Psalms 34:20

He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

He keepeth {H8104} all his bones {H6106}: not one {H259} of them {H2007} is broken {H7665}.

He protects all his bones; not one of them gets broken.

He protects all his bones; not one of them will be broken.

He keepeth all his bones: Not one of them is broken.

Commentary

Context of Psalm 34:20

Psalm 34 is a psalm of David, composed during a tumultuous period when he feigned madness before Abimelech (Achish) of Gath (1 Samuel 21:10-15). This psalm is a powerful testament to God's faithfulness and deliverance for those who seek Him.

In the verses leading up to verse 20, David extols the Lord's care for the righteous, emphasizing that God hears their cries, delivers them from troubles, and is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:17-18). Verse 19 states, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all." Following this assurance of deliverance from afflictions, verse 20 provides a striking image of complete preservation.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Protection and Preservation: The primary message is God's unwavering commitment to protect and preserve His faithful servants. "He keepeth all his bones" signifies a comprehensive and meticulous safeguarding, even in the face of severe threats or suffering.
  • God's Faithfulness: This verse underscores God's reliability and His active role in the lives of those who trust in Him. It's a promise that He will uphold and sustain His own.
  • Hope Amidst Adversity: For those undergoing trials, the verse offers profound comfort. It assures that no matter the tribulation, God maintains ultimate control and ensures the integrity of His chosen ones, even if not always physically in a literal sense, then certainly spiritually and ultimately.

Linguistic Insight

The Hebrew word for "bones" (עֶצֶם, 'etsem) refers to the physical skeleton, the core structure of the body. The phrase "not one of them is broken" emphasizes the totality and completeness of this preservation. It suggests that even the most vital and foundational parts of a person are under God's watchful care.

Prophetic Significance

While immediately relevant to the righteous in David's time, this verse carries profound prophetic weight, finding its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. During His crucifixion, the Roman soldiers broke the legs of the two criminals crucified with Him to hasten their death, but they did not break Jesus' legs because He was already dead (John 19:32-33). The Gospel of John explicitly cites Psalm 34:20 as a direct prophecy fulfilled in this event:

For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. (John 19:36)

This fulfillment ties Jesus to the Passover lamb, of which it was commanded, "neither shall ye break a bone thereof" (Exodus 12:46; also Numbers 9:12). Thus, the verse highlights Jesus as the perfect, unblemished sacrificial Lamb of God.

Practical Application and Reflection

For believers today, Psalm 34:20 offers immense encouragement. It reminds us that God's care extends to every aspect of our being, even when we face physical or emotional distress. While we may experience suffering or even death, the promise assures us of ultimate preservation and spiritual integrity in God's hands. It speaks to God's sovereign control over life and death, providing comfort that nothing can truly harm those who belong to Him beyond His divine allowance. This verse calls us to trust in God's detailed and complete protection, knowing that His plan for our lives, and indeed our very being, is secure in His keeping.

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Cross-References

  • John 19:36 (23 votes)

    For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.

  • Psalms 35:10 (7 votes)

    All my bones shall say, LORD, who [is] like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?

  • Psalms 91:12 (6 votes)

    They shall bear thee up in [their] hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

  • Daniel 6:22 (5 votes)

    My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

  • Daniel 6:24 (5 votes)

    And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast [them] into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.