He Heals the Broken in Heart
Psalm 147 summary: what it means
Psalm 147 is praise that keeps setting the very large beside the very small. It opens by calling praise good and fitting, then names what God does: he builds up Jerusalem and gathers its outcasts, heals the broken in heart and binds up their wounds. In the next breath he counts the stars and calls each by name. His understanding is infinite, and he lifts up the humble while bringing the wicked down.
Three calls to praise divide the psalm, at verses 1, 7 and 12. Between them God sends rain, feeds the ravens and takes no pleasure in the strength of horses, only in those who hope in his loving kindness. The last section turns to weather, snow, frost, hail and thaw, all moved by his word, and ends with that word given to Israel.
Psalm 147: He Heals the Broken in Heart
World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-147
Psalm 147 commentary: explained verse by verse
Praise the LORD,for it is good to sing praises to our God;for it is pleasant and fitting to praise him.
Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.
The psalm opens by calling for praise and gives its reason: it is good, pleasant and fitting to praise God. Praise is presented as right in itself, before any list of reasons.
Also read Psalm 42:4, Revelation 5:9-14, Revelation 19:1-6, Psalm 92:1
The LORD builds up Jerusalem.He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.
The LORD builds up Jerusalem and gathers together the outcasts of Israel. It is the first reason for praise the psalm gives: a city being built and outcasts gathered together. Verse 3 carries it on to healing the broken in heart, so the building leads straight into care for the wounded. The KJV reads the LORD doth build up Jerusalem.
Also read Isaiah 14:32, Jeremiah 31:4, Isaiah 11:11-12, Ezra 8:1-14
He heals the broken in heart,and binds up their wounds.
He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
God heals the broken in heart and binds up their wounds, the picture of someone dressing an injury. It comes straight after the gathering of outcasts in verse 2. The KJV reads: He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
Also read Job 5:18, Psalm 34:18, Psalm 51:17, Hosea 6:1-2
He counts the number of the stars.He calls them all by their names.
He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.
Right after the healing of verse 3, the scale jumps to the stars. God counts them and calls each one by name, so the one who tends wounds also orders the sky.
Also read Psalm 148:3, Isaiah 40:26, Genesis 15:5, Psalm 8:3
Great is our Lord, and mighty in power.His understanding is infinite.
Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
The psalm draws the conclusion from verses 3 and 4. God is great and mighty in power, and his understanding is infinite. The KJV has the same final phrase: his understanding is infinite.
Also read Psalm 139:17-18, 1 Chronicles 16:25, Jeremiah 32:17-19, Romans 11:33
The LORD upholds the humble.He brings the wicked down to the ground.
The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
God's power takes sides. He upholds the humble and brings the wicked down to the ground.
Also read Psalm 55:23, 2 Peter 2:4-9, Psalm 146:8-9, Psalm 25:9
Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving.Sing praises on the harp to our God,
Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:
This is the second call to praise, now with thanksgiving and the harp. It opens a new section about God's care for the earth.
Also read Psalm 95:1-2, Psalm 47:6-7, Revelation 5:8-10, Psalm 107:21-22
who covers the sky with clouds,who prepares rain for the earth,who makes grass grow on the mountains.
Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.
God covers the sky with clouds, prepares rain and makes grass grow on the mountains. The weather is described as his work.
Also read Job 36:27-33, Job 5:10, Matthew 5:45, Genesis 9:14
He provides food for the livestock,and for the young ravens when they call.
He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.
Also read Job 38:41, Psalm 136:25, Luke 12:24, Matthew 6:26
He doesn’t delight in the strength of the horse.He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.
He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.
God does not delight in the strength of the horse or take pleasure in the legs of a man. Strength and speed are not what please him.
Also read Hosea 1:7, 2 Samuel 1:23, Isaiah 31:1, Ecclesiastes 9:11
The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him,in those who hope in his loving kindness.
The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
This is the answer to verse 10. God takes pleasure in those who fear him and hope in his loving kindness, so what pleases him is trust, not strength.
Also read Proverbs 31:30, Psalm 33:18, Zephaniah 3:17, 1 Peter 1:13
Praise the LORD, Jerusalem!Praise your God, Zion!
Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.
Also read Joel 2:23, Isaiah 52:7, Psalm 149:2, Isaiah 12:6
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates.He has blessed your children within you.
For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee.
