Psalm 115:16
New International Version
The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth he has given to mankind.

New Living Translation
The heavens belong to the LORD, but he has given the earth to all humanity.

English Standard Version
The heavens are the LORD’s heavens, but the earth he has given to the children of man.

Berean Standard Bible
The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth He has given to mankind.

King James Bible
The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

New King James Version
The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s; But the earth He has given to the children of men.

New American Standard Bible
The heavens are the heavens of the LORD, But the earth He has given to the sons of mankind.

NASB 1995
The heavens are the heavens of the LORD, But the earth He has given to the sons of men.

NASB 1977
The heavens are the heavens of the LORD; But the earth He has given to the sons of men.

Legacy Standard Bible
The heavens are the heavens of Yahweh, But the earth He has given to the sons of men.

Amplified Bible
The heavens are the heavens of the LORD, But the earth He has given to the children of men.

Christian Standard Bible
The heavens are the LORD’s, but the earth he has given to the human race.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The heavens are the LORD’s, but the earth He has given to the human race.

American Standard Version
The heavens are the heavens of Jehovah; But the earth hath he given to the children of men.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD has kept the heavens for himself, but he has given the earth to us humans.

English Revised Version
The heavens are the heavens of the LORD; but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The highest heaven belongs to the LORD, but he has given the earth to the descendants of Adam.

Good News Translation
Heaven belongs to the LORD alone, but he gave the earth to us humans.

International Standard Version
The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but he gave the earth to human beings.

Majority Standard Bible
The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth He has given to mankind.

NET Bible
The heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth he has given to mankind.

New Heart English Bible
The heavens are the heavens of the LORD; but the earth has he given to the descendants of Adam.

Webster's Bible Translation
The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

World English Bible
The heavens are Yahweh’s heavens, but he has given the earth to the children of men.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The heavens—the heavens [are] YHWH’s, "" And He has given the earth to sons of men;

Young's Literal Translation
The heavens -- the heavens are Jehovah's, And the earth He hath given to sons of men,

Smith's Literal Translation
The heavens of heavens to Jehovah, and he gave the earth to the sons of man.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The heaven of heaven is the Lord's: but the earth he has given to the children of men.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The heaven of heaven is for the Lord, but the earth he has given to the sons of men.

New American Bible
The heavens belong to the LORD, but he has given the earth to the children of Adam.

New Revised Standard Version
The heavens are the LORD’s heavens, but the earth he has given to human beings.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The heavens, even the heavens, are the LORD'S; but the earth has he given to the children of men.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The Heaven of Heavens is LORD JEHOVAH's and the Earth he has given to the children of men.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The heavens are the heavens of the LORD; But the earth hath He given to the children of men.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The heaven of heavens belongs to the Lord: but he has given the earth to the sons of men.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
To Your Name Be the Glory
15May you be blessed by the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. 16The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth He has given to mankind. 17It is not the dead who praise the LORD, nor any who descend into silence.…

Cross References
Genesis 1:28
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth.”

Genesis 2:15
Then the LORD God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it.

Isaiah 45:18
For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens—He is God; He formed the earth and fashioned it; He established it; He did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited: “I am the LORD, and there is no other.

Acts 17:24-26
The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands. / Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. / From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands.

Matthew 5:5
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Revelation 21:1
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.

Psalm 8:6-8
You made him ruler of the works of Your hands; You have placed everything under his feet: / all sheep and oxen, and even the beasts of the field, / the birds of the air and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.

Deuteronomy 10:14
Behold, to the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, and the earth and everything in it.

Job 38:4-7
Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. / Who fixed its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched a measuring line across it? / On what were its foundations set, or who laid its cornerstone, ...

1 Corinthians 10:26
for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”

Colossians 1:16
For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him.

Hebrews 2:5-8
For it is not to angels that He has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. / But somewhere it is testified in these words: “What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You care for him? / You made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor ...

Romans 8:20-22
For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope / that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. / We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time.

Isaiah 66:1
This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or where will My place of repose be?

2 Peter 3:13
But in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.


Treasury of Scripture

The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's: but the earth has he given to the children of men.

heaven

Psalm 89:11
The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.

Psalm 144:5
Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.

Psalm 148:4
Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.

but the earth

Genesis 1:28-30
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth…

Genesis 9:1-3
And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth…

Deuteronomy 32:8
When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.

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Psalm 115
1. Because God is truly glorious
4. And idols are vanity
9. He exhorts to confidence in God
12. God is to be blessed for his blessing














The highest heavens
This phrase refers to the supreme realm of God's dwelling, often understood as the third heaven or the heaven of heavens. In Hebrew, "shamayim" is the word for heavens, and its repetition or intensification signifies the utmost heights. Theologically, this emphasizes God's sovereignty and transcendence. The highest heavens are beyond human reach, symbolizing God's ultimate authority and the majesty of His creation. This realm is where God's glory is fully manifest, and it serves as a reminder of His omnipotence and the divine order He has established.

belong to the LORD
The phrase underscores God's ownership and dominion over the heavens. In Hebrew, "Yahweh" is the covenant name of God, signifying His eternal presence and faithfulness. The heavens are His throne, as stated in Isaiah 66:1, and this ownership reflects His supreme power and the reverence due to Him. It is a call to recognize His authority and to worship Him as the Creator and Sustainer of all things. This ownership is not just a matter of possession but of divine right and purpose.

but the earth
This conjunction introduces a contrast between the heavens and the earth. The earth, in Hebrew "eretz," is the realm of human habitation. It is the stage for God's unfolding plan of redemption and the arena for human stewardship. The earth is distinct from the heavens, yet it is intricately connected to God's purposes. This distinction highlights the unique role humanity plays in God's creation, as caretakers and participants in His divine plan.

He has given
The act of giving here is significant, indicating a deliberate and gracious act of God. In Hebrew, "natan" means to give, bestow, or grant. This gift of the earth to mankind is an expression of God's generosity and trust. It implies responsibility and stewardship, as humanity is entrusted with the care and management of the earth. This giving is not merely a transfer of ownership but a call to partnership with God in nurturing and preserving His creation.

to mankind
The term "mankind" refers to humanity as a whole, created in the image of God. In Hebrew, "adam" signifies both the individual and the collective human race. This gift of the earth to mankind is rooted in the creation narrative of Genesis, where humanity is given dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:28). It is a reminder of the dignity and responsibility bestowed upon humans as God's image-bearers. This stewardship is a sacred trust, calling for wisdom, care, and reverence for the Creator's handiwork.

Verse 16. - The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's; literally, the heavens are heavens of Jehovah. They belong to him - he dwells there; but it is otherwise with the earth. But the earth hath he given to the children of men. For man God framed this fair world; to man's use he adapted it with minutest care; and certainly not least for his own people, who are "the salt of the earth" - the human race by representation.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The highest heavens
הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם (haš·šā·ma·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky

belong to the LORD,
לַיהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

but the earth
וְ֝הָאָ֗רֶץ (wə·hā·’ā·reṣ)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

He has given
נָתַ֥ן (nā·ṯan)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

to mankind.
אָדָֽם׃ (’ā·ḏām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being


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OT Poetry: Psalm 115:16 The heavens are the heavens of Yahweh (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 115:15
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