Topical Encyclopedia
The term "broken hearted" refers to a state of deep emotional pain and distress, often resulting from loss, betrayal, or profound disappointment. In the Bible, the broken hearted are frequently mentioned as individuals who are in need of God's comfort, healing, and restoration. The Scriptures provide numerous references to God's compassion and care for those who are suffering from a broken heart.
Biblical References:1.
Psalm 34:18 · "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit." This verse highlights God's proximity to those who are suffering emotionally. It assures believers that God is not distant but is intimately aware of their pain and is ready to offer salvation and comfort.
2.
Psalm 147:3 · "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." This passage emphasizes God's role as a healer. It portrays God as a compassionate physician who tends to the emotional wounds of His people, offering restoration and wholeness.
3.
Isaiah 61:1 · "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners." This prophecy, later fulfilled in Jesus Christ, underscores the mission of the Messiah to address the needs of the brokenhearted, offering them hope and liberation.
4.
Luke 4:18 · In this New Testament passage, Jesus reads from the scroll of Isaiah in the synagogue, affirming His mission: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed." Jesus identifies Himself as the one who brings healing to the brokenhearted, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah.
5.
Matthew 5:4 · "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." In the Beatitudes, Jesus promises comfort to those who are grieving. This assurance is particularly relevant to the brokenhearted, as it speaks to the divine comfort available to those who turn to God in their sorrow.
Theological Insights:The broken hearted are often depicted in Scripture as those who are humble and contrite, recognizing their need for God's intervention. This state of brokenness is not seen as a weakness but as an opportunity for divine strength and grace to manifest. The Bible consistently portrays God as a refuge and source of strength for those who are emotionally wounded.
The ministry of Jesus Christ is central to the biblical understanding of healing for the brokenhearted. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus provides the ultimate remedy for the pain and suffering of the human heart. His compassion and empathy for those in distress are evident throughout the Gospels, where He reaches out to the marginalized, the suffering, and the downtrodden.
Practical Application:Believers are encouraged to seek God's presence and comfort in times of emotional distress. Prayer, meditation on Scripture, and fellowship with other believers are vital practices for those who are brokenhearted. The church is called to be a community of support and encouragement, reflecting God's love and compassion to those who are hurting.
In addition, Christians are urged to emulate Christ's example by showing empathy and kindness to those who are suffering. Acts of service, listening, and providing practical help are ways to minister to the brokenhearted, demonstrating the love of God in tangible ways.
Topical Bible Verses
Psalm 34:18The LORD is near to them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit.
Topicalbible.orgPsalm 69:20
Reproach has broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
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Psalm 51:17
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
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Proverbs 17:22
A merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones.
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Greek
4937. suntribo -- to break in pieces, crush... From sun and the base of tribos; to crush completely, ie To shatter (literally or
figuratively) -- break (in pieces),
broken to shivers (+ -
hearted), bruise.
...Strong's Hebrew
7665. shabar -- to break, break in pieces... A primitive root; to burst (literally or figuratively) -- break (down, off, in pieces,
up),
broken((-
hearted)), bring to the birth, crush, destroy, hurt, quench
...3820. leb -- inner man, mind, will, heart
... 2), intelligence (1), kindly (5), life (1), merry-hearted* (1), middle (2... care for,
comfortably, consent, considered, courageous, friendly,broken, hard,....
Library
ABroken-Hearted Father
... THE OLD TESTAMENT ABROKEN-HEARTED FATHER. After Absalom and all the men
of Israel crossed the Jordan, David counted the troops who...
Broken Hearts.
... The next home I entered I found a woman crushed andbroken-hearted. She told me
her boy had forsaken her, and she had no idea where he had gone....
Messiah Unpitied, and Without a Comforter
... Letbroken-hearted sinners look, by faith, upon abroken-hearted Saviour. The phrase
denotes woe and dejection inconceivable, with a failure of all resource....
Beauty for Ashes
... It comes from him who said, "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me," "he hath sent
me to bind up thebroken-hearted." Now, in a very inferior and subordinate...
A Defaulter's Confession.
... One week ago I preached on the text, "Christ came to heal thebroken-hearted." I
told you just before I came down that I had received a letter from abroken...
Reaping the Whirlwind.
... deserted long years ago, that he had been gone but a few months before his father
was confined to his house; and very soon after diedbroken-hearted, and that...
Christ's Hospital
... If there is abroken-hearted person anywhere about, many people despise him.... In
a great many cases people despair of thebroken-hearted ones....
The Prodigal and his Brother.
... therefore He spoke tenderly and lovingly to those whom society counted undone;
therefore He loved to bind up the bruised and thebroken-hearted; therefore His...
The Forgiveness of Sins.
... A boy, nearlybroken-hearted with grief, stood by his mother's coffin. "Oh! let
me see my dear mother once more, only once more," he pleaded....
The Morning Breaketh
... The Prophet Isaiah in this particular part of his prophecy seems to be
almostbroken-hearted because of the sin of the people. As...
Resources
What does the Bible say about brokenness? | GotQuestions.orgHow can I recover from heartbreak / a broken heart? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that Jesus is the answer? | GotQuestions.orgBroken: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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