Psalm 103:12

Psalm 103:12

As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

a. ASV: As far as the east is from the west, So far hath he removed our transgressions from us. [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

b. YLT:  As the distance of east from west He hath put far from us our transgressions.  [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

c. Classic Amplified: As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.  [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

d. NLT: He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

e. Tehillim/Psalms: As far as east from west, has He distanced our transgressions from us.  [THE ARTSCROLL TANACH SERIES TEHILLIM / PSALMS PERSONAL SIZE EDITION VOL.1 Ⓒ Copyright 1977, 1985, 1996 by MESORAH PUBLICATIONS, Ltd.]

f. Peshitta Eastern Text: As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.  [HOLY BIBLE FROM THE ANCIENT EASTERN TEXT.Copyright  Ⓒ 1933 by A.J. Holmon Co.; copyright  Ⓒ renewed 1968 by A.J. Holmon Co.; All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. HarperCollins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.]

1. “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”

a. [As far as the] east [Strong: 4217 mizrâch, miz-rawkh'; from H2224; sunrise, i.e. the east:—east (side, -ward), (sun-) rising (of the sun).]

b. is [Strong: 7368 râchaq, raw-khak'; a primitive root; to widen (in any direction), i.e. (intransitively) recede or (transitively) remove (literally or figuratively, of place or relation):—(a-, be, cast, drive, get, go, keep (self), put, remove, be too, (wander), withdraw) far (away, off), loose, × refrain, very, (be) a good way (off).]

c. [from the] west [Strong: maʻărâb, mah-ar-awb'; or (feminine) מַעֲרָבָה maʻărâbâh; from H6150, in the sense of shading; the west (as a region of the evening sun):—west.]

d. [so] far hath he removed [Strong:7368 râchaq, raw-khak'; a primitive root; to widen (in any direction), i.e. (intransitively) recede or (transitively) remove (literally or figuratively, of place or relation):—(a-, be, cast, drive, get, go, keep (self), put, remove, be too, (wander), withdraw) far (away, off), loose, × refrain, very, (be) a good way (off).]

e. [our] transgressions [Strong: 6588 peshaʻ, peh'-shah; from H6586; a revolt (national, moral or religious):—rebellion, sin, transgression, trespass.]

f. from us [Strong: 4480 min, min; or מִנִּי minnîy; or מִנֵּי minnêy; (constructive plural) (Isaiah 30:11); for H4482; properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses:—above, after, among, at, because of, by (reason of), from (among), in, × neither, × nor, (out) of, over, since, × then, through, × whether, with.]

1). Because we have a north and south pole, we can travel north only until we cross the north pole and then we will be traveling south. We travel south until we cross the South Pole and then we are traveling north. It is not the same as east and west. If we travel east and keep going we will travel east indefinitely, because there is no east pole. It is the same as west. If we travel west and keep going we will travel west indefinitely because there is not west pole. This is why in our psalm it declares that God has removed our transgressions from us as far as the east is from the west. It is indefinite, it will never end.