He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse isn't just about God fixing sadness; it's about His deliberate action of mending what's been shattered into pieces, much like a splintered heart needing more than just a surface touch. It highlights His specific work of restoration, not just general comfort, for those who are deeply wounded, even to the point of being broken apart by grief or sin.
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm celebrates God's restoration of His people, especially after their exile and return to Jerusalem. It highlights His power not only to rebuild the city but also to mend the deep emotional and spiritual wounds inflicted by hardship and sin. The verses surrounding this one speak of God gathering the dispersed, numbering the stars, and lifting up the humble, all pointing to His immense power and tender care for those who are hurting.
Ever feel like your heart has been shattered into a million pieces? Like there's no one who can possibly understand or fix the deep ache within?
This verse paints a vivid picture of God as a compassionate physician. The Hebrew word for 'brokenhearted' literally means 'shattered' or 'broken to pieces.' It's not just sadness; it's a deep, shattering pain.
God's Role:
What kind of 'brokenheartedness' does this verse address? Is it only for those who messed up, or for anyone caught in life's storms?
The beauty of this psalm is its expansive reach. The 'brokenhearted' here can encompass a range of deep pain:
Dual Focus:
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Understand the original words
shevurei lev · Hebrew Noun/Adjective Phrase
Refers to those experiencing deep emotional or spiritual distress, sorrow, or grief. God is depicted as the intimate comforter and restorer of such individuals.
This psalm was likely written or compiled during or after the Babylonian Exile, a period when the Jewish people experienced immense suffering, loss, and a shattered national identity. The verse speaks directly to the profound grief and brokenness of those who had lost their homes, their Temple, and their connection to God's presence in their land.
c. 597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Jehoiachin and many prominent citizens of Judah are exiled to Babylon after a siege of Jerusalem. This event marks the beginning of the Babylonian Captivity.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's forces destroy Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple, and a second, larger group of Judeans is exiled. This is a devastating national trauma.
c. 586-539 BC— this verse
The Babylonian Exile
The remaining population of Judah lives under Babylonian rule, experiencing deep sorrow, shame, and a sense of abandonment. Many hearts are broken by loss and devastation.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
The Persian king Cyrus the Great overthrows the Babylonian Empire, paving the way for the return of Jewish exiles.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus for Return
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland and rebuild their Temple. This offers a glimmer of hope for the brokenhearted.
c. 516 BC
Rebuilding of the Second Temple
After much struggle and opposition, the Second Temple is completed in Jerusalem, a significant step in national restoration.
This passage directly echoes the sentiment, stating that the Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those with a crushed spirit, emphasizing God's closeness in times of deep sorrow.
Isaiah 61:1This prophetic passage, which Jesus quotes in the New Testament, describes the Messiah being sent to 'proclaim good news to the poor,' 'bind up the brokenhearted,' and 'comfort all who mourn,' directly linking the healing of the brokenhearted to God's redemptive work.
Luke 4:18Here, Jesus applies Isaiah 61:1 to himself, showing that his mission included bringing healing and restoration to those who are brokenhearted, demonstrating this truth in action.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4This passage speaks of God as the 'Father of mercies and God of all comfort,' who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can then comfort others, highlighting the comforting and healing nature of God that flows through believers.
Galatians 6:2While not directly about God healing, this verse speaks to the community's responsibility to 'bear one another's burdens,' which reflects the spirit of binding up wounds and caring for the brokenhearted within the body of Christ.
ellicottPsalms 147:3: "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds."
(3) Broken in heart.— As in Psalm 34:18 . (Comp. Isaiah 61:1 .) Wounds.—See margin, and comp. Job 9:28; Proverbs 15:13.
clarkePsalms 147:3: "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds."
He healeth the broken in heart - שבורי, the shivered in heart. From the root שבר shabar, to break in pieces, we have our word shiver, to break into splinters, into shivers. The heart broken in pieces by a sense of God's displeasure.
This verse isn't just about God fixing sadness; it's about His deliberate action of mending what's been shattered into pieces, much like a splintered heart needing more than just a surface touch. It highlights His specific work of restoration, not just general comfort, for those who are deeply wounded, even to the point of being broken apart by grief or sin.
This psalm celebrates God's restoration of His people, especially after their exile and return to Jerusalem. It highlights His power not only to rebuild the city but also to mend the deep emotional and spiritual wounds inflicted by hardship and sin. The verses surrounding this one speak of God gathering the dispersed, numbering the stars, and lifting up the humble, all pointing to His immense power and tender care for those who are hurting.
This psalm celebrates God's restoration of His people, especially after their exile and return to Jerusalem. It highlights His power not only to rebuild the city but also to mend the deep emotional and spiritual wounds inflicted by hardship and sin. The verses surrounding this one speak of God gathering the dispersed, numbering the stars, and lifting up the humble, all pointing to His immense power and tender care for those who are hurting.
"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." — This verse isn't just about God fixing sadness; it's about His deliberate action of mending what's been shattered into pieces, much like a splintered heart needing more than just a surface touch. It…
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Last reviewed October 2026