Bible Dictionaries
Contrite

Holman Bible Dictionary

To be humble and repentant before God, crushed by the sense of guilt and sinfulness. This Old Testament concept is expressed by the Hebrew word daka' and its derivatives. The basic meaning is to be crushed or beaten to pieces. This meaning appears in the crushing of the golden calf ( Exodus 32:20 ) or the crushing of grain during threshing (Isaiah 28:28 ). Crushing enemies is a frequent theme (Psalm 89:11 ). God taught Israel not to crush the poor (Proverbs 22:22 ). Indeed, the king is to crush the oppressor who harms the poor (Psalm 72:4 ). In Psalm 9:9 , the poor are referred to as the crushed (literal translation) and assured God is their “refuge.” Compare Psalm 143:3 . They can thus come to God in prayer, knowing what God wants is a broken spirit and a contrite heart (Psalm 51:17 ). God will revive the spirit of such a one (Isaiah 57:15; compare Isaiah 66:2; Psalm 34:18 ).

God's plan of salvation rests on God being pleased to crush His Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53:10 NAS). This One will finally be exalted ( Isaiah 52:13 ).