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Psalm 147:3
He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.
1Praise the LORD, for it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant and fitting to praise him.
2The LORD builds up Jerusalem. He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
3He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.
4He counts the number of the stars. He calls them all by their names.
5Great is our Lord, and mighty in power. His understanding is infinite.
Notice
Binding up wounds is an image of close care, and the verse names the brokenhearted as people who receive that care from God.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What hurt comes to mind when you read that God heals the broken in heart?
Write on thisWhat does the image of binding wounds help you express about the care you need?
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Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Psalm 34:18The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.Both psalms name the brokenhearted as recipients of God’s care, describing his nearness and saving help alongside his healing.
Isaiah 61:1The Lord GOD’s Spirit is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim …Binding up the brokenhearted appears in both passages, with Isaiah describing this care as work entrusted to the LORD’s anointed messenger.
Job 5:18For he wounds and binds up. He injures and his hands make whole.Both describe God binding wounds, though the speaker in Job also attributes the wounding to God, which this psalm does not.
Exodus 15:26He said, “If you will diligently listen to the LORD your God’s voice, and will do that which is right in his eyes, and will pay attention to his commandments, …Both identify the LORD as healer; Exodus addresses disease within commands to Israel, while the psalm speaks of broken hearts.
Jeremiah 33:6behold, I will bring it health and healing, and I will cure them; and I will reveal to them abundance of peace and truth.God is the source of healing in both passages, with Jeremiah also promising an abundance of peace and truth.
Psalm 107:20He sends his word, and heals them, and delivers them from their graves.Both psalms attribute healing to God, while Psalm 107 also names his word and deliverance from the grave.
Luke 4:18“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim release to …Both passages name healing for the brokenhearted, with Luke describing it as part of the Spirit-anointed speaker’s mission.
Hosea 6:1–2“Come! Let’s return to the LORD; for he has torn us to pieces, and he will heal us; he has injured us, and he will bind up our wounds.Both speak of God healing and binding wounds; Hosea includes a call to return to the LORD who has injured his people.
Psalm 51:17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. O God, you will not despise a broken and contrite heart.Both speak of a broken heart, with Psalm 147 naming God’s healing and Psalm 51 declaring that God will not despise contrition.
Psalm 103:3who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases,Both praise God as healer, with Psalm 103 naming diseases and forgiveness while Psalm 147 names broken hearts and wounds.
Malachi 4:2But to you who fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings. You will go out and leap like calves of the stall.Both associate healing with God’s care, though Malachi uses the image of the sun of righteousness for those who fear his name.
Isaiah 57:15For the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy, says: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also who is of a contrite and humble …Both describe God’s care for the heart, through healing in the psalm and revival of the contrite in Isaiah.
Where this verse fits
Grief. broken friendship.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
The verse gives no timetable for healing. Its assurance rests in who God is: the one who tends wounded hearts, whose power and understanding reach beyond yours.
Now put it in your words.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).