Psalms 34:18
The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Main message
Psalm 34:18: The LORD is near the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit; divine nearness dignifies profound pain and can coexist with therapy, medicine, crisis help, and patient recovery.
Meaning in context
Psalm 34:15–18 · The LORD sees, hears, and draws near — Verses 15–18 contrast divine opposition to evil with attentive hearing and nearness to the brokenhearted and crushed in spirit.
The LORD is near the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit; divine nearness dignifies profound pain and can coexist with therapy, medicine, crisis help, and patient recovery.
Further teachings
The LORD sees, hears, and draws near
The LORD is near the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit; divine nearness dignifies profound pain and can coexist with therapy, medicine, crisis help, and patient recovery.
Cross References: Psalm 34:18 — Psalm 34:15–18.
Applications in daily life
- 1
Psalm 34:18
The LORD is near the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit; divine nearness dignifies profound pain and can coexist with therapy, medicine, crisis help, and patient recovery.
God’s nearness to the brokenhearted does not replace emergency services, suicide prevention, therapy, medicine, safeguarding, or practical support.
Related Bible passages and resources
- Psalm 34 (full chapter)
Psalm 34 moves from personal praise and testimony into communal invitation, wisdom instruction, and renewed assurance that the LORD hears the afflicted. Its alphabetic shape reinforces a comprehensive meditation on praise, fear of the LORD, truthful speech, peace, suffering, and refuge. The psalm does not promise a trouble-free life: it explicitly says the righteous have many afflictions while insisting that God remains near, attentive, and redeeming. Later Christian reception of verse 20 in John 19:36 is important, but it should not erase the psalm’s original poetic setting.
- Psalm 34:17
Read the previous verse to preserve the movement.
- Psalm 34:19
Continue with the next verse to preserve the movement.
- Study the Book of Psalms
Keep this verse within Psalm 34’s movement from praise and deliverance to wisdom, peace, affliction, and refuge.
Common misreadings
God’s nearness to the brokenhearted does not replace emergency services, suicide prevention, therapy, medicine, safeguarding, or practical support.
The LORD is near the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit; divine nearness dignifies profound pain and can coexist with therapy, medicine, crisis help, and patient recovery.
Cross References
- Matthew 5:4
“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”
- John 11:35
“Jesus wept.”
- Psalms 147:3
“He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.”
- Revelation 21:4
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
- 2 Corinthians 1:3
“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;”
Related Verses
- Isaiah 61:1
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;”
- Psalms 9:9
“The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.”
- Romans 12:19
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
- 2 Corinthians 1:4
“Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
- Psalms 42:11
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. ”
Related Topics
Related Life Situations
Promises and Prayers Connected to This Verse
Divine Promises
- The LORD Is Nigh Unto Them That Are of a Broken Heart
Prayer Points
- A Lament Grounded in Psalm 34:18
How to Apply Psalms 34:18
Meditate on Psalms 34:18 by reading it aloud each morning this week. Ask yourself how its message on the theme of Abuse Recovery in the Bible applies to a current challenge you are facing. Write one specific step you will take today in response to its truth — and revisit that commitment at the end of the week.
Sources & Method
Biblical text
Commentary anchored in the public-domain Psalm 34 text used by the site.
- Author:
- The Lord Will Editorial Team
- Reviewed by:
- Ugo Candido
- Last updated:
- Reviewed on: