Psalms 147:6

KJV

The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.

KJV (with Strong's)

The LORD {H3068} lifteth up {H5749} the meek {H6035}: he casteth {H8213} the wicked {H7563} down {H8213} to the ground {H776}.

Complete Jewish Bible

ADONAI sustains the humble but brings the wicked down to the ground.

Berean Standard Bible

The LORD sustains the humble, but casts the wicked to the ground.

American Standard Version

Jehovah upholdeth the meek: He bringeth the wicked down to the ground.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 147:6 articulates a profound truth about God's active and just governance, revealing His contrasting and decisive actions toward two distinct groups: the humble and the wicked. This verse encapsulates a core biblical principle of divine righteousness, where the sovereign Lord intervenes to elevate those who are meek in spirit and to bring low those who oppose His will and righteous order, thereby demonstrating His ultimate authority over all human affairs and creation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 147 is a magnificent hymn of praise, likely composed during a period of national restoration for Jerusalem, possibly after the return from Babylonian exile. The psalm opens by extolling God's immense greatness and His wondrous works in the cosmos, specifically highlighting His power over the stars and the weather in [Psalms 147:4-5](/psalms/147-4-5 "Psalms 147:4-5 - God's Omnipotence and Omniscience"). From this grand, universal perspective, the psalmist gracefully transitions to God's intimate and compassionate involvement in human history and the specific affairs of His people. Verse 6 serves as a pivotal point, connecting God's cosmic sovereignty to His particular moral governance on earth, setting the stage for further praise of His provision for the needy and His judgment against those who rely on human strength, as elaborated in [Psalms 147:7-11](/psalms/147-7-11 "Psalms 147:7-11 - God's Provision and Displeasure with Human Strength").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop for Psalm 147 is widely understood to be the post-exilic period, particularly the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls and the repopulation of the devastated city (compare [Nehemiah 1](/nehemiah/1 "Nehemiah 1 - Nehemiah's Prayer and Commission")). After decades of exile and the destruction of their beloved city, the people of Israel found themselves in a state of profound humility and dependence, acutely aware of their need for divine intervention and sustenance. In this context, the "meek" (Hebrew: *`anawim`*) would have deeply resonated with the experiences of the returned exiles—those who had been humbled by adversity, who placed their trust in God's faithfulness rather than their own diminished power or resources. Conversely, the "wicked" could refer to the adversaries who actively opposed the rebuilding efforts (e.g., [Nehemiah 4](/nehemiah/4 "Nehemiah 4 - Opposition to Rebuilding the Wall")) or, more broadly, to those who prospered through injustice and rejected God's moral order, a common theme explored in wisdom literature like [Proverbs 3:33](/proverbs/3-33 "Proverbs 3:33 - The Lord's Curse on the Wicked").
* **Key Themes:** This verse significantly contributes to several overarching themes woven throughout the Psalms and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Justice and Reversal**, emphasizing that God is not a passive observer but an active, righteous judge who orchestrates a dramatic reversal of human fortunes based on moral character. This theme is foundational to understanding the nature of God's kingdom, where the last shall be first and the first last (compare [Matthew 19:30](/matthew/19-30 "Matthew 19:30 - The Last Shall Be First")). Secondly, it underscores **God's Favor for the Meek and Humble**, revealing His special care, vindication, and exaltation for those who are lowly in spirit, utterly dependent on Him, and often afflicted. This divine preference for humility is a recurring motif, standing in stark contrast to human systems that often value power, pride, and self-sufficiency, as also powerfully articulated in [Isaiah 66:2](/isaiah/66-2 "Isaiah 66:2 - God's Regard for the Humble and Contrite"). Finally, the verse powerfully portrays **God's Judgment on the Wicked**, asserting that those who live in rebellion against God's ways, oppress others, or act with arrogance will ultimately face divine humiliation and downfall. This serves as both a solemn warning and a profound source of assurance that evil will not ultimately triumph (compare [Psalms 37:9-10](/psalms/37-9-10 "Psalms 37:9-10 - The Wicked Will Perish")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** This is the sacred, covenantal name of God, often rendered as "Jehovah" or "Yahweh." Derived from the verb "to be," it signifies the self-existent, eternal, and unchanging God who is utterly faithful to His promises and actively involved in the affairs of His creation and His people. The use of this specific, personal name underscores that the powerful and just actions described in the verse are not arbitrary but flow directly from the very character and covenant faithfulness of God Himself.
* **meek (Hebrew, _ʻânâv'_):** This term describes someone who is depressed, humble, lowly, or poor, often in a spiritual or ethical sense, implying a profound reliance on God rather than self-sufficiency or worldly power. It does not denote weakness or timidity, but rather a profound dependence upon the Lord, often cultivated through affliction, hardship, or a conscious choice of humility. These are the ones who recognize their inherent need for God's grace, justice, and intervention.
* **casteth down (Hebrew, _shâphêl'_):** This primitive root means to depress, sink, humiliate, abase, or bring low. It vividly portrays God's decisive, powerful, and often humiliating action in bringing about the downfall of the wicked. This divine act strips them of their pride, perceived power, and false sense of security, ultimately leading to their public humiliation and utter defeat. It signifies a complete reversal of their elevated status.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The LORD lifteth up the meek":** This initial clause reveals God's active, compassionate, and redemptive intervention on behalf of those who are humble, lowly, and utterly dependent on Him. The phrase "lifteth up" implies not only physical elevation but also vindication, restoration, exaltation, and abundant provision. It speaks powerfully to God's compassionate care for the marginalized and His unwavering commitment to elevating those who submit to His will, often in stark contrast to prevailing worldly power structures and values.
* **"he casteth the wicked down to the ground.":** This contrasting second clause starkly demonstrates God's judicial authority and sovereign power over those who oppose His righteous ways. "The wicked" are those who are morally wrong, ungodly, and live in active rebellion against divine principles and justice. "Casteth down to the ground" is a potent image signifying their utter humiliation, decisive defeat, and ultimate destruction, stripping them of their pride, influence, and power. It is a powerful declaration of divine judgment, assuring that evil will not ultimately prevail.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 147:6 employs several potent literary devices to convey its powerful message with striking clarity and impact. **Antithetical Parallelism** is central to the verse's structure, presenting two contrasting clauses that highlight opposing ideas: God's act of lifting up the meek versus His act of casting down the wicked. This balanced opposition powerfully emphasizes the stark difference in divine treatment based on moral character and spiritual posture. **Personification** is evident in the active verbs "lifteth up" and "casteth down," which attribute human-like actions to God, making His divine intervention feel immediate, tangible, and personal. Furthermore, the phrase "down to the ground" functions as a form of **Merism** or **Hyperbole**, effectively conveying complete humiliation, utter defeat, and a total reversal of fortune for the wicked, implying that their downfall is absolute and inescapable.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 147:6 resonates deeply with the broader biblical narrative of God's righteous governance and His unique, preferential relationship with the humble. It powerfully affirms God's unwavering commitment to justice, where true strength and lasting success are found not in worldly power, self-assertion, or arrogance, but in meekness, humility, and profound dependence on Him. This divine principle assures believers that though injustice and the prosperity of the wicked may seem to prevail temporarily, God ultimately holds the scales of justice, ensuring that the humble will be exalted and the proud brought low. It underscores that God's kingdom operates on an entirely different set of values than the world's, prioritizing humility, righteousness, and reliance on Him over self-exaltation and wickedness.

