Broken Heart And Contrite Spirit Meaning According to The Bible
A “broken heart and contrite spirit” is a deep and sincere attitude of humility, repentance, and surrender before God. It’s not just about feeling sad, it’s about recognizing your need for God, admitting your faults, and sincerely turning back to Him with a softened, teachable heart.
What Does “Broken Heart” Mean?
A broken heart in the Bible doesn’t mean emotional despair the way we often think of it. Instead, it refers to a heart that is humbled and shattered of pride. It’s a heart that acknowledges sin and knows that it cannot fix itself, it needs God’s mercy.
Psalm 34:18 (KJV): “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”
Here, the verse shows that God is close to the humble, that is, those whose hearts are broken not by life’s trials alone, but by the weight of sin and the desire to be made right with God.
Also in Isaiah 57:15 (KJV): “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity… I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit…”
This tells us that even though God is holy and exalted, He chooses to dwell with those who are broken and humble.
What Does “Contrite Spirit” Mean?
To have a contrite spirit means to be genuinely sorry for sin, not just because of its consequences, but because it offends God. “Contrite” comes from a Latin word meaning “crushed” or “ground to pieces.” So, a contrite spirit is one that has been crushed under the conviction of sin, yet still reaches out to God in hope.
Psalm 51:17 (KJV): “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”
This was written by David after his sin with Bathsheba. Instead of offering rituals, he says what God really wants is a repentant heart—one that’s crushed and honest before Him.
So when the Bible speaks of a “broken heart and contrite spirit,” it describes a person who:
1. Admits their sin without excuses
2. Feels the weight of that sin and its separation from God
3. Desires forgiveness more than anything else
4. Trusts in God’s mercy to restore and heal
This kind of heart moves God. He doesn’t reject it. He draws near to it.
Why Is This Important to God?
God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). A broken heart and contrite spirit show that a person is ready to let go of pride, rebellion, and self-dependence, and finally ready to let God take over.
Jesus affirmed this in the New Testament in Luke 18:13-14 (KJV) — the story of the tax collector and the Pharisee. The Pharisee was proud; the tax collector said:
“God be merciful to me, a sinner.” Jesus replied him that it was the humble man who went home justified before God.
King David is a typical Biblical example in book of 2 Samuel 11–12 and Psalm 51
King David, a man after God’s own heart, committed a terrible sin. He slept with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, and then arranged Uriah’s death in battle to cover it up.
At first, David tried to hide it. But God sent the prophet Nathan to confront him. When Nathan revealed David’s sin, David didn’t argue or blame anyone. He immediately admitted:
2 Samuel 12:13 (KJV): “And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord.” David was crushed by guilt and deeply remorseful—not just because he got caught, but because he had grieved God. He poured out his heart in Psalm 51, one of the most powerful prayers of repentance in the Bible. It reveals his broken heart and contrite spirit:
Psalm 51:1–2, 10, 17 (KJV): David said, “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness… Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin… Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”
David knew no burnt offering could undo his sin. What God truly desired was his repentance—his humbled, broken, and honest heart.
God forgave David. Though David still faced consequences for his actions, God restored him spiritually. David’s humility and repentance brought him back into right standing with the Lord.
Why David’s Example Matters
David wasn’t perfect, but he knew how to return to God. His story shows us that no matter how far we fall, if we come back with a broken heart and contrite spirit, God will receive us.
David is the ultimate example of someone who:
1. Fell into serious sin
2. Was confronted with truth
3. Responded with brokenness and deep repentance
4. Was forgiven and restored by God
Just like David, we can find mercy when we come to God with a heart that’s broken over sin and ready to change.
Bible Verses for the Broken Spirit
Psalm 34:18
The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Psalm 147:3
He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
Proverbs 15:13
A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
Proverbs 18:14
The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
Job 17:1
My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.
Lamentations 3:20
My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.
Psalm 31:12
I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.
Bible verses for the Crushed spirit
Isaiah 57:15
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity… to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Psalm 51:17
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Psalm 38:8
I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.
Psalm 6:6
I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.
Isaiah 66:2
But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
Matthew 5:3
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2 Corinthians 7:10
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me… he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted…
James 4:9
Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
Bible Verse a Broken Spirit And a Contrite Heart
Psalm 51:17
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Isaiah 57:15
…I dwell… with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble…
Isaiah 66:2
…to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit…
Psalm 34:18
The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Psalm 38:18
For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.
Joel 2:13
And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God…
Luke 18:13
And the publican… smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
James 4:6
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray… then will I hear from heaven…
Hosea 6:1
Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us…
Matthew 5:4
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Pray This Powerful Prayer With Me
O God, my Father and my King, I come before You today, not in strength, but in need. Not with pride, but in humility. Not with excuses, but with open hands and an aching heart.
Lord, Your Word says in Psalm 51:17 that You will not despise a broken and contrite heart, and so I do not hide from You. Break me, Lord, in the places I have grown hard. Softly shatter every wall I’ve built to protect my pride. Crush every ounce of self-righteousness that keeps me far from You.
I do not ask for comfort before conviction. I do not ask for ease before transformation. Instead, I ask for the holy fire of Your Spirit to refine me.
Tear down the idols of my heart. Expose the hidden sins, those I see and those I’ve buried deep. I don’t want surface repentance. I want a change that runs deep, that alters my thoughts, my motives, and my ways.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me (Psalm 51:10). I want to feel what You feel about sin. I want to mourn over what grieves You. Let me not be numb. Let me not be stubborn. Let me be tender and teachable, always ready to return to You.
Give me strength, not the strength to defend myself, but the strength to surrender fully to Your will. Give me the courage to say, “Not my way, Lord, but Yours.” To lay my pride on the altar and leave it there.
When the world shouts, “Be strong,” teach me that strength is found in submission to You. That true power flows from humility, repentance, and obedience.
You said in Isaiah 66:2 that You look on the one who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at Your Word. Lord, look on me. See me here. Trembling. Yielded. Hungry for You.
Let my heart remain broken, never bitter, but broken for what breaks Yours. Let my spirit stay contrite not crushed by shame, but low before Your mercy. And in that place, O God, meet me. Revive me. Heal me. Transform me. In the mighty and merciful name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Final Thought
A broken heart means you’ve been humbled before God. A contrite spirit means you’re sincerely sorry and want to change. Together, they are the keys to genuine repentance and closeness with God. And the good news? God never turns away anyone who comes to Him with a heart like that.
