Psalm 146 8

Psalm 146:8 kjv

The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:

Psalm 146:8 nkjv

The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; The LORD raises those who are bowed down; The LORD loves the righteous.

Psalm 146:8 niv

the LORD gives sight to the blind, the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down, the LORD loves the righteous.

Psalm 146:8 esv

the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.

Psalm 146:8 nlt

The LORD opens the eyes of the blind.
The LORD lifts up those who are weighed down.
The LORD loves the godly.

Psalm 146 verses

Psalm 146 8 Meaning

Psalm 146:8 describes the compassionate and powerful nature of the Sovereign LORD, highlighting three specific aspects of His active involvement in the world: His ability to grant physical and spiritual sight to those deprived of it, His willingness to elevate and restore those burdened and oppressed, and His enduring affection and faithfulness towards those who live uprightly according to His ways. This verse stands as a testament to God's justice, power, and profound care for the vulnerable and the devoted.

Psalm 146 8 Context

Psalm 146 is the first of the final Hallel psalms (Psalms 146-150), which collectively culminate in triumphant praise to the LORD. This chapter functions as an exhortation to praise God, contrasting the fleeting reliability of human leaders and princes, who are mortal and finite, with the eternal and unfailing trustworthiness of Yahweh. The psalmist warns against putting ultimate trust in human strength or institutions. Instead, Psalm 146:5-9 explicitly describes the blessings and help provided by the God of Jacob—the Creator of all things (vv. 5-6), who maintains faithfulness forever, executes justice, feeds the hungry, frees prisoners, gives sight to the blind, lifts up the oppressed, loves the righteous, watches over the vulnerable (sojourners, fatherless, widow), and thwarts the wicked. Verse 8 is a central declaration of God's active, compassionate intervention on behalf of specific, often marginalized, groups in society. The original cultural context would recognize the dire situation of the blind, the bent, and the vulnerable, who typically had no strong advocate outside of God Himself. The psalmist implicitly highlights that reliance on any human authority for such comprehensive and continuous care is futile; only the Creator can deliver.

Psalm 146 8 Word analysis

• the LORD (יְהוָה - YHVH): Refers to the covenant God of Israel, Yahweh, emphasizing His personal, unchanging, and faithful nature. It signifies His absolute sovereignty and unique power as opposed to mortal rulers.
• opens (פֹּקֵחַ - poqeaḥ): A present participle, indicating a continuous, active, and characteristic action of God. It means to "unstop," "open wide," or "give sight." It implies removal of an impediment, a creative act of restoration.
• eyes (עִוְרִים - ivrim): Literally "blind ones." The verb "opens" directly applies to the state of blindness, implying God's restoration of sight to individuals who are blind. This refers both to physical blindness and, in broader biblical usage, spiritual ignorance or inability to discern God's truth.
• the blind (ivrim): This is the noun form for "blind people" or "the blind."
• the LORD (יְהוָה - YHVH): Repeated, reaffirming the sole agent of these divine actions and attributes.
• lifts up (זוֹקֵף - zoqeph): A present participle, signifying an ongoing characteristic action. It means "to straighten," "to raise," or "to set upright" from a bent or fallen position. This suggests restoration of dignity, strength, and hope.
• those who are bowed down (כְּפוּפִים - kᵉfūphīm): Those who are bent over, stooped, humbled, oppressed, or weighed down by burdens, sorrow, or infirmity. This can encompass physical ailment, emotional despair, or social injustice.
• the LORD (יְהוָה - YHVH): Emphasized again to underscore God's distinct attributes and reliable nature.
• loves (אֹהֵב - ohev): A present participle, describing an enduring, active, and fundamental affection of God. It denotes deep, steadfast love rooted in His righteous character.
• the righteous (צַדִּיקִים - tsaddîqîm): Refers to those who are just, upright, godly, and aligned with God's will and law. It implies integrity in relationship with God and others, marked by fidelity to the covenant.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "the LORD opens the eyes of the blind": This phrase speaks of a miraculous, restorative power that goes beyond human capability. It highlights God's ability to reverse physical limitations and, importantly, to bring spiritual light and understanding to those living in darkness, incapable of seeing truth on their own. It underscores God's compassion and sovereign ability to illuminate.
• "the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down": This segment focuses on God's empathy and empowering strength towards the downtrodden. It covers not only physical afflictions (like a bent posture) but also metaphorical burdens such as oppression, despair, poverty, or emotional brokenness. God is portrayed as the One who grants dignity, hope, and restoration to those weighed down by life's difficulties.
• "the LORD loves the righteous": This concluding statement underscores God's moral alignment and covenant fidelity. It asserts His active affection for those who strive to live according to His standards of justice and uprightness. This is not a passive sentiment but an active, preferential love that ensures His protection, provision, and favor for those devoted to Him.

Psalm 146 8 Bonus section

• Prophetic and Messianic Fulfillment: The actions described in Psalm 146:8 were clearly embodied in the ministry of Jesus Christ. He physically healed the blind, straightened the bent, and demonstrated deep love for those who sought righteousness. This psalm, therefore, serves as a powerful prefigurement of the Messiah's redemptive work.
• Polemics against Idols and Earthly Powers: The attributes ascribed to Yahweh in this verse stand in direct opposition to the impotence of pagan deities (who have eyes but cannot see) and the transient, often unjust, nature of human rulers. Only the LORD truly sees, restores, and justly rules.
• Spiritual Application: Beyond the literal interpretations, these actions carry significant spiritual meaning. "Opening the eyes of the blind" can refer to God converting a sinner to spiritual understanding, moving them from darkness to light (Acts 26:18). "Lifting up those who are bowed down" can mean releasing individuals from the heavy burden of sin, guilt, or spiritual despair. "Loving the righteous" affirms God's delight in spiritual conformity to His Son.
• Divine Initiative: Each phrase highlights God as the active initiator of good. It is He who opens, He who lifts, He who loves—underscoring humanity's reliance on His grace and power.

Psalm 146 8 Commentary

Psalm 146:8 provides a robust description of Yahweh as an actively benevolent and just God, perfectly complementing the psalm's earlier injunction against trusting in mortal rulers. The three parallel statements emphasize God's direct, personal, and ongoing involvement in the lives of His people and the vulnerable. God's ability to "open the eyes of the blind" points to His sovereign power over creation and physical infirmity, but profoundly also to His work in spiritual enlightenment, making truth evident where it was once hidden. "Lifts up those who are bowed down" showcases His compassionate solidarity with the afflicted, the poor, and the oppressed, restoring their dignity and relieving their burdens. Finally, "loves the righteous" speaks to God's inherent justice and loyalty to those who honor Him through their lives. These divine actions serve not just as examples of His power, but as defining characteristics of His very being. They promise true and lasting help from a God who cares personally, acts powerfully, and loves righteously, in stark contrast to fallible human leaders. This verse embodies a key Old Testament theme: God's preferential care for the anawim—the humble, poor, and afflicted who depend entirely on Him.