Psalms 147:6 — Word Study
WLCמְעוֹדֵ֣ד עֲנָוִ֣ים יְהוָ֑ה מַשְׁפִּ֖יל רְשָׁעִ֣ים עֲדֵי־ אָֽרֶץ׃
BSAThe LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, the Lord of all] sustainsʻûwd [upholds, supports] the humbleʻânâv [meek, poor in spirit] [but] castsshâphêl [brings down, abases] the wickedrâshâʻ [morally wrong, guilty of sin] toʻad the groundʼerets [the earth, the land]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| מְעוֹדֵ֣ד | [is] relieving | Verb, Piel, participle (active) masculine singular |
| עֲנָוִ֣ים | humble [people] | Adj |
| יְהוָ֑ה | Yahweh | Noun proper |
| מַשְׁפִּ֖יל | [is] bringing low | Verb, Hiphil, participle (active) masculine singular |
| רְשָׁעִ֣ים | wicked [people] | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| עֲדֵי־ | to | Preposition |
| אָֽרֶץ׃ | [the] ground | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The LORD sustains the humble, but casts the wicked to the ground. |
| KJV | The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground. |
| ASV | Jehovah upholdeth the meek: He bringeth the wicked down to the ground. |
| YLT | Jehovah is causing the meek to stand, Making low the wicked unto the earth. |
| WEB | Yahweh upholds the humble. He brings the wicked down to the ground. |
| BBE | The Lord gives help to the poor in spirit; but he sends sinners down in shame. |
Where they part company is עֲנָוִ֣ים — see How Translations Differ.
Two main clauses contrast the actions of God towards the humble and the wicked.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
subjectיהוה
verbעוּד
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 147:6
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — God's Care for the Lowlygenerated
Psalm 147:6 emphasizes the contrast between the humble and the wicked, showing God's protective nature towards the meek while executing justice against the morally wrong. This verse is part of a larger psalm that praises God's might and care for creation, as seen in the surrounding verses.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 25:9 | He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way. |
| 2 | Psalm 37:11 | But the meek will inherit the land and delight in abundant prosperity. |
| 3 | Psalm 145:14 | The LORD upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. |
| 4 | Psalm 146:8–9 | the LORD opens the eyes of the blind, the LORD lifts those who are weighed down, the LORD loves the righteous. |
| 5 | Psalm 149:4 | For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He adorns the afflicted with salvation. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 15 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — מְעוֹדֵ֣ד, me.'o.Dedgenerated
The word מְעוֹדֵ֣ד (me.'o.Ded) is a participle form of the verb עוּד (uwd), which means to uphold or support. It indicates an active role of God in sustaining the humble, emphasizing His commitment to those who are lowly.
This participial form suggests ongoing action, highlighting that God continually supports the humble. The usage in this context shows a divine affirmation of the humble state, contrasting with the fate of the wicked.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses sustains for מְעוֹדֵ֣ד and casts for מַשְׁפִּ֖יל. Other translations like the KJV and ASV also align closely with this wording.
Where translations differ, they do so primarily in the rendering of עֲנָוִ֣ים. The KJV and ASV use meek, while the BBE opts for poor in spirit, reflecting different nuances of humility.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse consists of two main clauses connected by a contrastive conjunction. The first clause focuses on the subject יְהוָ֑ה (Yahweh) and the action of sustaining the humble, while the second clause presents the action of bringing down the wicked.
The structure emphasizes the dichotomy between the humble and the wicked, with the verbs מְעוֹדֵ֣ד and מַשְׁפִּ֖יל as the focal points of each clause, illustrating God's active role in both sustaining and judging.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, מְעוֹדֵ֣ד is rendered as ἀναλαμβάνων (analambanōn), which means 'taking up' or 'lifting.' This choice emphasizes God's action of raising or supporting the humble.
The translation of עֲנָוִ֣ים as πραεῖς (praeis) highlights the gentle and meek quality of the humble, aligning with the broader themes of humility in both texts.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 147:6 tells us that the LORD supports the humble, those who are lowly or meek, while He brings down the wicked, those who do wrong. This verse shows God's care for the humble and His judgment against the wicked.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that God actively supports and upholds those who are meek and lowly, providing them with strength and care.
The wicked are cast down, indicating God's judgment against those who act immorally or unjustly.
