Psalm 147:3 kjv
He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
Psalm 147:3 nkjv
He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.
Psalm 147:3 niv
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Psalm 147:3 esv
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Psalm 147:3 nlt
He heals the brokenhearted
and bandages their wounds.
Psalm 147 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 15:26 | "for I am the LORD, your healer." | God's self-identification as Healer (Rapha). |
| Deut 32:39 | "I wound and I heal..." | God as the ultimate source of both judgment and healing. |
| Job 5:18 | "He wounds, but he binds up; he strikes, but his hands heal." | Echoes God's comprehensive power to harm and restore. |
| Psa 34:18 | "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." | God's closeness to the afflicted. |
| Psa 51:17 | "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." | God's valuing of a humbled heart, receptive to healing. |
| Isa 30:26 | "...the LORD binds up the hurt of his people, and heals the wound of his blow." | God's restoration after divine judgment or affliction. |
| Isa 41:10 | "fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you..." | God's empowering presence for the fearful and wounded. |
| Isa 57:15 | "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite." | God's condescension to dwell with and revive the humble. |
| Isa 61:1 | "He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives..." | Prophecy of Messiah's ministry, directly quoting themes. |
| Jer 30:17 | "For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the LORD..." | Specific promise of physical and national healing. |
| Lam 2:13 | "What can I say for you... to heal you? For your wound is as deep as the sea..." | Acknowledges deep wounds, hinting only God can heal them. |
| Eze 34:16 | "...I will bind up the injured and strengthen the sick..." | God's shepherd-like care for His flock. |
| Hos 6:1 | "Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn, that he may heal us; he has struck down, and he will bind us up." | Healing comes after divine chastisement. |
| Matt 11:28 | "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." | Jesus' invitation to those burdened by internal struggles. |
| Luke 4:18-19 | "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor... to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed..." | Jesus fulfilling Isa 61:1, extending the healing of broken hearts. |
| John 14:27 | "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled..." | Christ's unique ability to bring inner peace. |
| 2 Cor 1:3-4 | "God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction..." | God as the source of comfort in all forms of suffering. |
| Heb 4:15-16 | "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses... let us with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." | Christ's empathetic intercession and accessible grace for the weak. |
| 1 Pet 5:7 | "casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." | Encouragement to trust God with all burdens. |
| Rev 21:4 | "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore..." | The ultimate future healing and removal of all sorrow. |
Psalm 147 verses
Psalm 147 3 Meaning
Psalm 147:3 declares God's profound compassion and restorative power over the deepest human suffering. It reveals that the Almighty Lord, who holds the stars in place and counts them, also intimately cares for the inner afflictions of humanity. He personally ministers to those whose hearts are shattered by sorrow, grief, or sin, mending their emotional, spiritual, and sometimes physical, wounds and bringing healing and wholeness where despair once resided.
Psalm 147 3 Context
Psalm 147 is a magnificent hymn of praise, likely composed after the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon. The initial verses (Psa 147:1-2) celebrate God's restoration of Jerusalem and the gathering of the dispersed people of Israel. Against this backdrop of national physical rebuilding and renewal, verse 3 then immediately shifts to God's deep personal concern for the internal state of individuals within that restored nation. This juxtaposition highlights that God's power is not limited to grand acts of national deliverance or control over creation (as seen in later verses concerning rain, snow, and stars) but extends intimately to the personal, emotional, and spiritual well-being of each person. It serves as a powerful testament to God's comprehensive care – both global and personal.
Psalm 147 3 Word analysis
- He heals: Hebrew: יְהַמֶּר (yehamer / rāp̄ā’ – The root is rapha', "to heal," "to mend," "to repair," "to restore." Here it signifies divine, holistic intervention. This is God as the ultimate Physician, not just alleviating symptoms but restoring full functionality and soundness. The active tense emphasizes His direct and immediate involvement.
