Psalms 145:14
in Psalms 145The LORD upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Jehovah upholdeth all that fall, And raiseth up all those that are bowed down.
KJV
The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.
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This verse in Psalms 145
Commentary
9 notes on this verseWhoever finds the healing of correction to be difficult should flee to the mercy of God for help and beg that the chains of evil habit be broken away from them, for "the Lord lifts up all who collapse and raises up all who have been broken down." No, the prayer of a believer will not be empty, since our merciful God "will accomplish the intentions of those who fear him." He will give what has been asked for, since he provided the inspiration to ask it.
This site's exposition
The LORD upholds all who fall
Those who fall the LORD upholds, and those bowed down He lifts. The verb behind upholds is samak, to prop up a weight. Both verbs are participles, a form for action going on, so the upholding and the lifting are continuous.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"The Lord strengtheneth all that are falling" (ver. 14). But who are "all that are falling"? All indeed fall in a general sense, but he meaneth those who fall in a particular way. For many fall from Him, many also fall from their own imaginations. If they had evil imaginations, they fall from them, and "God strengthened all that are falling." They who lose anything in this world, yet are holy, are as it were dishonoured in this world, from rich become poor, from honoured of low estate, yet are they God's saints; they are, as it were, falling. But "God strengtheneth." For "the just falleth seven times, and riseth again; but the wicked shall be weakened in evils." When evils befall the wicked, they are weakened thereby; when evils befall the righteous, "the Lord strengtheneth all that are falling." ..."And lifteth up all those that have been cast down:" all, that is, who belong to him; for "God resisteth the proud."
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
If those who were bowed down by oppression and affliction are raised up, it was God that raised them. And, with respect to all those that are heavy-laden under the burden of sin, if they come to Christ by faith, he will ease them, he will raise them. Secondly, He is very ready to hear and answer the prayers of his people,
The Lord upholdeth all that fall,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
The Lead upholdeth all that fall. Read this verse in connection with the preceding, and admire the unexpected contrast: he who reigns in glorious majesty, yet condescends to lift up and hold up those who are apt to fall. The form of the verb shows that he is always doing this; he is Jehovah upholding. His choice of the fallen, and the falling, as the subjects of his gracious help is specially to be noted.
The Lead upholdeth all that fall. Read this verse in connection with the preceding, and admire the unexpected contrast: he who reigns in glorious majesty, yet condescends to lift up and hold up those who are apt to fall. The form of the verb shows that he is always doing this; he is Jehovah upholding. His choice of the fallen, and the falling, as the subjects of his gracious help is specially to be noted. The fallen of our race, especially fallen women, are shunned by us, and it is peculiar tenderness on the Lord's part that such he looks upon, even those who are at once the chief of sinners and the least regarded of mankind. The falling ones among us are too apt to be pushed down by the strong: their timidity and dependence make them the victims of the proud and domineering. To them also the Lord gives his upholding help. The Lord loves to reverse things, —he puts down the lofty, and lifts up the lowly. And raiseth up all those that be bowed down. Another deed of condescension. Many are despondent, and cannot lift up their heads in courage, or their hearts with comfort; but these he cheers. Some are bent with their daily lead, and these he strengthens. Jesus loosed a daughter of Abraham whom Satan had so bound that she was bowed down, and could by no means lift up herself. In this he proved himself to be the true Son of the Highest. Think of the Infinite bowing to lift up the bowed, and stooping to be leaned upon by those who are ready to fall. The two "alls" should not be overlooked: the Lord has a kindly heart towards the whole company of the afflicted.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
The Lord upholdeth all that fall - נפלים nophelim, the falling, or those who are not able to keep their feet; the weak. He shores them up; he is their prop. No man falls through his own weakness merely; if he rely on God, the strongest foe cannot shake him.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
The Lord upholdeth all that fall - The word used here is a participle, literally, “The Lord sustaining;” that is, the Lord is a Sustainer or Upholder of all that fall. The allusion is to those who have no power to go of themselves; who would sink under the burdens of life if they were not supported. The idea is, that it is a characteristic of the Lord, that he does sustain such; that all such may confidently look to him to uphold them. And raiseth up all those that be bowed down - The word here also is a participle: “he is lifting up;” that is, he is a lifter up. The reference is to those who are bent and bowed under the duties, the cares, the trials of life; who go bowed down under those burdens. God is able to strengthen them so that they can bear those burdens without being crushed under them.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
Thy kingdom (מלכותך): It is not a kingdom of a human being that has an end either in his life or in his death, but the kingdom of the Almighty, may He be blessed, has no end, for His kingdom is the kingdom of all worlds, all times, and repeated in different words.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| סוֹמֵ֣ךְ | somekh | [is] sustaining | H5564 → | 48 times |
| יְ֭הוָה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| לְכָל־ | lekhol | <to> all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| הַנֹּפְלִ֑ים | hanofelim | those [who] fall | H5307 → | 435 times |
| וְ֝זוֹקֵ֗ף | vezokef | and [is] raising up | H2210 → | |
| לְכָל־ | lekhol | <to> all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| הַכְּפוּפִֽים׃ | hakefufim | those [who] are bent down | H3721 → | 5 times |
סוֹמֵ֣ךְ[is] sustaining
somekhH5564 →48 times
יְ֭הוָהYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
לְכָל־<to> all
lekholH3605 →5413 times
הַנֹּפְלִ֑יםthose [who] fall
hanofelimH5307 →435 times
וְ֝זוֹקֵ֗ףand [is] raising up
vezokefH2210 →
לְכָל־<to> all
lekholH3605 →5413 times
הַכְּפוּפִֽים׃those [who] are bent down
hakefufimH3721 →5 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 37:24Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand.
it leads to
- Proverbs 24:16
For though a righteous man may fall seven times, he still gets up; but the wicked stumble in bad times.
- Psalms 94:18
If I say, “My foot is slipping,” Your loving devotion, O LORD, supports me.
- Micah 7:7–8
But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.
- John 10:27–30
My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.
- Proverbs 24:16
Through
Psalms 94:18If I say, “My foot is slipping,” Your loving devotion, O LORD, supports me.
it leads to
- Psalms 121:3
He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber.
- Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand…
- Psalms 119:116–117
Sustain me as You promised, that I may live; let me not be ashamed of my hope.
- Psalms 121:3
Through
Psalms 146:8the LORD opens the eyes of the blind, the LORD lifts those who are weighed down, the LORD loves the righteous.
it leads to
- Psalms 11:7
For the LORD is righteous; He loves justice. The upright will see His face.
- Psalms 11:7
Where this verse is studied
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About Psalms
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Psalms; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, On the Psalms, Psalm 145; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 7; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Psalms; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Leo the Great, SERMON 36:4.2 and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.