Addressed to Jerusalem, this verse lists what God has done for the city. He has strengthened the bars of its gates and blessed its children.
Also read Luke 19:42-44, Nehemiah 7:3, Psalm 144:12, Nehemiah 6:1
He makes peace in your borders.He fills you with the finest of the wheat.
He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.
Also read Psalm 81:16, Isaiah 60:17-18, Psalm 132:15, Ezekiel 27:17
He sends out his commandment to the earth.His word runs very swiftly.
He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.
God sends his commandment to the earth and his word runs very swiftly. The verses that follow show what that word does.
Also read Psalm 107:25, Job 34:29, Psalm 33:9, Job 37:12
He gives snow like wool,and scatters frost like ashes.
He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.
The word brings winter. Snow is compared to wool and frost to scattered ashes.
Also read Psalm 148:8, Job 37:9-10, Job 38:29, Isaiah 55:10
He hurls down his hail like pebbles.Who can stand before his cold?
He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?
Hail comes down like pebbles, and the verse asks who can stand before his cold. Winter is shown as a display of God's power.
Also read Job 38:22-23, Exodus 9:23-25, Job 38:29-30, Joshua 10:11
He sends out his word, and melts them.He causes his wind to blow, and the waters flow.
He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.
The same word that brought the cold now melts it. God sends his word, his wind blows and the waters flow again.
Also read Job 6:16-17, Psalm 107:20, Job 37:10, Job 37:17
He shows his word to Jacob,his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.
Also read Deuteronomy 4:45, Deuteronomy 6:1, Deuteronomy 4:12-13, Psalm 103:7
He has not done this for just any nation.They don’t know his ordinances.Praise the LORD!
He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.
Also read Ephesians 2:12, Isaiah 5:1-7, Deuteronomy 4:7-8, Acts 14:16
A prayer from Psalm 147
LORD, it is good and pleasant to sing praises to you. You build up Jerusalem and gather together the outcasts. You heal the broken in heart and bind up their wounds. I bring my own wounds to you. You count the stars and call them all by name, and your understanding is infinite. You cover the sky with clouds, prepare rain for the earth and feed the young ravens when they call. You do not delight in strength, but in those who fear you and hope in your loving kindness. Let me be among them. Amen.
Psalm 147 Bible study questions
- In verses 3 and 4, what two very different things does the LORD do, one for people and one for the stars?
- In verses 10 and 11, what does the LORD not delight in, and what does he take pleasure in?
- The psalm places healing broken hearts next to naming the stars. How does it feel to think of both kinds of care in the same God?
- Verse 9 mentions the young ravens when they call. What small or overlooked things do you think this psalm would include in God's care today?
- Psalm 34:18 says the LORD is near to those who have a broken heart. How does it compare with Psalm 147:3?
Questions about Psalm 147
What does Psalm 147 mean?
It is a psalm of praise that describes God as both the healer of broken hearts and the ruler of the stars, rain and snow. It ends by praising him for giving his word to Israel.
What does Psalm 147:3 mean?
It says God heals the broken in heart and binds up their wounds, like someone dressing an injury. It follows directly from verse 2, where he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
Who wrote Psalm 147?
The psalm has no heading and does not name its author.
What does Psalm 147:5 say in the KJV?
"Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite."
What does Psalm 147:11 mean?
It says God takes pleasure in those who fear him and hope in his loving kindness, in contrast to verse 10, where he takes no delight in the strength of horses or men.
What does Psalm 147:1 mean?
It calls people to praise the LORD and says that doing so is good, pleasant and fitting.
Psalm 147 KJV: the King James Version
Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.1
The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.2
He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.3
He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.4
Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.5
The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.6
Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:7
Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.8
He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.9
He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.10
The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.11
Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.12
For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee.13
He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.14
He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.15
He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.16
He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?17
He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.18
He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.19
He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.20
Psalm 147 in Hebrew
The Hebrew text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible, which counts a psalm's heading as verse 1, so they can run one ahead of English Bibles.
