Psalms 115:16
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's: but the earth has he given to the children of men.
American King James Version (AKJV)
The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's: but the earth has he given to the children of men.
American Standard Version (ASV)
The heavens are the heavens of Jehovah; But the earth hath he given to the children of men.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
The heavens are the Lord's; but the earth he has given to the children of men.
Webster's Revision
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 the heavens of Yahweh; but the earth has he given to the children of men.
English Revised Version (ERV)
The heavens are the heavens of the LORD; but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
Barnes's Psalms 115:16 Bible Commentary
The heaven - Hebrew, "The heavens."
Even the heavens are the Lord's - A more literal and correct rendering of this would be, "The heavens are heavens for Jehovah." That is, he has reserved the heavens as a home for himself, or as his special possession and home. Compare Isaiah 66:1; Matthew 5:34; Acts 7:49.
But the earth ... - He propared earth for the abode of man; he has placed man upon it to cultivate it; he has given its fruits and productions to man, to be held and enjoyed by man; he has made all on earth subject to man - the dwellers in the air, the land, and the waters. All this he has given to man; not to the angels. Earth is the home of man, the birth-place of man; the place where he lives, where he shows the result of his toil, his skill, and his ingenuity; the place where he builds houses, bridges, monuments, works of art; the place where he prepares for another state of existence; the place where he dies, and is buried. It is, as formed by the Creator, a beautiful home outfitted for mankind; how much more beautiful would it be, if man never defiled or desolated it by sin! how happy an abode would it have been if sin had never entered it!
Wesley's Psalms 115:16 Bible Commentary
115:16 The Lord's — In a peculiar manner, where he dwelleth in that light and glory, to which no man can approach.
Given — As the foregoing verse declares, that God was the creator of heaven and earth, so this asserts that he is also their Lord and governor to dispose of all men and things as he pleases.