Psalms 34:20 (ASV)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

Psalms 34:18 Jehovah is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, And saveth such as are of a contrite spirit.

Psalms 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous; But Jehovah delivereth him out of them all.

Psalms 34:20 He keepeth all his bones: Not one of them is broken.

Psalms 34:21 Evil shall slay the wicked; And they that hate the righteous shall be condemned.

Psalms 34:22 Jehovah redeemeth the soul of his servants; And none of them that take refuge in him shall be condemned. Psalm 35 [A Psalm] of David.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "keepeth", "bones", and "broken". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "keepeth" and "bones", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 19's "Many are the afflictions of the righteous..." into verse 21's "Evil shall slay the wicked And they...", so "keepeth" and "bones" belong inside that flow. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "keepeth" and "bones" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.