* [Proverbs 29:23](/proverbs/29-23 "Pride leads to humiliation, but humility brings honor.")
* [James 4:6](/james/4-6 "God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.")
* [Matthew 23:12](/matthew/23-12 "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse offers profound comfort and reassurance to those who feel overlooked, oppressed, or marginalized in a world that often values power and self-promotion. It reassures them that their humble posture before God is not only seen but deeply valued and will ultimately be vindicated. It encourages believers to actively cultivate a spirit of meekness, trusting that God will indeed vindicate and elevate them in His perfect timing, not necessarily by worldly standards of success, but in ways that truly matter for His eternal kingdom. Conversely, it serves as a solemn warning to those who live in pride, self-sufficiency, or actively engage in wickedness, reminding them that God's judgment is certain and that their perceived power and prosperity are fleeting. For all, this verse calls for a deep, abiding trust in God's ultimate justice, even when immediate circumstances seem to defy it, prompting us to align our lives with His righteous character and to champion humility and justice in our spheres of influence.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life do you find it most challenging to embrace humility and rely fully on God's strength rather than your own?**
* **How does the promise of God lifting up the meek encourage you specifically when you face injustice or feel overlooked by others?**
* **What practical steps can you commit to taking this week to cultivate a more meek and humble spirit in your daily interactions and decisions?**
* **How does this verse challenge your understanding of what true power and lasting success look like in the world today?**

### FAQ
**Who are "the meek" in a practical sense, and how does God "lift them up"?**

Answer: "The meek" are those who are humble, gentle, patient, and submissive to God's will, often experiencing various forms of affliction or hardship. They are characterized by a lack of self-assertion and a profound reliance on God's power and justice, rather than their own. God "lifts them up" in multifaceted ways: He provides for their needs, grants them spiritual wisdom and discernment, vindicates them against their oppressors, restores their dignity and honor, and ultimately exalts them in His kingdom. This lifting up may not always manifest as immediate worldly success or prominence, but it is always a divine affirmation, blessing, and ultimately, an eternal inheritance, as promised in [Matthew 5:5](/matthew/5-5 "Matthew 5:5 - Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.").

**Does God always immediately cast down the wicked?**

Answer: Not always immediately in a visible, temporal sense that aligns with human expectations. The Bible teaches that God is patient and longsuffering, extending grace and giving ample opportunity for repentance (e.g., [2 Peter 3:9](/2_peter/3-9 "2 Peter 3:9 - God's Patience and Desire for Repentance")). However, Psalms 147:6 affirms that His judgment is certain and ultimate. While the wicked may appear to prosper for a time, their downfall is assured, whether in this life through various forms of humiliation and defeat, or eternally in the final judgment. The psalmist often grapples with this perceived delay in divine justice, but ultimately affirms God's unwavering righteousness and the inevitable end of the wicked, as powerfully depicted in [Psalms 73:17-20](/psalms/73-17-20 "Psalms 73:17-20 - The End of the Wicked").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 147:6 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. He is the quintessential "meek" one, who, though eternally God in the flesh, "made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness" ([Philippians 2:7](/philippians/2-7 "Philippians 2:7 - Christ's Humiliation and Incarnation")). Jesus perfectly embodied humility, submitting Himself entirely to the Father's will, even to the point of a humiliating death on a cross ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Obedience to Death")). Throughout His earthly ministry, He consistently lifted up the humble, ministering to the poor, the sick, and the marginalized, and teaching His disciples that "whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" ([Matthew 18:4](/matthew/18-4 "Matthew 18:4 - Humility in the Kingdom")). His resurrection from the dead and subsequent ascension to the right hand of God are the ultimate "lifting up" by the LORD, demonstrating God's perfect vindication of His perfectly meek Son, whom "God exalted to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name" ([Philippians 2:9](/philippians/2-9 "Philippians 2:9 - Christ's Exaltation")). Conversely, Jesus' triumph over sin, death, and Satan—the ultimate "wicked" forces—represents the definitive "casting down to the ground" of all that opposes God's righteous rule, foreshadowing the final judgment where every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord ([Philippians 2:10-11](/philippians/2-10-11 "Philippians 2:10-11 - Confession of Christ's Lordship")). Thus, in Christ, we witness God's perfect justice fully realized: the meek Son is eternally exalted, and all wickedness is utterly defeated.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 146:8

The LORD openeth [the eyes of] the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:

Psalms 146:9

The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.

Psalms 25:9

The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

James 4:10

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

1 Peter 5:6

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

Zephaniah 2:3

Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.

Psalms 145:14

The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all [those that be] bowed down.