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1 הַ֥לְלוּ יָ֨הּ ׀ כִּי־ט֭וֹב זַמְּרָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ כִּֽי־נָ֝עִים נָאוָ֥ה תְהִלָּֽה׃
2 בּוֹנֵ֣ה יְרוּשָׁלִַ֣ם יְהוָ֑ה נִדְחֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל יְכַנֵּֽס׃
3 הָ֭רֹפֵא לִשְׁב֣וּרֵי לֵ֑ב וּ֝מְחַבֵּ֗שׁ לְעַצְּבוֹתָֽם׃
4 מוֹנֶ֣ה מִ֭סְפָּר לַכּוֹכָבִ֑ים לְ֝כֻלָּ֗ם שֵׁמ֥וֹת יִקְרָֽא׃
5 גָּד֣וֹל אֲדוֹנֵ֣ינוּ וְרַב־כֹּ֑חַ לִ֝תְבוּנָת֗וֹ אֵ֣ין מִסְפָּֽר׃
6 מְעוֹדֵ֣ד עֲנָוִ֣ים יְהוָ֑ה מַשְׁפִּ֖יל רְשָׁעִ֣ים עֲדֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃
7 עֱנ֣וּ לַיהוָ֣ה בְּתוֹדָ֑ה זַמְּר֖וּ לֵאלֹהֵ֣ינוּ בְכִנּֽוֹר׃
8 הַֽמְכַסֶּ֬ה שָׁמַ֨יִם ׀ בְּעָבִ֗ים הַמֵּכִ֣ין לָאָ֣רֶץ מָטָ֑ר הַמַּצְמִ֖יחַ הָרִ֣ים חָצִֽיר׃
9 נוֹתֵ֣ן לִבְהֵמָ֣ה לַחְמָ֑הּ לִבְנֵ֥י עֹ֝רֵ֗ב אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִקְרָֽאוּ׃
10 לֹ֤א בִגְבוּרַ֣ת הַסּ֣וּס יֶחְפָּ֑ץ לֹֽא־בְשׁוֹקֵ֖י הָאִ֣ישׁ יִרְצֶֽה׃
11 רוֹצֶ֣ה יְ֭הוָה אֶת־יְרֵאָ֑יו אֶת־הַֽמְיַחֲלִ֥ים לְחַסְדּֽוֹ׃
12 שַׁבְּחִ֣י יְ֭רוּשָׁלִַם אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה הַֽלְלִ֖י אֱלֹהַ֣יִךְ צִיּֽוֹן׃
13 כִּֽי־חִ֭זַּק בְּרִיחֵ֣י שְׁעָרָ֑יִךְ בֵּרַ֖ךְ בָּנַ֣יִךְ בְּקִרְבֵּֽךְ׃
14 הַשָּׂם־גְּבוּלֵ֥ךְ שָׁל֑וֹם חֵ֥לֶב חִ֝טִּ֗ים יַשְׂבִּיעֵֽךְ׃
15 הַשֹּׁלֵ֣חַ אִמְרָת֣וֹ אָ֑רֶץ עַד־מְ֝הֵרָ֗ה יָר֥וּץ דְּבָרֽוֹ׃
16 הַנֹּתֵ֣ן שֶׁ֣לֶג כַּצָּ֑מֶר כְּ֝פ֗וֹר כָּאֵ֥פֶר יְפַזֵּֽר׃
17 מַשְׁלִ֣יךְ קַֽרְח֣וֹ כְפִתִּ֑ים לִפְנֵ֥י קָ֝רָת֗וֹ מִ֣י יַעֲמֹֽד׃
18 יִשְׁלַ֣ח דְּבָר֣וֹ וְיַמְסֵ֑ם יַשֵּׁ֥ב ר֝וּח֗וֹ יִזְּלוּ־מָֽיִם׃
19 מַגִּ֣יד דברו לְיַעֲקֹ֑ב חֻקָּ֥יו וּ֝מִשְׁפָּטָ֗יו לְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
20 לֹ֘א עָ֤שָׂה כֵ֨ן ׀ לְכָל־גּ֗וֹי וּמִשְׁפָּטִ֥ים בַּל־יְדָע֗וּם הַֽלְלוּ־יָֽהּ׃
Psalm 147 in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible
The Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain. It follows the Greek and Latin numbering, so this psalm is Psalm 146 and Psalm 147 there.
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146:1 Praise ye the Lord, because psalm is good: to our God be joyful and comely praise.
146:2 The Lord buildeth up Jerusalem: he will gather together the dispersed of Israel.
146:3 Who healeth the broken of heart, and bindeth up their bruises.
146:4 Who telleth the number of the stars: and calleth them all by their names.
