"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
— Psalm 34:18 (NIV)
Psalm 34:18 is the "Lord is close to the brokenhearted" verse. This page gives the verse, the story behind the psalm, and a plain reading. For more verses on the theme, see Bible verses about a broken heart, Bible verses about grief, and Bible verses about comfort.
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The verse
Psalm 34:18 (NIV) reads: "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
The King James says, "The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." "Close" (KJV "nigh") is qarob (H7138), near. "Broken" is shabar (H7665), to break or shatter. "Crushed" (KJV "contrite") is dakka (H1793), crushed to pieces, and "saves" is yasha (H3467), to rescue or deliver.
The story behind the psalm
The psalm's title reads, "Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left." It looks back to 1 Samuel 21:10-15, when David was running from Saul and fled to the Philistine city of Gath, where he acted mad to escape.
Out of that low point David writes, "I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears" (Psalm 34:4), and "Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him" (Psalm 34:8). The verse just before 18 says, "The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles" (Psalm 34:17), and the verse after says, "The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all" (Psalm 34:19).
What the verse is saying
The verse does not tell the brokenhearted to fix themselves first. It says God comes near to them. Being crushed in spirit is not a sign that God has left; it is the place the psalm says he is close.
Verse 19 is honest that troubles still come. The promise is God's nearness in them and his rescue through them. Psalm 147:3 says the same: "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." For more on that, see Bible verses about healing, Bible verses about depression, and Bible verses about loneliness.
Questions people ask
What does Psalm 34:18 say?
In the NIV it says, "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." The KJV says, "The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit."
Who wrote Psalm 34?
The psalm's title says, "Of David," written after he escaped from Gath (1 Samuel 21:10-15). See Bible verses about David.
What does "crushed in spirit" mean?
The Hebrew word dakka means crushed or broken to pieces. The KJV translates it "contrite." It describes someone flattened by grief, guilt, or trouble.
Is Psalm 34:18 a good verse for someone grieving?
Many people share it with someone who is grieving because it promises God's nearness, not quick answers. See Bible verses about grief and Bible verses about comfort.
What verse goes well with Psalm 34:18?
Psalm 147:3 says, "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Matthew 11:28 and Psalm 23 also speak to God's care in hard seasons.