This verse illustrates God's nature as a protector of the humble and a judge of the wicked, showing His commitment to justice and mercy.
Humility is valued because it reflects a dependence on God, and this verse assures that such individuals will receive God's support.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways can I cultivate humility in my own life?
- How do I see God's support in my experiences of being humble?
- What are some examples of wickedness in our world today, and how can we respond to it?
- Why do you think God chooses to uplift the humble and bring down the wicked?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early church fathers commented on this verse to highlight God's care for the humble and His judgment against the wicked, as seen in Augustine's exposition.
"The Lord takes up the gentle" [Psalms 147:6]. For example; you understand not, you fail to understand, canst not attain: honour God's Scripture, honour God's Word,Early Church Fathers on Psalms 147 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 147:6 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThe Lord lifteth up the meek,.... The lowly and humble souls, such as are made so by the Spirit of God; he shows them their sinfulness, and want of righteousness; the insufficiency of their own, and
Read John Gill on Psalms 147 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThe LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground. The Lord lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground - parallel to Psalms 146:8-9.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 147 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 147:6 The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.Ver. 6. The Lord lifteth up the meek] This truth was well known to the very heathens, who have said the same thing; as Herodotus in Polymnia, Euripides in Hara, and Aesop being asked by Chilo (one of the seven wise men of Greece), what God was doing? answered, He is humbling the haughty, and exalting the lowly, ταμενυφηλαταπεινουν; ταδεταπειναυψουν..
Read John Trapp on Psalms 147 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(6) The meek.—Or, the afflicted. (See Note Psalms 22:26.)
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 147 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 6. The Lord lifteth up the meek] The humbled, the afflicted.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 147 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges6. Jehovah’s power is manifested in His moral government of the world. Cp. Psalms 146:9. Though the language is general, it has obviously a special reference to the restoration of Israel and the humiliation of their oppressors. lifteth up] Or as R.V. upholdeth, the same word as in Psalms 146:9. the meek] Those who have learnt humility in the school of suffering. casteth … down] Or, abaseth.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 147 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThe Lord lifteth up the meek - The humble; the poor; the bowed down; the oppressed.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 147 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible6. Lifteth up… casteth… down—As has just been shown, in restoring his people and repelling their enemies.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 147 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
The LORD sustains the humble, but casts the wicked to the ground.
Yahweh upholds the humble. He brings the wicked down to the ground.
The LORD sustains the humble, but casts the wicked to the ground.
The Lord lifts up the oppressed, but knocks the wicked to the ground.
Tyndale line
The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
Jehovah upholdeth the meek: He bringeth the wicked down to the ground.
The LORD upholdeth the meek: he bringeth the wicked down to the ground.
The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
The Lord relieueth the meeke, and abaseth the wicked to the ground.
Strictly literal
Jehovah lifteth up the meek; he abaseth the wicked to the earth.
Jehovah is causing the meek to stand, Making low the wicked unto the earth.
YHWH is causing the meek to stand, || Making the wicked low to the earth.
The Lord helpeth up the meek: he bringeth down the wicked to the ground.
Yahweh lifts up the oppressed, he brings the wicked down to the ground.
From the Latin
He sendeth his crystal like morsels: who shall stand before the face of his cold?
Simplified
The Lord helps those who are bowed down to get up; but he grinds the wicked into the ground.
The Lord gives help to the poor in spirit; but he sends sinners down in shame.
Word by word, the decisions they made
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in their wording, with five of the seven words matching. The Septuagint's structure and articles differ but convey a similar message regarding God's actions toward the humble and the wicked.
מְעוֹדֵ֣ד עֲנָוִ֣ים יְהוָ֑ה מַשְׁפִּ֖יל רְשָׁעִ֣ים עֲדֵי־ אָֽרֶץ׃
5 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 147:6
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
עוּד (uwd) is a Hebrew verb that primarily means to return, repeat, or do again. It also encompasses the idea of bearing witness or testifying, often with a sense of solemnity or urgency. The word can imply surrounding or restoring, and its various forms indicate actions like admonishing or warning. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
[עוּד] vb. prob. return, go about, repeat, do again
Pi. surround
Pōl‛ēl, restore, relieve
Hithpōl. be restored
base
עוּד vb. denom. bear witness
Qal Impf. < Hiph.
