Psalms 60:2 (KJV)

What does Psalms 60:2 mean?

Psalms 60:2 describes a time when the land is shaken and broken, and the speaker asks God to repair its damage because it is unstable. The verse uses the image of an earthquake or a land with cracks to express a sense of crisis or deep trouble that needs healing.

King David is speaking to God, likely during a period of military defeat or national distress. The verse paints a vivid picture of instability, as if the very ground is trembling and split apart, showing how serious and unsettling the situation feels. David’s plea for God to “heal the breaches” highlights his belief that only God can restore stability and wholeness when everything seems to be falling apart.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 60:2

• earth (אֶרֶץ, ’erets): This word often means “land” or “earth,” and here it refers to the nation or territory that feels shaken, not just the physical ground.
• tremble (רָעַשׁ, ra‘ash): This verb means to quake or shake violently, suggesting a dramatic, unsettling event rather than a minor disturbance.
• broken (פָּצַם, patsam): This word means to break open or split, emphasizing the severity of the damage—like a land torn apart by an earthquake.
• heal (רָפָא, rapha’): This verb means to heal or restore, showing that the solution is not just a patch, but a deep, thorough restoration.
• breaches (שֶׁבֶר, shever): This noun means a break, fracture, or gap, often used for physical cracks or for serious problems in a community or nation.
• shaketh (מוֹט, mot): This word means to totter or shake, adding to the sense of ongoing instability and uncertainty.

Why Psalms 60:2 matters

• The verse clarifies that the crisis is not just personal but affects the whole community or nation, using the image of a broken land to show the scale of the trouble.
• The language of shaking and breaches highlights how overwhelming and beyond human repair the situation feels, pointing to the need for divine intervention.
• This verse sets the tone for the rest of the psalm, framing the prayer as a desperate call for God’s help in a time when everything feels uncertain and insecure.