Psalms 37 · Verse 17

Psalms 37:17

For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholdeth the righteous.
Psalms 37:17, King James Version

Psalms 37:17 in other translations

BSBFor the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.
WEBFor the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.
ASVFor the arms of the wicked shall be broken; But Jehovah upholdeth the righteous.
YLTFor the arms of the wicked are shivered, And Jehovah is sustaining the righteous.
DARBYfor the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but Jehovah upholdeth the righteous.
BBEFor the arms of the evil-doers will be broken: but the Lord is the support of the good.
WebsterFor the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.

What does Psalms 37:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
17. Even the members of the body needed to hold weapons are destroyed.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 The arms of the wicked - Their power to do evil. Of this they are often deprived. Talents lent and abused shall be resumed, and the misuser called to a severe account by the Lord of the talents.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 37:7-20

Let us be satisfied that God will make all to work for good to us. Let us not discompose ourselves at what we see in this world. A fretful, discontented spirit is open to many temptations. For, in all respects, the little which is allotted to the righteous, is more comfortable and more profitable than the ill-gotten and abused riches of ungodly men. It comes from a hand of special love. God provides plentifully and…

Read the full comment on Psalms 37:7-20 →

Psalms 37:17 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

כִּ֤יkiforH3588
זְרוֹע֣וֹתze.ro.'ot[the] arms ofH2220
רְ֭שָׁעִיםRe.sha.'imwicked [people]H7563
תִּשָּׁבַ֑רְנָהti.sha.Var.nahthey will be brokenH7665
וְסוֹמֵ֖ךְve.so.Mekhand [is] sustainingH5564
צַדִּיקִ֣יםtza.di.Kimrighteous [people]H6662
יְהוָֽה\׃Yah.wehYahwehH3068

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 37:17

  • Isaiah 41:10

    Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

  • Psalms 63:8

    My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.

  • Psalms 145:14

    The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.

  • Isaiah 42:1

    Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

  • Psalms 37:24

    Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.

  • Psalms 119:116-117

    Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope. Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.

  • Psalms 51:12

    Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

  • Jude 1:24

    Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

  • Psalms 10:15

    Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.

  • Psalms 41:12

    And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.

  • Job 38:15

    And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.

  • Ezekiel 30:21-25

    Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and, lo, it shall not be bound up to be healed, to put a roller to bind it, to make it strong to hold the sword. Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will break his arms, the strong, and that which was broken; and I will cause the sword to fall out of his hand. And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries. And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and put my sword in his hand: but I will break Pharaoh’s arms, and he shall groan before him with the groanings of a deadly wounded man. …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
arms.
10:15; Job 38:15; Eze 30:21-25
Lord.
24; 41:12; 51:12; 63:8; 119:116,117; 145:14; Isa 41:10; 42:1; Jude 1:24

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 37:16

    A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

  • Psalms 37:17

    For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholdeth the righteous.

  • Psalms 37:18

    The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

Read all of Psalms 37

Psalms 37:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque los brazos de los impíos serán quebrados: mas el que sostiene á los justos es Jehová.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		car les bras des méchants seront brisés, mais l’ Éternel soutient les justes.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn die Arme der Gesetzlosen werden zerbrochen werden, aber Jehova stützt die Gerechten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quia dixi: Nequando supergaudeant mihi inimici mei; et dum commoventur pedes mei, super me magna locuti sunt.