The Meaning of Psalms 34:18 Explained

Psalms 34:18

KJV: The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

YLT: Near is Jehovah to the broken of heart, And the bruised of spirit He saveth.

Darby: Jehovah is nigh to those that are of a broken heart, and saveth them that are of a contrite spirit.

ASV: Jehovah is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, And saveth such as are of a contrite spirit.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The LORD  [is] nigh  unto them that are of a broken  heart;  and saveth  such as be of a contrite  spirit. 

What does Psalms 34:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 34:11-22 - The Salvation Of The Contrite
Psalms 34:11-14 : The gist of this exhortation is quoted by Peter in his first Epistle. See 1 Peter 3:10. We need not fret to defend ourselves or to answer false accusations. Let us refrain our lips, hold our peace, as Jesus did, and go on doing what is right and good. God will see to it that our needs are supplied, that our enemies are silenced, and that our soul is redeemed.
Psalms 34:15 : Do you feel unable to claim the designation of righteous? Remember that Paul was glad to reject his own, that he might be clad in Another's righteousness. That still avails for us. See Philippians 3:9.
Psalms 34:17 : We are not kept from trouble, but delivered out of it.
Psalms 34:20 : You do not recognize Him, but the Great Gardener passes by the plants that have braved the wind and storm to bend over you who are beaten to the earth. See the literal fulfillment of this in John 19:36. How much we owe to God's continuous care!
Psalms 34:22 : Observe the present tenses in which the psalmist records God's redeeming love. It never grows old. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 34

1  David praises God, and exhorts others thereto by his experience
8  They are blessed who trust in God
11  He exhorts to the fear of God
15  The privileges of the righteous

What do the individual words in Psalms 34:18 mean?

Near Yahweh [is] to those who have a broken heart and such as have a contrite spirit saves
קָר֣וֹב יְ֭הוָה לְנִשְׁבְּרֵי־ לֵ֑ב וְֽאֶת־ דַּכְּאֵי־ ר֥וּחַ יוֹשִֽׁיעַ

קָר֣וֹב  Near 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: קָרֹוב  
Sense: near.
יְ֭הוָה  Yahweh  [is] 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לְנִשְׁבְּרֵי־  to  those  who  have  a  broken 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: שָׁבוּר 
Sense: to break, break in pieces.
לֵ֑ב  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
דַּכְּאֵי־  such  as  have  a  contrite 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural construct
Root: דַּכָּא 
Sense: dust (adj).
ר֥וּחַ  spirit 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.
יוֹשִֽׁיעַ  saves 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָשַׁע 
Sense: to save, be saved, be delivered.