Psalms 34:18

Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.

Context and meaning

Psalm 34 has a curious heading: it was written when David feigned madness to escape a foreign king. This is not poetry from a study; it is from someone on the run.

Verse 18 reverses a common intuition. We tend to imagine God closer to those who are doing well — who sing in tune, whose faith is firm, who manage to give thanks. The psalm says the opposite: the nearness is greatest precisely with the brokenhearted and those "crushed in spirit".

"Broken" translates a word used for shattered bones and broken jars. It is not mild sadness; it is rupture.

That has a practical consequence for anyone wanting to comfort someone: you do not have to cheer a person up before speaking of God. The nearness does not depend on the person improving.

It is one of the verses most sent in messages of sympathy, and one of the few that still make sense when a person can no longer pray.

This verse appears in

GriefVerses for those who have lost someone: the Lord close to the brokenhearted, the hope of the resurrection and comfort.SadnessVerses for sad days: weeping that lasts for a night, joy that comes in the morning and the God who collects our tears.DepressionVerses for those going through depression: the God who hears the cry, lifts from the pit and sustains — and an invitation to seek help.ComfortVerses to comfort and be comforted: the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, the valley of the shadow, rest for the weary.

Scripture text: World English Bible (WEB), public domain. Prayers, introductions and reflections: original text by this site, not affiliated with any denomination. Devotional content; it does not replace medical, psychological or legal advice.

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB), public domain. "World English Bible" is a trademark of eBible.org. ebible.org/web/