"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."
— Psalm 147:3 (NIV)
Psalm 147:3 is the "he heals the brokenhearted" verse. This page gives the verse, where it sits in Psalm 147, and a plain reading. For more on the theme, see Bible verses about a broken heart, Bible verses about healing, and Psalm 34:18.
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The verse
The King James reads: "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds."
"Heals" is rapha (H7495), to heal, mend, or restore. "Broken" is shabar (H7665), to break or shatter, and "heart" is leb (H3820), the inner self. "Binds up" is chabash (H2280), to wrap or bandage, and "wounds" is atstsebeth (H6094), a hurt or sorrow.
Where it sits in Psalm 147
Psalm 147 has no author heading. It opens and closes with "Praise the Lord." Just before this verse it says, "The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel" (Psalm 147:2).
Right after it, the psalm looks up: "He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit" (Psalm 147:4-5). Later it says, "the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love" (Psalm 147:11).
What the verse is saying
The God who names every star is the same God who bends down to bandage a broken heart. The psalm puts those two pictures side by side on purpose. His greatness is not a reason he would ignore you; it is the reason he can heal you.
"Binds up their wounds" is the language of hands-on care, like dressing a cut. The verse does not say the wound never happened. It says God treats it. Isaiah 61:1 uses the same picture of one sent "to bind up the brokenhearted," and Jesus reads from Isaiah 61 in Luke 4:18-19.
Questions people ask
What does Psalm 147:3 say?
In the NIV it says, "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." The KJV says, "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds."
What does "binds up their wounds" mean?
The Hebrew word chabash means to wrap or bandage. It pictures God caring for an inner hurt the way someone dresses a physical wound.
Who wrote Psalm 147?
The psalm has no heading naming an author. Verse 2 mentions the Lord gathering the exiles of Israel and building up Jerusalem.
What is the context of Psalm 147:3?
It is a praise psalm. Verse 2 speaks of God rebuilding Jerusalem and gathering exiles, and verses 4-5 praise him for naming the stars and having unlimited understanding.
What other verses are like Psalm 147:3?
Psalm 34:18 (the Lord is close to the brokenhearted), Isaiah 61:1 (sent to bind up the brokenhearted), and Matthew 11:28 (come to me, all you who are weary and burdened) are close companions.
