Psalm 145 14

Psalm 145:14 kjv

The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.

Psalm 145:14 nkjv

The LORD upholds all who fall, And raises up all who are bowed down.

Psalm 145:14 niv

The LORD upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.

Psalm 145:14 esv

The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.

Psalm 145:14 nlt

The LORD helps the fallen
and lifts those bent beneath their loads.

Psalm 145 verses

Psalm 145 14 Meaning

Psalm 145:14 declares God's unfailing support and active intervention for those who are weak, stumble, or are afflicted. It proclaims His compassionate character as He consistently sustains those on the brink of collapse and restores those who are oppressed or overwhelmed by life's burdens, bringing them back to an upright position.

Psalm 145 14 Context

Psalm 145 is an acrostic psalm, meaning each verse (or pair of verses in some cases) begins with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet (though the letter Nun is missing in the Masoretic text but present in Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint, likely restored for the context of v. 14 as Nun). It is a hymn of praise to God, particularly focusing on His kingship, goodness, and majesty. The psalm progresses from a personal commitment to praise (vv. 1-3) to a declaration of God's mighty acts (vv. 4-7) and then highlights His compassionate character and just rule over all creation (vv. 8-16). Verse 14, situated within this section, emphasizes God's active, benevolent, and sovereign care for individuals, especially those in need. Historically, this psalm serves as a declaration of trust and an affirmation of God's benevolent rule, contrasting perhaps with human rulers who often neglect the marginalized.

Psalm 145 14 Word analysis

• The LORD (יהוה - YHWH/Yahweh): The sacred covenant name of God, revealing His personal, relational, and unchanging nature. It signifies His absolute sovereignty, faithfulness, and self-existence as the One who is always present and active in His creation and among His people. The verse is rooted in God's character, not a fleeting act.
• upholds (סוֹמֵךְ - somekh): A present participle, indicating a continuous and active support. It means to support, sustain, lean upon, or keep from falling. It implies strength, reliability, and an active interposition by God, preventing complete collapse or destruction. It is not just about helping to rise, but actively maintaining stability.
• all who fall (כָּל־הַנֹּפְלִים - kol-hannoplim): Literally "all the falling ones" or "all who are stumbling/fallen." This refers to those who are weak, stumble, are in a precarious state, or have come down from a higher position due to adversity, weakness, or even inadvertent sin (not willful rebellion). The "all" indicates the universality of God's care to everyone in such a state, without discrimination based on status, but rather based on their need.
• and lifts up (וְזוֹקֵף - vezokef): Another present participle, conveying ongoing action. This verb means to straighten up, raise up, or make erect. It describes an act of restoration, taking someone who is down (physically, emotionally, spiritually, or socially) and bringing them back to an upright and honorable position. It suggests an overcoming of humiliation or oppression.
• all who are bowed down (כָּל־הַכְּפוּפִים - kol-hakefufim): Literally "all the bowed ones" or "all who are bent low." This imagery depicts deep affliction, oppression, grief, distress, or physical ailment that causes one to be bent over. The "all" again highlights the universal nature of God's compassion towards any who find themselves in such a posture of weakness, humility, or despair.

Words-group analysis

• "The Lord upholds all who fall": This phrase emphasizes God's role as a perpetual support system. It highlights divine preservation and preventative grace. Even when His people stumble, they are not utterly abandoned or destroyed, for the Lord's hand is underneath them, providing constant stability. This refers to moral or spiritual failings leading to discouragement, or the literal misfortunes of life.
• "and lifts up all who are bowed down": This complements the first phrase by showcasing God's restorative power. When individuals are crushed by oppression, sorrow, or heavy burdens, causing them to be humbled or to despair, God actively intervenes to raise them up, bringing them relief, dignity, and renewed hope. This speaks to both physical deliverance from affliction and spiritual uplifting from despondency.
• The Parallelism: The two clauses create a strong synonymous parallelism, reinforcing the same central truth about God's compassionate care. "Upholds" and "lifts up" convey similar actions of divine assistance, while "all who fall" and "all who are bowed down" describe different but related aspects of human weakness or distress. Together, they form a comprehensive picture of God's unfailing commitment to His struggling creation. The use of "all" twice underscores the universal reach of God's compassion and mercy.

Psalm 145 14 Bonus section

The compassion described in Psalm 145:14 sets God apart from many earthly rulers or powers, who often disregard or even exploit the weak. It forms a powerful polemic against the notion of a detached or cruel deity, emphasizing instead a benevolent God who is deeply invested in the well-being of His creation. This verse not only offers comfort and hope to the afflicted but also serves as a model for how believers are to embody God's character in their own communities, extending support and upliftment to those who are vulnerable. The promise in this verse is founded on God's unwavering faithfulness (emet) and steadfast love (hesed), which are recurrent themes throughout the Psalm. It suggests that reliance on God, even in moments of weakness, leads to divine intervention and restoration, cultivating a posture of humble dependence rather than self-sufficiency.

Psalm 145 14 Commentary

Psalm 145:14 serves as a profound testament to the active, merciful, and kingly care of God for His creation, particularly humanity in its weakness. It presents God not as a distant, indifferent ruler, but as intimately involved in the lives of individuals, especially those who are struggling. "The Lord upholds all who fall" speaks to His preventing grace and sustaining power, assuring that even when humanity stumbles, experiences setback, or faces potential ruin, His hand is there to ensure they do not completely collapse. This extends beyond simple physical falling to spiritual lapses, emotional distress, or circumstantial misfortune. He acts as a firm foundation beneath their feet. Complementing this, "and lifts up all who are bowed down" describes God's restorative justice and compassion. Those who are burdened by affliction, oppressed, humbled by circumstances, or suffering from physical and emotional infirmities are brought to a place of dignity and recovery. This signifies divine intervention to reverse circumstances of oppression and despair, raising the afflicted from their low estate. The universality implied by "all" twice signifies God's boundless grace, extending His support and restoration to every soul that experiences weakness or hardship, rooted in His good character proclaimed throughout Psalm 145.