Bible Strands
Psalms 147:6
The LORD sustains the humble, but casts the wicked to the ground.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses the worshiping community, positioning this declaration between a statement on God's limitless power and an immediate call to thanksgiving.
The words — מְעוֹדֵד (me'oded) literally means "[is] relieving" or sustaining, and מַשְׁפִּיל (mashpil) means "[is] bringing low." These paired verbs establish the verse's structural contrast.
The thread — God's direction of the humble appears in Psalms 25:9, where He guides them in what is right, and in 1 Peter 5:6, where believers are instructed to humble themselves under His hand. His care for the lowly and righteous is also recorded in Psalms 146:8.
Why it lands — The text states that Yahweh actively sustains the humble while casting the wicked to the ground. It requires the reader to acknowledge God's sovereign control over human standing and to align with His posture toward the lowly.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
The Lord lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
Cross-references
- Psalms 25:9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.
- Psalms 146:8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind, the LORD lifts those who are weighed down, the LORD loves the righteous.
- 1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.
- James 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.
- Zephaniah 2:3 Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth who carry out His justice. Seek righteousness; seek humility. Perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger.
- Psalms 145:14 The LORD upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.
- Psalms 149:4 For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He adorns the afflicted with salvation.
- 1 Samuel 2:8 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. He seats them among princes and bestows on them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s, and upon them He has set the world.
- Psalms 55:23 But You, O God, will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.
- Psalms 73:18 Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin.