Psalm 18:27 kjv
For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.
Psalm 18:27 nkjv
For You will save the humble people, But will bring down haughty looks.
Psalm 18:27 niv
You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.
Psalm 18:27 esv
For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down.
Psalm 18:27 nlt
You rescue the humble,
but you humiliate the proud.
Psalm 18 27 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 149:4 | For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation. | God's delight in and salvation of the humble. |
| Jas 4:6 | "...God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." | A foundational principle quoted in the NT. |
| Prov 16:18 | Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. | The inevitable consequence of pride. |
| Luke 1:51-52 | He has scattered the proud... He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly. | Mary's song, highlighting God's justice. |
| 1 Pet 5:5 | ...for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." | Apostolic instruction reaffirming this truth. |
| Psa 25:9 | He guides the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way. | God's gracious guidance for the meek. |
| Psa 34:18 | The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. | God's proximity and salvation for the humble. |
| Psa 147:6 | The LORD lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground. | Direct parallel showing God's dual action. |
| Isa 2:11-12 | The lofty looks of man shall be humbled... For the day of the LORD of hosts Shall come upon everything proud and lofty... | Prophetic warning against human arrogance. |
| Isa 29:19 | The humble also shall increase their joy in the LORD, And the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. | The joy experienced by God's humble ones. |
| Zeph 3:12 | "But I will leave in your midst a meek and humble people, And they shall trust in the name of the LORD." | The nature of God's remnant. |
| Matt 5:3 | "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven." | A Beatitude on spiritual humility. |
| Matt 23:12 | "And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." | Christ's teaching on the paradox of humility. |
| 1 Sam 2:7-8 | The LORD makes poor and makes rich... He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap... | Hannah's prayer acknowledging God's sovereignty over status. |
| Job 40:11-12 | Scatter abroad the abundance of your anger; Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him; Look on everyone who is haughty and bring him low. | God's challenge to Job, emphasizing divine power over pride. |
| Prov 18:12 | Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility. | A Proverbial truth on consequences of pride and humility. |
| Dan 4:37 | "...and those who walk in pride He is able to put down." | Nebuchadnezzar's acknowledgment after being humbled. |
| Obadiah 1:3-4 | The pride of your heart has deceived you... Though you ascend as high as the eagle... I will bring you down from there. | Judgment against the arrogant nation of Edom. |
| Mal 4:1 | "For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble..." | Eschatological judgment on the wicked proud. |
| 1 Cor 1:27-28 | But God has chosen the foolish... and the weak... to bring to nothing the things that are. | God using the humble to nullify the powerful. |
| Luke 18:14 | "...For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." | Conclusion of the parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector. |
| Mic 6:8 | He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? | A call to humble fellowship with God. |
| Isa 57:15 | "For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity... I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit..." | God's preference for dwelling with the humble. |
Psalm 18 verses
Psalm 18 27 Meaning
Psalm 18:27 succinctly declares a fundamental principle of divine justice: God's unwavering commitment to rescue and uplift those who are humble and dependent on Him, while simultaneously opposing and bringing down those who are proud and self-exalting. It reveals God's character as one who meticulously judges the attitudes and intentions of human hearts, demonstrating His sovereignty over human status and ambition.
Psalm 18 27 Context
Psalm 18 is a magnificent song of thanksgiving from David to the LORD, commemorating his deliverance from all his enemies, especially from the hand of Saul (cf. 2 Sam 22). It portrays God as a mighty deliverer, a fortress, a strong tower, and a source of strength in battle. The psalm paints a vivid picture of God's intervention, a divine warrior descending to fight for His anointed king. Within this grand narrative of rescue and victory, verse 27 articulates a core theological principle that undergirds God's actions throughout David's life and, indeed, throughout redemptive history. It explains why God acted on David's behalf: because David, despite being a king, exemplified humility before God, unlike the arrogant Saul whom God ultimately removed. This verse thus stands as a statement of divine justice, explaining the broader narrative of God's favor towards the humble and His judgment upon the proud.
