Psalms 37:17
in Psalms 37For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For the arms of the wicked shall be broken; But Jehovah upholdeth the righteous.
KJV
For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholdeth the righteous.
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This verse in Psalms 37
Commentary
3 notes on this verse(Verse 17.) For the arms, he says, of the sinners will be broken. So that their actions cannot bring any impediment to the righteous; so that the rod of the sinners is not left over the lot of the righteous. And Paul says: May God crush Satan under your feet (Rom. XVI, 20). For if his arm has been broken, he himself will be completely crushed, and his comments will be trampled upon, like the venom of a serpent. But the Lord strengthens the righteous, with the arm of the adversary broken.
This site's exposition
Better is the little
on Psalms 37:16-20
The little of the righteous outweighs the abundance of many wicked men. Verse 17 sets broken arms against the LORD holding the righteous up, and verse 19 carries the promise into famine, where they are satisfied. The wicked fade like the glory of the fields, like smoke.
The record, by era
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
For the arms of the wicked shall be broken. Their power to do mischief shall be effectually taken away, for the arms which they lifted up against God shall be crushed even to the bone. God often makes implacable men incapable men. What is a more contemptible sight than toothless malice, armless malevolence! But the Lord upholdeth the righteous. Their cause and course shall be safe, for they are in good keeping. The sword of two edges smites the wicked and defends the just.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּ֤י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| זְרוֹע֣וֹת | zeroot | [the] arms of | H2220 → | 91 times |
| רְ֭שָׁעִים | reshaim | wicked [people] | H7563 → | 263 times |
| תִּשָּׁבַ֑רְנָה | tishavarnah | they will be broken | H7665 → | 147 times |
| וְסוֹמֵ֖ךְ | vesomekh | and [is] sustaining | H5564 → | 48 times |
| צַדִּיקִ֣ים | tzadikim | righteous [people] | H6662 → | 206 times |
| יְהוָֽה׃ | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
כִּ֤יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
זְרוֹע֣וֹת[the] arms of
zerootH2220 →91 times
רְ֭שָׁעִיםwicked [people]
reshaimH7563 →263 times
תִּשָּׁבַ֑רְנָהthey will be broken
tishavarnahH7665 →147 times
וְסוֹמֵ֖ךְand [is] sustaining
vesomekhH5564 →48 times
צַדִּיקִ֣יםrighteous [people]
tzadikimH6662 →206 times
יְהוָֽה׃Yahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 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
Isaiah 41:10Do 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…
it leads to
- Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
- Isaiah 43:1–2
Now this is what the LORD says— He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your…
- Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
- Deuteronomy 31:6–8
Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”
- Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
- Joshua 1:9
Through
Psalms 145:14The LORD upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.
it leads to
- Psalms 94:18
If I say, “My foot is slipping,” Your loving devotion, O LORD, supports me.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 146:8
the LORD opens the eyes of the blind, the LORD lifts those who are weighed down, the LORD loves the righteous.
- Psalms 94:18
Through
Isaiah 42:1“Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations.
it leads to
- Matthew 12:18–21
“Here is My Servant, whom I have chosen, My beloved, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will proclaim justice to the nations.
- Matthew 12:18–21
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Psalms
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Psalms; Ambrose of Milan, Commentaries on the Twelve Davidic Psalms; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 2 and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament.