Psalms 18:27

For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.

For thou wilt save {H3467} the afflicted {H6041} people {H5971}; but wilt bring down {H8213} high {H7311} looks {H5869}.

People afflicted, you save; but haughty eyes, you humble.

For You save an afflicted people, but You humble those with haughty eyes.

For thou wilt save the afflicted people; But the haughty eyes thou wilt bring down.

Psalm 18:27 beautifully encapsulates a core aspect of God's character: His justice and His commitment to the humble while opposing the proud. This verse is part of a grand psalm of thanksgiving and praise from King David.

Context of Psalms 18:27

Psalm 18 is a powerful psalm of David, often considered a parallel to 2 Samuel 22. It is a song of deliverance, expressing profound gratitude to God for rescuing David from all his enemies, including King Saul. David recounts God's mighty intervention on his behalf, using vivid imagery of a divine warrior. Verse 27 specifically highlights God's consistent moral judgment and His nature as a righteous judge who uplifts the oppressed and humbles the arrogant.

Key Themes in Psalms 18:27

  • Divine Deliverance for the Afflicted: The verse assures that God actively intervenes to save those who are suffering, humble, or oppressed. It speaks to His compassion and faithfulness towards those who acknowledge their need for Him. This theme resonates throughout Scripture, emphasizing God's heart for the vulnerable and marginalized in society.
  • Judgment Against Pride: Conversely, God promises to "bring down high looks." This refers to the haughty, the arrogant, and those who trust in their own strength or position rather than in God. Pride is consistently condemned in the Bible as an affront to God, who alone is truly exalted. This aspect of the verse underscores God's righteous judgment against human self-exaltation.
  • God's Justice and Righteousness: The verse showcases God's perfect justice, where humility is rewarded with salvation and pride is met with humbling. It illustrates that God is not impartial but acts according to His righteous character, upholding moral order.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "afflicted" (עָנִי - 'ani) often implies not just poverty or suffering, but also humility and meekness, a state of being lowly or oppressed. It suggests those who are dependent on God. "High looks" (עֵינַיִם רָמוֹת - 'einayim ramot) literally means "haughty eyes" or "lofty eyes," a common biblical idiom for arrogance, pride, and disdain for others or for God Himself. The phrase "bring down" (שָׁפַל - shaphal) implies abasement or humiliation.

Practical Application

Psalms 18:27 offers profound encouragement and a solemn warning for believers today. For those facing hardship, oppression, or feeling humble, it serves as a powerful reminder that God sees their plight and is committed to their deliverance. It encourages reliance on Him rather than self-sufficiency. At the same time, it is a clear warning against pride and arrogance in all its forms, reminding us that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. It calls us to cultivate a spirit of humility, recognizing that all good things come from God and that true exaltation comes through His hand, not through our own efforts or self-importance. This verse encourages us to live with a humble heart, trusting in God's saving power and fearing His righteous judgment against all forms of pride.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 101:5

    Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.

  • James 2:5

    Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

  • Isaiah 57:15

    For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name [is] Holy; I dwell in the high and holy [place], with him also [that is] of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

  • Isaiah 66:2

    For all those [things] hath mine hand made, and all those [things] have been, saith the LORD: but to this [man] will I look, [even] to [him that is] poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

  • 2 Samuel 22:28

    And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes [are] upon the haughty, [that] thou mayest bring [them] down.

  • Psalms 9:18

    For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall [not] perish for ever.

  • 2 Corinthians 8:9

    For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

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