Psalm 18 27 Word analysis
For you save:
- Hebrew: Kî tō-wō-shî-a‘ (כִּֽי תוֹשִׁ֣יעַ) - "For you save/deliver." Kî (כִּֽי) functions as "for" or "because," introducing the reason or basis for God's actions. Tō-wō-shî-a‘ comes from the root yasha' (יָשַׁע), meaning "to save," "deliver," "help," or "give victory." It's an active, sovereign act of intervention by God, not merely a passive outcome. This word embodies the essence of God's redemptive character.
the humble people:
- Hebrew: ‘ānî (עָנִ֣י) - "humble," "afflicted," "poor," "meek," "lowly." This term encompasses more than just economic status; it primarily signifies a spiritual posture. An ‘ānî person recognizes their utter dependence on God, often due to their circumstances, acknowledging their weakness and inability to save themselves. They look to God for aid and guidance.
but the haughty eyes:
- Hebrew: wĕ-‘ê-nayim rā-mō-wṯ (וְעֵינַ֥יִם רָמ֨וֹת) - "and haughty eyes." ‘Ê-nayim (עֵינַ֥יִם) is "eyes" (plural), used here as a metonymy or synecdoche representing the entire person's demeanor, attitude, or inner disposition. The eyes are often seen as windows to the soul. Rā-mō-wṯ (רָמ֨וֹת) means "high," "lofty," or "haughty." Thus, "haughty eyes" refers to an arrogant, proud, self-sufficient, contemptuous, or disdainful spirit that views others (and often God) with disdain, believing itself superior or beyond accountability.
you bring down:
- Hebrew: tash-pîl (תשפיל) - "you bring down," "you abase," "you humble." This verb is derived from shafal (שָׁפַל), meaning "to be low," "humble," or "brought low." It signifies God's active role in diminishing, demoting, or debasing the proud. It's an act of divine judgment that removes those who have exalted themselves from their elevated position.
"For you save the humble people": This phrase emphasizes God's redemptive power and compassion directed towards those who acknowledge their need for Him. It speaks to God's heart for the dependent, the oppressed, and those who trust not in their own strength but in divine providence.
"but the haughty eyes you bring down": This part presents a striking contrast, illustrating God's unyielding opposition to human pride. The "haughty eyes" metaphorically represent the entirety of an arrogant person, whose pride is visibly manifest in their bearing. God actively intervenes to humble and abase those who insolently exalt themselves.
Psalm 18 27 Bonus section
This divine principle—that God lifts the humble and abases the proud—is a pervasive theme found across various genres of biblical literature, from the historical narratives of King Saul and King David, through the prophetic warnings, to the wisdom literature of Proverbs, and culminating in the teachings of Christ and the Apostles. It underscores God's preference for genuine, inner humility over outward shows of strength or self-exaltation. True humility is not weakness, but a recognition of one's rightful place before a mighty and holy God, enabling one to fully receive His grace and strength. Conversely, pride, though it may appear as strength, is the ultimate fragility, destined for a fall. The Magnificat of Mary (Luke 1:46-55) powerfully echoes this Psalm, as she celebrates God's character in scattering the proud and lifting up the lowly, reflecting this core divine principle in the context of salvation history.
Psalm 18 27 Commentary
Psalm 18:27 succinctly expresses a profound theological truth evident throughout Scripture: God consistently acts as the ultimate arbiter of humility and pride. His very nature aligns with the humble and sets Him against the proud. "You save the humble people" indicates that God's salvation, whether from physical peril or spiritual darkness, is inherently linked to a disposition of dependence and reliance on Him. The humble individual, aware of their limitations and spiritual need, creates space for God's power to operate in their lives. They recognize God as the source of all help and deliverance.
Conversely, "but the haughty eyes you bring down" reveals God's active opposition to pride. Haughtiness, manifesting as arrogance, self-sufficiency, and disdain for God's authority or for others, is an affront to the divine. It attempts to usurp God's sovereign position. God's act of "bringing down" is not arbitrary but a righteous judgment on those who exalt themselves. This principle assures believers that divine justice will ultimately prevail, where human arrogance will inevitably face God's humbling hand. This verse is not merely a descriptive statement but a prescriptive truth about how God governs His creation, reinforcing the importance of a humble walk before Him and cautioning against the perils of pride.