Meaning, commentary and cross references
Psalms 34:18
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
NIV · New International Version
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
WEB · World English Bible
The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.
What does Psalms 34:18 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on Psalms 34:18
The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart,.... Who are pressed and bore down with afflictions, by the sorrow of heart under which their spirits are broken, Proverbs 15:13; or with a sense of sin, and sorrow for it, for which their hearts smite them, and they are wounded by it, and broken with it: to these the Lord is "nigh"; not in a general way only, as he is to all men, being God omnipresent, but in a special manner; he comes and manifests himself to them in a gracious way, pours in the oil and wine of his love, and binds up their broken hearts; yea, comes and dwells with them: he does not pass by them and neglect them, much less make the breach worse; he does not break the…
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 34:11–22
[2.] He not only takes notice of what we say, but is ready for us to our relief (Psa 34:18): He is nigh to those that are of a broken heart, and saves them. Note, First, It is the character of the righteous, whose prayers God will hear, that they are of a broken heart and a contrite spirit (that is, humbled for sin and emptied of self); they are low in their own eyes, and have no confidence in their own merit and sufficiency, but in God only. Secondly, Those who are so have God nigh unto them, to comfort and support them, that the spirit may not be broken more than is meet, lest it should fail before him.
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).
John Calvin · Commentaries, on Psalms 34:18–22
18. Jehovah is nigh to those who are broken of heart. David here exemplifies and extends still more the preceding doctrine, that God is the deliverer of his people, even when they are brought very low, and when they are, as it were, half-dead. It is a very severe trial, when the grace of God is delayed, and all experience of it so far withdrawn, as that our spirits begin to fail; nay more, to say that God is nigh to the faithful, even when their hearts faint and fall them, and they are ready to die, is altogether incredible to human sense and reason.
John Calvin, Commentaries (Calvin Translation Society English text). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: Psalms 34:15–21 (WEB)
15The LORD’s eyes are toward the righteous. His ears listen to their cry. 16The LORD’s face is against those who do evil, to cut off their memory from the earth. 17The righteous cry, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. 18The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit. 19Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. 20He protects all of his bones. Not one of them is broken. 21Evil shall kill the wicked. Those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
Cross references
- Psalms 147:3
- Psalms 145:18
- 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.
- 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,
- Psalms 51:17
- Ezekiel 36:26
I will also give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
- Isaiah 66:2
For my hand has made all these things, and so all these things came to be,” says the LORD: “but I will look to this man, even to he who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at my word.
- Psalms 85:9