Verse

Psalm 34:20

ESV He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.
NIV he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.
NASB He protects all his bones, Not one of them is broken.
CSB He protects all his bones; not one of them is broken.
NLT For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken!
KJV He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
NKJV He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken.

What does Psalm 34:20 mean?

In the prior verse, David explained how God is with the righteous, even when they experience hardship or persecution. Here, he makes a curious comment which is more poetic than literal: that the righteous person's bones will remain unbroken. In a symbolic sense, this is exaggeration for effect, noting how God can thoroughly protect His people. In a prophetic sense, this ties the details of Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross (John 19:33–37) to His role as our Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7; Exodus 12:46).

The word "keep" is translated from the Hebrew sō'mēr', which means to "exercise great care over." It is comforting to know God has such deep concern for us. In Bible times a shepherd led his sheep, sometimes even carrying one on his shoulders. The shepherds, to whom angels delivered the news of Jesus' birth, were "keeping watch over their flock by night" (Luke 2:8). Similarly, Jesus the Good Shepherd keeps watch over believers (John 10:14). Like shepherds in Bible times who led their sheep, Jesus goes ahead of us to protect us from harm (John 10:4). The Lord's watchful care of us is so complete that He knows how many hairs are on our head (Matthew 10:30).
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Context Summary
Psalm 34:15–22 contrasts what the Lord does for those who fear Him against what happens to the wicked. God watches over the righteous and answers their cry for help. He delivers the righteous from their troubles and draws near to them. He protects the righteous and redeems them. On the other hand, He opposes the wicked and condemns them. While David certainly experienced victories in his life, he also understood that God's love and provision have an eternal perspective (Romans 8:28–30). Verse 20 includes a reference which the Gospel of John ties to Jesus' role as Messiah.
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Chapter Summary
David praises the Lord for delivering him from the Philistines, and he invites others to join him in singing joyfully to the Lord. He extols the virtue of fearing the Lord and remembering His goodness. He encourages the Lord's people to respect God and offers wisdom leading to a long and blessed life. At the end of this psalm David emphasizes the distinction the Lord draws between the wicked and the righteous. He cares for the righteous and will not condemn them, but He condemns the wicked.
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