God’s Word Translation
Psalms 34:18
18The Lord is near to those whose hearts are humble. He saves those whose spirits are crushed.
Psalms 34:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
- New International Version (NIV)The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
Context of Psalms 34:18
16The Lord confronts those who do evil in order to wipe out all memory of them from the earth. 17⌞Righteous people⌟ cry out. The Lord hears and rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is near to those whose hearts are humble. He saves those whose spirits are crushed. 19The righteous person has many troubles, but the Lord rescues him from all of them. 20The Lord guards all of his bones. Not one of them is broken.
Read all of Psalms 34Psalms 34:18 word by word
קָר֣וֹב יְ֭הוָה לְנִשְׁבְּרֵי־לֵ֑ב וְֽאֶת־דַּכְּאֵי־ר֥וּחַ יוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 34:18
- Psalms 75:1We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks. You are present, and your miracles confirm that.
- Psalms 85:9Indeed, his salvation is near those who fear him, and ⌞his⌟ glory will remain in our land.
- Psalms 119:151You are near, O Lord, and all your commandments are reliable.
- Psalms 145:18The Lord is near to everyone who prays to him, to every faithful person who prays to him.
- Isaiah 55:6Seek the Lord while he may be found. Call on him while he is near.
- Psalms 51:17The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. O God, you do not despise a broken and sorrowful heart.
- Psalms 147:3He is the healer of the brokenhearted. He is the one who bandages their wounds.
- Isaiah 61:1The Spirit of the Almighty Lord is with me because the Lord has anointed me to deliver good news to humble people. He has sent me to heal those who are brokenhearted, to announce that captives will be set free and prisoners will be released.
- Luke 4:18“The Spirit of the Lord is with me. He has anointed me to tell the Good News to the poor. He has sent me to announce forgiveness to the prisoners of sin and the restoring of sight to the blind, to forgive those who have been shattered by sin,
- 2 Kings 22:19You had a change of heart and humbled yourself in front of the Lord when you heard my words against this place and those who live here. I had said that those who live here will be destroyed and cursed. You also tore your clothes ⌞in distress⌟ and cried in front of me. So I will listen ⌞to you⌟, declares the Lord.
- Isaiah 57:15The High and Lofty One lives forever, and his name is holy. This is what he says: I live in a high and holy place. But I am with those who are crushed and humble. I will renew the spirit of those who are humble and the courage of those who are crushed.
- Isaiah 66:2I have made all these things. “That is why all these things have come into being,” declares the Lord. I will pay attention to those who are humble and sorry ⌞for their sins⌟ and who tremble at my word.
- Ezekiel 36:26I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove your stubborn hearts and give you obedient hearts.
Commentaries on Psalms 34:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18A broken heart - לב נשברי nishberey Web, the heart broken to shivers. A contrite spirit - רוח דכאי dakkeey ruach, "the beaten-out spirit." In both words the hammer is necessarily implied; in breaking to pieces the ore first, and then plating out the metal when it has been separated from the ore. This will call to the reader's remembrance Jeremiah 23:29; : "Is not my word like as a fire, saith the Lord? And like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?"…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart - Margin, as in Hebrew: “to the broken of heart.” The phrase, “the Lord is nigh,” means that he is ready to hear and to help. The language is, of course, figurative. As an Omnipresent Being, God is equally near to all persons at all times; but the language is adapted to our conceptions, as we feel that one who is near us can help us, or that one who is distant from us cannot give us aid. Compare the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-22Verses 11-22 Let young persons set out in life with learning the fear of the Lord, if they desire true comfort here, and eternal happiness hereafter. Those will be most happy who begin the soonest to serve so good a Master. All aim to be happy. Surely this must look further than the present world; for man's life on earth consists but of few days, and those full of trouble. What man is he that would see the good of that where all bliss is perfect? Alas!…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18Those who are brokenhearted have a spirit of deep sorrow for sin and a strong dependence on the Lord. God accepts this humble spirit as a proper sacrifice (Psalm 51:17). The wicked hate people who are brokenhearted (Psalm 109:16). But the Lord heals them and restores them (Psalm 147:3; see Isaiah 57:15; 61:1).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 17-1817-18. Humble penitents are objects of God's special tender regard (Psa 51:19; Is 57:15).Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 34:18
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 34
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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