- the brokenhearted: Hebrew: נִשְׁבְּרֵי־לֵב (niskerey-lēv) – literally "broken of heart." This phrase denotes profound inner affliction, emotional devastation, spiritual anguish, despair, or guilt. It speaks of a spirit that is crushed, hopes shattered, and a will utterly disheartened. It's a comprehensive description of inward distress.
- and binds up: Hebrew: חֹבֵשׁ (ḥōḇēš) – from the verb chabash, meaning "to bind," "to bind up," "to dress a wound," "to wrap." It conveys a tender, careful, and attentive act. It is not just about stopping the bleeding, but about wrapping the wound gently to promote healing, implying ongoing care, comfort, and protection.
- their wounds: Hebrew: לְעַצְּבוֹתָם (lə‘atṣṣᵊḇôṯām) – from atsavah, which means "pains," "griefs," "sorrows," "injuries," or "wounds." It refers not merely to physical cuts, but to the deeper, unseen afflictions of the soul, the lasting impact of sorrow, betrayal, loss, or sin that leaves spiritual scars. The plural form signifies multiple, perhaps various, forms of pain.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- He heals the brokenhearted: This phrase emphasizes God's primary role as a restorer of inner peace and wholeness. It is not humanity healing itself, nor a generic comfort, but God's specific, active intervention into the most vulnerable part of a person—their heart. It stands as a polemic against the impotence of human-devised remedies or pagan deities unable to address the true depth of human suffering.
- and binds up their wounds: This extends the concept of healing to the practical and careful mending of the damage inflicted. It signifies a gentle, compassionate application of balm, making the painful areas whole and secure. It implies restoration to a state of health where the scars may remain, but the pain is gone, and function is restored.
Psalm 147 3 Bonus section
The active and immediate verbs "heals" (rapha) and "binds up" (chabash) highlight God's direct, personal, and ongoing involvement in the restoration process, contrasting sharply with any impersonal, detached divine concept. It is not a promise of instant removal of all suffering, but an assurance of divine presence, empathetic engagement, and ultimate restorative power that works through the often lengthy process of mending. This verse is particularly potent because it directly follows statements of God's majestic power over creation (numbering the stars, Psa 147:4) and national rebuilding (Psa 147:2). This transition underscores that God's grand, cosmic power is intrinsically linked to His tender, intimate care for the individual soul, bridging the infinite distance between Creator and creation with profound compassion. This psalm reminds us that true strength and wisdom are not merely in displaying power, but in humbly serving the weak and broken.
Psalm 147 3 Commentary
Psalm 147:3 offers profound comfort and theological depth. It presents God not as a distant, indifferent ruler, but as an intimately caring Father who directly intervenes in human suffering. While God’s magnificent power is demonstrated in creation, this verse emphasizes His personal compassion, particularly for those in deep spiritual or emotional distress. The "brokenhearted" are those whose spirits are crushed, not merely sad but devastated by life's trials, sin's burden, or the weight of existential despair. The "wounds" are not superficial; they are deep, perhaps unseen, afflictions that leave profound spiritual and emotional scars.
God’s action is two-fold: "healing" and "binding up." Healing speaks to a radical transformation, moving from brokenness to wholeness, while binding up speaks to the careful, tender application of remedy, protecting the wound as it mends. This reflects a comprehensive process of restoration. The suffering is acknowledged and directly addressed by God’s gracious hand. This truth found its ultimate fulfillment in the ministry of Jesus Christ, who came to fulfill the prophetic call to "bind up the brokenhearted" (Isa 61:1, Luke 4:18), offering forgiveness, hope, and true peace to those burdened and bruised by sin and sorrow. The verse implies that the suffering, when presented to God, becomes an opportunity for divine care and demonstration of His unique power to restore.
Examples:
- A person overwhelmed by guilt from past mistakes finds peace and new purpose after repentance and faith.
- Someone suffering from deep grief after loss experiences a gentle mending of their spirit over time through God's comfort.
- An individual crushed by emotional abuse begins to recover self-worth and inner stability with divine help.