What does Psalm 146:8 mean?
ESV: the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous.
NIV: the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous.
NASB: The Lord opens the eyes of those who are blind; The Lord raises up those who are bowed down; The Lord loves the righteous.
CSB: The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord raises up those who are oppressed. The Lord loves the righteous.
NLT: The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down. The Lord loves the godly.
KJV: The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the Lord loveth the righteous:
NKJV: The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; The Lord raises those who are bowed down; The Lord loves the righteous.
Verse Commentary:
Please see our chapter commentary on Psalm 146; verse-level content coming soon!
Verse Context:
Psalm 146:5–10 lists the many wonderful attributes of God. Jacob was the patriarch of the nation which carried his God-given new name of Israel (Genesis 32:28). This is the God who created the universe and acts with justice and mercy. This God, named YHWH or Yahweh (Exodus 3:15), provides salvation, freedom, and care as well as judgment. This makes Him the only One worthy of praise.
Chapter Summary:
In Hebrew, the phrase halelu-yāh is an expression of praise and worship to God. That term both begins and ends this psalm. In between, the psalmist notes that only God is truly reliable. Limited men are not a source of salvation. The Lord, however, created all things and acts with power towards those who are in need. Only God will rule eternally, making Him the only One truly worthy of praise.
Chapter Context:
This psalm is among those which uses the Hebrew phrase halelu-yāh, which literally means "praise the Lord!" This term both begins and ends the final psalms in this book (Psalm 147—150). The psalmist emphasizes that God alone is worthy of absolute trust (Psalm 118:8–9). Fallen, imperfect men cannot provide eternal salvation because they sin and die themselves (Romans 3:10, 26). Here, God is repeatedly referred to using the name YHWH, or Yahweh, typically rendered as "LLord" in English (Exodus 3:15). Zion is another name for the city of Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:7; 1 Kings 8:1).
Book Summary:
The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.
Accessed 2/17/2025 3:16:37 AM
© Copyright 2002-2025 Got Questions Ministries. All rights reserved.
Text from ESV, NIV, NASB, CSB, NLT, KJV, NKJV © Copyright respective owners, used by permission.
www.BibleRef.com