Psalms 147:6
The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
Original Language Analysis
מְעוֹדֵ֣ד
lifteth up
H5749
מְעוֹדֵ֣ד
lifteth up
Strong's:
H5749
Word #:
1 of 7
to duplicate or repeat; by implication, to protest, testify (as by reiteration); intensively, to encompass, restore (as a sort of reduplication)
עֲנָוִ֣ים
the meek
H6035
עֲנָוִ֣ים
the meek
Strong's:
H6035
Word #:
2 of 7
depressed (figuratively), in mind (gentle) or circumstances (needy, especially saintly)
יְהוָ֑ה
The LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֑ה
The LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 7
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
מַשְׁפִּ֖יל
down
H8213
מַשְׁפִּ֖יל
down
Strong's:
H8213
Word #:
4 of 7
to depress or sink (especially figuratively, to humiliate, intransitive or transitive)
רְשָׁעִ֣ים
the wicked
H7563
רְשָׁעִ֣ים
the wicked
Strong's:
H7563
Word #:
5 of 7
morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
Cross References
Psalms 25:9The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.James 4:10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.1 Peter 5:6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:1 Samuel 2:8He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them.Zephaniah 2:3Seek 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.
Historical Context
Post-exilic Israel consisted largely of the 'meek'—a remnant returned from exile, economically weak, politically powerless, surrounded by hostile neighbors. This psalm assured them that their God champions the lowly against the proud. Throughout Israel's history, God repeatedly demonstrated this pattern: choosing the younger over the elder (Jacob, Joseph, David), using the weak to shame the strong (Gideon, David versus Goliath), and preserving a faithful remnant when the powerful apostatized.
Questions for Reflection
- In what areas of your life do you need God's lifting up, and what prevents you from embracing the meekness this requires?
- How does our culture's emphasis on self-promotion and strength conflict with God's pattern of exalting the humble?
- What does it mean to be 'meek' without being weak or passive in the face of injustice?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground. This verse presents a fundamental reversal principle central to biblical theology. The Hebrew me'odeid anavim (מְעוֹדֵד עֲנָוִים) uses anavim—the humble, afflicted, oppressed—those who have learned dependence on God through suffering and who submit to His authority. God actively "lifts up" (me'odeid) the lowly, elevating them to honor and security.
The contrast is stark: while lifting the meek, Yahweh simultaneously "casteth the wicked down to the ground" (mashpil resha'im adei-aretz, מַשְׁפִּיל רְשָׁעִים עֲדֵי־אָרֶץ). The verb shaphal means to humble, abase, or bring low—the opposite of exaltation. The wicked, who exalt themselves through pride and oppression, are brought down to the dust from which humanity came (Genesis 3:19).
This principle echoes throughout Scripture: Hannah's song (1 Samuel 2:7-8), Mary's Magnificat (Luke 1:52-53), and Jesus's teaching that "whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted" (Matthew 23:12). The ultimate demonstration is Christ Himself, who humbled Himself to death on a cross and therefore was exalted to the highest place (Philippians 2:5-11).