outcome, and how the Lord is full of …Both passages affirm the Lord's mercy; James points to compassion seen in the outcome of Job's endurance.
Psalm 130:7Israel, hope in the LORD, for there is loving kindness with the LORD. Abundant redemption is with him.Both psalms locate loving kindness in the LORD, and Psalm 130 makes it a reason for Israel to hope.
Where this verse fits
Guilt and confession. feeling distant from God. praise and worship.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
God's patience belongs to his character. As you approach him, this verse gives you firm ground for trust: he is merciful and gracious, abundant in loving kindness.
Now put it in your words.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).