Meaning, commentary and cross references
Psalms 147:3
“He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
NIV · New International Version
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
WEB · World English Bible
He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.
What does Psalms 147:3 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on Psalms 147:3
He healeth the broken in heart,.... Christ is a physician; many are the diseases of his people; he heals them all by his blood, stripes, wounds; and among the rest their broken hearts, which none can cure but himself; hearts broken by the word, as a hammer, accompanied with a divine power; which have a true sense of sin, and godly sorrow for it; are truly contrite, such as the Lord has a respect unto, dwells with, and accepts of; and these he heals, and only he, by pouring in oil and wine, as the good Samaritan; or by applying pardoning grace and mercy to them, streaming through his blood; and bindeth up their wounds; or "griefs" (n); and so gives them ease, health, and peace, for which…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible, on Psalms 147:1–11
They are broken in heart, and wounded, humbled, and troubled, for sin, inwardly pained at the remembrance of it, as a man is that is sorely wounded. Their very hearts are not only pricked, but rent, under the sense of the dishonour they have done to God and the injury they have done to themselves by sin. To those whom God heals with the consolations of his Spirit he speaks peace, assures them that their sins are pardoned and that he is reconciled to them, and so makes them easy, pours the balm of Gilead into the bleeding wounds, and then binds them up, and makes them to rejoice. Those who have had experience of this need not be called upon to praise the Lord; for when he brought them out of…
Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: Psalms 147:1–6 (WEB)
1Praise the LORD, for it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant and fitting to praise him. 2The LORD builds up Jerusalem. He gathers together the outcasts of Israel. 3He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds. 4He counts the number of the stars. He calls them all by their names. 5Great is our Lord, and mighty in power. His understanding is infinite. 6The LORD upholds the humble. He brings the wicked down to the ground.
Cross references
- Psalms 34:18
- Job 5:18
For he wounds and binds up. He injures and his hands make whole.
- Jeremiah 33:6
behold, I will bring it health and healing, and I will cure them; and I will reveal to them abundance of peace and truth.
- Isaiah 61:1
The Lord GOD’s Spirit is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to those who are bound,
- Luke 4:18
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed,
- Hosea 6:1–2
“Come! Let’s return to the LORD; for he has torn us to pieces, and he will heal us; he has injured us, and he will bind up our wounds.
- Isaiah 57:15
For the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy, says: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
- Psalms 51:17