Psalm 34:18 Text
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.
World English Bible (WEB)
Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.
What Psalm 34:18 Means
This verse says something about where God is found, and the answer is close to people who are hurting. The phrase broken heart describes deep sorrow, disappointment or loss, and the crushed or contrite spirit speaks of someone whose confidence has been flattened. The KJV word contrite suggests a humble, sorrowful spirit, while the WEB word crushed focuses on the weight of pain; both are valid shades of the Hebrew. Near here means present and available, not far away and waiting for people to recover. The word saves is wider than rescue from danger: it includes bringing relief, deliverance and restoration. A common misreading assumes the verse promises that grief will end quickly. It actually makes a smaller and more reliable claim, that God does not keep his distance from those who are suffering.
Context of Psalm 34:18
The psalm carries a heading linking it to David, from the time he pretended to be insane before Abimelech and escaped, an event told in 1 Samuel 21. If that is right, David wrote it as a man who had just been in real danger and fear. It is an acrostic poem, with lines starting in order through the Hebrew alphabet. Earlier verses praise God for answering prayer, and later verses say the righteous face many troubles yet are delivered. To read the whole book, see random verse from Psalms.
How to Apply Psalm 34:18
If you are grieving, you do not have to hurry yourself into feeling better or find the right words. This verse suggests that God is already near in the heaviness. You might sit quietly, pray in simple sentences, and let a friend stay with you. Presence matters more than explanations right now.
Related Verses
- Psalm 147:3 – He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
- Isaiah 57:15 – For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place , with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
- Psalm 51:17 – The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
- Matthew 5:4 – Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Looking for more verses on this theme? Browse Bible Verses About Grief, each with a short note on its context.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Psalm 34:18 mean?
It says God is close to people who are deeply hurting, whether from grief, failure or loss. It does not promise that pain disappears at once. It promises that the sufferer is not alone, because God is near and acts to bring help and restoration.
Who wrote Psalm 34 and why?
The heading attributes it to David, tied to the time he escaped from Abimelech by acting insane, described in 1 Samuel 21. Scholars discuss the name Abimelech, which may be a title for the king of Gath, but the psalm clearly comes out of fear and rescue.
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