Hiph.
testify, bear witness
cause to testify, take as witness
protest, affirm solemnly, wanr
Hoph. and protest be entered
base
H5749a עוּד prob. return, go about, repeat, do again H5749b עוּד vb. denom. bear witness .Impf. < Hiph.
. . testify, bear witness
. cause to testify, take as witness
. protest, affirm solemnly, wanr
. and protest be entered
5749 `uwd ood
a primitive root; to duplicate or repeat; by implication, to
protest, testify (as by reiteration); intensively, to
encompass, restore (as a sort of reduplication):--admonish,
charge, earnestly, lift up, protest, call (take) to record,
relieve, rob, solemnly, stand upright, testify, give warning,
(bear, call to, give, take to) witness.
עוּד (ud) — to uphold.
1) to return, repeat, go about, do again
1a) (Piel) to surround, go round and round
1b) (Pilel) to restore, relieve
1c) (Hithpalel) to be restored
עוּד (ud) — to testify.
1) to bear witness
1a) (Qal) to bear witness, say again and again
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to testify, bear witness
1b2) to cause to testify, take or call as witness, invoke
1b3) to protest, affirm solemnly, warn, exhort or enjoin solemnly, admonish, charge
1c) (Hophal) to protest, give warning
V-o — Verb · Piel · participle (active) masculine singularHVprmsa
עָנָו (anav) refers to a state of being poor, afflicted, humble, or meek. It is built from the root associated with being depressed in mind or circumstances, particularly in a saintly context. The term encompasses a range of meanings related to humility and neediness, as highlighted in various lexicons.
עָנָו n.m. poor, afflicted, humble, meek
base
H6035 עָנָו poor, afflicted, humble, meek
6035 `anav aw-nawv'
or (by intermixture with 6041) Aanayv {aw-nawv'}; from 6031;
depressed (figuratively), in mind (gentle) or circumstances
(needy, especially saintly):--humble, lowly, meek, poor.
Compare 6041.
see HEBREW for 06041
see HEBREW for 06031
see HEBREW for 06041
עָנָו (a.nav) — poor.
1) poor, humble, afflicted, meek
1a) poor, needy
1b) poor and weak
1c) poor, weak and afflicted
1d) humble, lowly, meek
Adj — AdjHAampa
pe'-p'-l: In English Versions of the Bible represents something over a dozen Hebrew and Greek words. Of these, in the Old Testament, `am, is overwhelmingly the most common (about 2,000 times), with le'om, and goy, next in order; but the various Hebrew words are used with very little or no difference in force (e.g. Pr 14:28; but, on the other hand, in Ps 44 contrast verses 12 and 14). Of the changes introduced by the Revised Version (British and American) the only one of significance (cited explicitly in the Preface to the English Revised Version) is the frequent use of the plural "peoples" (strangely avoided in the King James Version except Re 10:11; 17:15), where other nations than Israel are in question. So, for instance, in Ps…
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'
יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)
יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb
יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D
the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy
יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh
base
H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel
3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'
from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish
national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
see HEBREW for 01961
see HEBREW for 03050
see HEBREW for 03069
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.
Jehovah = "the existing One"
1) the proper name of the one true God
1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.
Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.
Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
N-proper — Noun properHNpt
שָׁפֵל (shaphel) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be or become low or abased. It can refer to both a physical lowering and a figurative humbling, with usages in different forms indicating actions like laying low or humbling oneself. The entries emphasize its application in contexts of humiliation and lowering one's status.
שָׁפֵל vb. be or become low, be abased
Qal
all Is: become (be brought, laid) low
to be lowly of spirit
of sound
Hiph.
usu. fig., lay low
hum. subj. set one in a lower place
as helping vb.: make low, sit down = take low seat
base
H8213 שָׁפֵל be or become low, be abased
8213 shaphel shaw-fale'
a primitive root; to depress or sink (expec. figuratively, to
humiliate, intransitive or transitive):--abase, bring (cast,
put) down, debase, humble (self), be (bring, lay, make, put)
low(-er).
שָׁפֵל (sha.phel) — to abase.
