Psalms · Chapter 34 · Healing

Psalms 34:18 — Bible Verse Meaning & Context

For the wound that has not yet closed.

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Topics #healing #grief

Read in chapter context · Psalms 34

Both translations, side by side

WEB · World English Bible

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

KJV · King James Version

"The LORD3068 is nigh7138 unto them that are of a broken7665 heart3820; and saveth3467 such as be of a contrite1793 spirit7307. unto: Heb. to the broken of heart of a contrite: Heb. contrite of spirit"

How the translations differ: The WEB is a modern public-domain revision of the 1901 ASV; the KJV dates to 1611. The KJV uses the, lord, nigh, unto, while the WEB renders these as yahweh, near, those, who. Both translate the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text — the differences are stylistic, not theological.

In context

Psalms 34:18 in Psalms 34

A Bible verse rarely stands alone. Here is Psalms 34:18 read with the verses immediately before and after — the surrounding flow of Psalms 34. Read the full chapter →

v.16 Yahweh’s face is against those who do evil, to cut off their memory from the earth.
v.17 The righteous cry, and Yahweh hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.
v.18 Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.
v.19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but Yahweh delivers him out of them all.
v.20 He protects all of his bones. Not one of them is broken.

Book background

About the Book of Psalms

Testament: Old Testament
Genre: Hebrew poetry
Author: David (73 psalms), Asaph, Sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses, others
Date written: c. 1410–430 BC (compiled over a millennium)
Audience: All of Israel's worshipping community — and the church
Chapters: 150

The Psalms are 150 inspired songs and prayers covering every emotion the human heart knows — praise, lament, confession, thanksgiving, anger, longing. About half are attributed to David. The book is divided into five "books," each ending with a doxology. The Psalms shape Christian prayer more than any other Old Testament book and are quoted in the New Testament more than any other.

Setting: 150 sacred songs used in temple worship; the Bible's songbook.

Key themes: worship · lament · trust · kingship · thanksgiving

Read Psalms from the beginning →

Memorisation aid

How to memorise Psalms 34:18

Psalms 34:18 contains 18 words in 2 clauses. Learn one clause at a time, then chain them. The first-letter mnemonic (FLM) under each clause is a memory hook — once you can speak the FLM from memory, the full clause follows.

1

Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart

YINTTW
2

and saves those who have a crushed spirit.

ASTWHA

Frequently asked

FAQ about Psalms 34:18

What does Psalms 34:18 say?

Psalms 34:18 reads: "Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit." — from the Old Testament, Psalms (Hebrew poetry). The full verse is shown above with both the World English Bible (WEB) and King James Version (KJV) translations side by side.

What book of the Bible is Psalms 34:18 in?

Psalms 34:18 is in the book of Psalms, traditionally attributed to David (73 psalms), Asaph, Sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses, others and written around c. 1410–430 BC (compiled over a millennium). Psalms is hebrew poetry in the Old Testament, originally addressed to All of Israel's worshipping community — and the church. Best known for Psalm 23 ("The LORD is my shepherd") and Psalm 51.

What is Psalms 34:18 about?

Psalms 34:18 is primarily a Bible verse about Healing, with related themes including Grief. Within Psalms, The Psalms are 150 inspired songs and prayers covering every emotion the human heart knows — praise, lament, confession, thanksgiving, anger, longing. Read the full passage above with surrounding context.

What is the difference between Psalms 34:18 in WEB and KJV?

Psalms 34:18 in the World English Bible (WEB) reads: "Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.". The King James Version (KJV) reads: "The LORD3068 is nigh7138 unto them that are of a broken7665 heart3820; and saveth3467 such as be of a contrite1793 spirit7307. unto: Heb. to the broken of heart of a contrite: Heb. contrite of spirit". The WEB is a modern public-domain translation that updates the KJV's 1611 English while keeping a similar formal-equivalence style. Both render the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text.

How long is Psalms 34:18?

Psalms 34:18 is 18 words in the WEB translation (91 characters), broken into 2 clauses. It is short and well-suited to memorisation. Estimated reading time is about 5 seconds.

How can I memorise Psalms 34:18?

To memorise Psalms 34:18, split it into its 2 natural clauses and learn one at a time. Repeat the full verse out loud five times, then write it from memory. Saving the verse as a photo wallpaper using our verse image studio helps daily review — the visual association with a memorable background dramatically improves recall.

Why does Psalms 34:18 matter in Psalms?

How can I apply Psalms 34:18 today?

Many readers use Psalms 34:18 as a daily reminder verse — saving it as a phone wallpaper, sharing it on Pinterest, or memorising it for prayer. The verse studio on this page lets you download Psalms 34:18 on 52 different backgrounds for free. Pair the verse with the surrounding chapter context shown above to understand its full meaning before applying it.

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