146:5 Great is our Lord, and great is his power: and of his wisdom there is no number.
146:6 The Lord lifteth up the meek, and bringeth the wicked down even to the ground.
146:7 Sing ye to the Lord with praise: sing to our God upon the harp.
146:8 Who covereth the heaven with clouds, and prepareth rain for the earth. Who maketh grass to grow on the mountains, and herbs for the service of men.
146:9 Who giveth to beasts their food: and to the young ravens that call upon him.
146:10 He shall not delight in the strength of the horse: nor take pleasure in the legs of a man.
146:11 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him: and in them that hope in his mercy.
147:1 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem: praise thy God, O Sion.
147:2 Because he hath strengthened the bolts of thy gates, he hath blessed thy children within thee.
147:3 Who hath placed peace in thy borders: and filleth thee with the fat of corn.
147:4 Who sendeth forth his speech to the earth: his word runneth swiftly.
147:5 Who giveth snow like wool: scattereth mists like ashes.
147:6 He sendeth his crystal like morsels: who shall stand before the face of his cold?
147:7 He shall send out his word, and shall melt them: his wind shall blow, and the waters shall run.
147:8 Who declareth his word to Jacob: his justices and his judgments to Israel.
147:9 He hath not done in like manner to every nation: and his judgments he hath not made manifest to them. Alleluia.
Psalm 147 in Latin
The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 146 and Psalm 147.
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146:1 Alleluja. Laudate Dominum, quoniam bonus est psalmus; Deo nostro sit jucunda, decoraque laudatio.
146:2 Ædificans Jerusalem Dominus, dispersiones Israëlis congregabit:
146:3 qui sanat contritos corde, et alligat contritiones eorum;
146:4 qui numerat multitudinem stellarum, et omnibus eis nomina vocat.
146:5 Magnus Dominus noster, et magna virtus ejus, et sapientiæ ejus non est numerus.
146:6 Suscipiens mansuetos Dominus; humilians autem peccatores usque ad terram.
146:7 Præcinite Domino in confessione; psallite Deo nostro in cithara.
146:8 Qui operit cælum nubibus, et parat terræ pluviam; qui producit in montibus fœnum, et herbam servituti hominum;
146:9 qui dat jumentis escam ipsorum, et pullis corvorum invocantibus eum.
146:10 Non in fortitudine equi voluntatem habebit, nec in tibiis viri beneplacitum erit ei.
146:11 Beneplacitum est Domino super timentes eum, et in eis qui sperant super misericordia ejus.
147:1 Alleluja. Lauda, Jerusalem, Dominum; lauda Deum tuum, Sion.
147:2 Quoniam confortavit seras portarum tuarum; benedixit filiis tuis in te.
147:3 Qui posuit fines tuos pacem, et adipe frumenti satiat te.
147:4 Qui emittit eloquium suum terræ: velociter currit sermo ejus.
147:5 Qui dat nivem sicut lanam; nebulam sicut cinerem spargit.
147:6 Mittit crystallum suam sicut buccellas: ante faciem frigoris ejus quis sustinebit?
147:7 Emittet verbum suum, et liquefaciet ea; flabit spiritus ejus, et fluent aquæ.
147:8 Qui annuntiat verbum suum Jacob, justitias et judicia sua Israël.
147:9 Non fecit taliter omni nationi, et judicia sua non manifestavit eis. Alleluja.
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Psalm 147 at a glance
| Verses | 20 |
| Heading in the text | No heading |
| Attributed to | Not named in the text. The psalm has no heading. |
| Type | Praise and Hallelujah |
| Number in Greek and Latin Bibles | Psalms 146 and 147 (split in two there) |
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Psalm 147 in other translations
This page prints the World English Bible and the King James Version because both are public domain. The NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT and NASB are under copyright, so they cannot be printed in full here. You can read Psalm 147 in those translations at Bible Gateway.
Where Psalm 147 belongs
Hallelujah psalmsBook 5 of the Psalms
How this page was made
The psalm text comes from public domain translations and is not edited. The summary, the verse notes and the answers are written for this page from the text of the psalm itself. Where a claim goes beyond the text, it is sourced below.
Sources
- Text: World English Bible and King James Version, both public domain, from ebible.org source
- Hebrew text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Douay-Rheims: Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Latin text: Clementine Vulgate, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Numbering: Greek and Latin psalm numbering, Wikipedia, Psalms source