Psalms 145:18
in Psalms 145The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Jehovah is nigh unto all them that call upon him, To all that call upon him in truth.
KJV
The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
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This verse in Psalms 145
Commentary
9 notes on this verseThe Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him,.... He is not only nigh unto them in relation, being their near kinsman, brother, father, husband, and head, but with respect to place and presence; not in a general way, as he is the omnipresent God, and so nigh to all, and from whose presence there is no fleeing; but in a special way, he is so nigh to them as he is not unto others, Deu 4:
This site's exposition
The LORD is righteous in all His ways
on Psalms 145:17-20
The LORD is called righteous and kind in everything He does. Verse 18 puts Him near everyone who calls on Him in truth, and Gill read that nearness as nearness of place and presence. Verse 20 keeps all who love Him and destroys all the wicked.
This site's exposition
who call out to Him in truth
The words in truth set the condition on the nearness. Augustine said many call on God to get His gifts, and he took calling in truth as asking for God Himself. Matthew Henry pictured the LORD always within call of such prayers.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
If there are any who are even in the catholic church and live evil lives, before they finish this life, let them hasten to give up the evil life, and let them not think that the catholic [Christian] name is enough for salvation, if they …
"The Lord is nigh unto all that call upon Him" (ver. 18). Where then is that, "Then shall they call upon Me, and I will not hear them"? See then what follows: "all who call upon Him in truth." For many call upon Him, but not in truth. They seek something else from Him, but seek not Himself. Why lovest thou God? "Because He hath made me whole." That is clear: it was He that made thee so. For from none else cometh health, save Him. "Because He gave me," saith another, "a rich wife, whereas I before had nothing, and one that obeyeth me." This too He gave: thou sayest true. "He gave me," saith another, "sons many and good, He gave me a household, He gave me all good things." Dost thou love Him for this? ...Therefore if God is good, who hath given thee what thou hast, how much more blessed wilt thou be when He hath given thee Himself! Thou hast desired all these things of Him: I beseech thee desire of Him Himself also. For these things are not truly sweeter than He is, nor in any way are they to be compared to Him. He then who preferreth God Himself to all the things which he has received, whereat he rejoiceth, to the things he has received, he "calleth upon God in truth." ...
The Medieval Church1 voice
But we must look attentively at this—that not everyone who seems to pray before other people is proven to ask or to seek or to knock at the entrance of the heavenly kingdom in the sight of the searcher of hearts. The prophet would not …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
In this appears the grace of his kingdom, that his subjects have not only liberty of petitioning, but all the encouragement that can be to petition. The grant is very rich, that God will be nigh to all that call upon him; he will be always within call of their prayers, and they shall always find themselves within reach of his help.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
The Lord is nigh - Whoever calls upon God in truth, with a sincere and upright heart, one that truly desires his salvation, to that person God is nigh. The following verse shows he is not only near to praying people, but 1. He will hear their cry. 2. Fulfil their desires. 3. Save them. Reader, lift up thy soul in prayer to this merciful God.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him - There is a sense in which he is “nigh” to all, for he is everywhere present; but there is a special sense in which he seems to be near to us; in which he manifests himself to us; in which he gives us evidence of his presence. It is in prayer, in praise, in his ordinances - in his gracious interpositions in our behalf - in the peace and joy which we have in communion with him. Compare the notes at Psa 34:18: “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart.” To all that call upon him in truth - In sincerity; not hypocritically; worshipping him as the true God, and with a sincere desire to obtain his favor. Compare the notes at Joh 4:24. We can have no hope that God will hear us unless we are sincere in our worship. He sees the heart, and he will act toward us as we are, and not as we profess to be.
The words behind it
8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| קָר֣וֹב | karov | [is] near | H7138 → | 77 times |
| יְ֭הוָה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| לְכָל־ | lekhol | to all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| קֹרְאָ֑יו | koreav | [those who] call out to him | H7121 → | 733 times |
| לְכֹ֤ל | lekhol | to all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֖ר | ʾasher | [those] who | H834 → | 5497 times |
| יִקְרָאֻ֣הוּ | yikrauhu | they call out to him | H7121 → | 733 times |
| בֶאֱמֶֽת׃ | veemet | in truth | H571 → | 127 times |
קָר֣וֹב[is] near
karovH7138 →77 times
יְ֭הוָהYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
לְכָל־to all
lekholH3605 →5413 times
קֹרְאָ֑יו[those who] call out to him
koreavH7121 →733 times
לְכֹ֤לto all
lekholH3605 →5413 times
אֲשֶׁ֖ר[those] who
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
יִקְרָאֻ֣הוּthey call out to him
yikrauhuH7121 →733 times
בֶאֱמֶֽת׃in truth
veemetH571 →127 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 34:18The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit.
it leads to
- Isaiah 57:15
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit,…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
- Psalms 51:17
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty…
- Ezekiel 36:26
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
- Isaiah 57:15
Through
John 4:24God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
- Matthew 15:8–9
‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.
- Philippians 3:3
For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—
- 2 Corinthians 3:17
Where this verse is studied
By subject
Prayer34 verses
On this page
Studies4
About Psalms
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, On the Psalms, Psalm 145; Bede, Homilies on the Gospels 2:14; Fulgentius of Ruspe, ON THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS 1:26.2; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.