God breaks the spirit of the proud and arrogant so that in their humility and brokenness they may come to repentance and restoration. A crushed heart or spirit may be caused by tragic circumstances or by God's judgment.
Brokenness before God
Psalm 51:17 See also Psalm 34:18, Psalm 51:8; Isaiah 57:15, Isaiah 66:2; Zechariah 12:10
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
Brokenness of heart
Psalm 147:3 See also Psalm 34:18, Psalm 69:20, Psalm 109:16; Isaiah 61:1; Jeremiah 23:9; Ezekiel 21:6–7
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Brokenness of spirit
Job 17:1 See also Job 30:24, Job 31:38–40
“My spirit is broken; my days are extinguished; the grave awaits me.
Brokenness as a result of God's judgment
On individuals
Isaiah 1:28 See also Job 24:20; Isaiah 8:12–15, Isaiah 65:14–15; Jeremiah 22:24–30
But rebels and sinners will together be shattered, and those who forsake the LORD will perish.
On nations
Ezekiel 32:28 See also Jeremiah 48:4–5, Jeremiah 48:16–17, Jeremiah 48:38–39, Jeremiah 50:23–24, Jeremiah 51:6–10
But you too will be shattered and lie down among the uncircumcised, with those slain by the sword.
Brokenness as contrition
Isaiah 66:1–2 See also Psalm 34:18, Psalm 51:16–17; Isaiah 57:14–21
This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or where will My place of repose be? Has not My hand made all these things? And so they came into being,” declares the LORD. “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.