Psalms 147:3 (KJV)

What does Psalms 147:3 mean?

Psalms 147:3 says that God heals those whose hearts are broken and cares for their wounds. The verse pictures God as someone who pays attention to people who are hurting inside and takes action to help them recover.

This psalm is a song of praise, likely written after the people of Israel returned from exile. The writer is speaking about God’s kindness and power, reminding the community that God notices their pain and brings comfort. The verse uses the image of physical wounds to describe emotional or spiritual hurt, showing that God’s care reaches deep into human suffering.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 147:3

• "healeth" (רָפָא, rapha): This word means to restore or make whole, often used for both physical and emotional healing. Here, it highlights God’s ability to mend what is deeply hurt, not just surface wounds.
• "broken" (שָׁבַר, shavar): This word means shattered or crushed, describing a heart that feels completely devastated. The verse emphasizes that God does not overlook those who feel this way.
• "heart" (לֵב, lev): In Hebrew thought, the heart is the center of a person’s emotions, thoughts, and will. Healing the heart means restoring a person’s whole inner life.
• "up" (חָבַשׁ, chabash): This word means to bind or bandage, like wrapping a wound. It gives the image of God as a gentle healer who carefully tends to each injury.
• "wounds" (עַצָּבָה, atsavah): This word refers to pain or hurt, not just physical but also sorrow or grief. The verse assures that God is attentive to every kind of suffering.

Why Psalms 147:3 matters

• Psalms 147:3 makes clear that God’s care is not just for physical needs but also for emotional and spiritual pain, which might be easy to overlook.
• The verse reassures people who feel crushed or forgotten that God is especially attentive to those who are hurting most deeply.
• In the context of the whole psalm, this verse shows that God’s greatness is matched by His compassion, tying together themes of power and tenderness.