1) to be or become low, sink, be humbled, be abased
1a) (Qal) to be or become low
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to lay or bring low, humiliate
1b2) to set in a lower place, show abasement
1b3) to make low, sit down
V-Hiphil — Verb · Hiphil · participle (active) masculine singularHVhrmsa
רָשָׁע (rasha`) refers to someone who is wicked or criminal, encompassing meanings such as guilty and ungodly. It is derived from a root that implies moral wrongdoing. The term is used to describe individuals who are hostile to God or guilty of sin against others.
רָשָׁע 263 adj. wicked, criminal
base
H7563 רָשָׁע wicked, criminal
7563 rasha` raw-shaw'
from 7561; morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad
person:--+ condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did
wrong.
see HEBREW for 07561
רָשָׁע (ra.sah) — wicked.
1) wicked, criminal
1a) guilty one, one guilty of crime (subst)
1b) wicked (hostile to God)
1c) wicked, guilty of sin (against God or man)
Adj — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
עַד (ad) primarily functions as a preposition, adverb, or conjunction meaning 'until,' 'up to,' or 'as far as.' It can denote spatial, temporal, or degree-related contexts, such as 'even to' or 'while.' The entries indicate its use in poetry and in various combinations, but there is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי prep. as far as, even to, up to, until, while
prep.
of space
Of time
Of degree
conj.
until
While
Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)
עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus
of space
Of time
Of degree
base
H5704 עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי as far as, even to, up to, until, while . prep. . of space
. Of time
. Of degree
. conj. . until
. While
. Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)
. עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus . of space
. Of time
. Of degree
5704 `ad ad
properly, the same as 5703 (used as a preposition, adverb or
conjunction; especially with a preposition); as far (or long,
or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during,
while, until) or degree (equally with):--against, and, as,
at, before, by (that), even (to), for(-asmuch as),
(hither-)to, + how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that,
till, toward, until, when, while, (+ as) yet.
see HEBREW for 05703
עַד (ad) — till.
prep
1) as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as
1a) of space
1a1) as far as, up to, even to
1b) in combination
1b1) from...as far as, both...and (with 'min' -from)
1c) of time
1c1) even to, until, unto, till, during, end
1d) of degree
1d1) even to, to the degree of, even like
conj
2) until, while, to the point that, so that even
Aramaic equivalent: ad (עַד "till" H5705)
Prep — PrepositionHR
אֶ֫רֶץ (erets) is a feminine noun meaning 'earth' or 'land.' It encompasses various meanings, including the whole earth, specific territories like Canaan, and even inhabitants of the land. It can refer to soil, ground, or regions, and is used in phrases related to distance and the living. There is a note on the plural form אֲרָצוֹת, which mainly appears in later texts to denote multiple lands.
אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land
earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)
earth, opp. to heaven, sky
earth = inhabitants of earth
land =
country, territory
district, region
trial territory
piece of ground
specif. land of Canaan, or Israel
= inhabitants of land
used even of Shᵉʼôl
ground, surface of ground
soil, as productive
אֶרֶץ in phrases
people of the land
in measurements of distance
the country of the plain, level or plain country
land of the living
end(s) of the earth
pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.
base
H776 אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land . . earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)
. earth, opp. to heaven, sky
. earth = inhabitants of earth
. land = . country, territory
. district, region
. trial territory
. piece of ground
. specif. land of Canaan, or Israel
. = inhabitants of land
. used even of Shᵉʼôl
. . ground, surface of ground
. soil, as productive
. אֶרֶץ in phrases . people of the land
. in measurements of distance
. the country of the plain, level or plain country
. land of the living
. end(s) of the earth
. pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.
776 'erets eh'-rets
from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth
(at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth,
field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.
אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: country/planet.
: country/field
1) land, earth
1a) earth
1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)
1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)
1a3) earth (inhabitants)
1b) land
1b1) country, territory
1b2) district, region
1b3) tribal territory
1b4) piece of ground
1b5) land of Canaan, Israel
1b6) inhabitants of land
1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world
1b8) city (-state)
1c) ground, surface of the earth
1c1) ground
1c2) soil
1d) (in phrases)
1d1) people of the land
1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance)
1d3) level or plain country
1d4) land of the living
1d5) end(s) of the earth
1e) (almost wholly late in usage)
1e1) lands, countries
1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan
אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: soil.
: soil
1) land, earth
1a) earth
1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)
1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)
1a3) earth (inhabitants)
1b) land
1b1) country, territory
N-cs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa