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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Psalm 88:5 I am forsaken among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom You remember no more, who are cut off from Your care.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/psalms/88-5.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/16/19_Psa_088_005.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Psalm 88:5 - Day and Night I Cry Out Before You" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="I am forsaken among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom You remember no more, who are cut off from Your care." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/psalms/88-5.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/psalms/88-5.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/psalms/">Psalms</a> > <a href="/psalms/88.htm">Chapter 88</a> > Verse 5</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad5.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/psalms/88-4.htm" title="Psalm 88:4">◄</a> Psalm 88:5 <a href="/psalms/88-6.htm" title="Psalm 88:6">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/psalms/88.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/psalms/88.htm">New International Version</a> I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care. <a href="/nlt/psalms/88.htm">New Living Translation</a> They have left me among the dead, and I lie like a corpse in a grave. I am forgotten, cut off from your care. <a href="/esv/psalms/88.htm">English Standard Version</a> like one set loose among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, like those whom you remember no more, for they are cut off from your hand. <a href="/bsb/psalms/88.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> I am forsaken among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom You remember no more, who are cut off from Your care. <a href="/kjv/psalms/88.htm">King James Bible</a> Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand. <a href="/nkjv/psalms/88.htm">New King James Version</a> Adrift among the dead, Like the slain who lie in the grave, Whom You remember no more, And who are cut off from Your hand. <a href="/nasb_/psalms/88.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Abandoned among the dead, Like the slain who lie in the grave, Whom You no longer remember, And they are cut off from Your hand. <a href="/nasb/psalms/88.htm">NASB 1995</a> Forsaken among the dead, Like the slain who lie in the grave, Whom You remember no more, And they are cut off from Your hand. <a href="/nasb77/psalms/88.htm">NASB 1977 </a> Forsaken among the dead, Like the slain who lie in the grave, Whom Thou dost remember no more, And they are cut off from Thy hand. <a href="/lsb/psalms/88.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Released among the dead, Like the slain who lie in the grave, Whom You remember no more, And they are cut off from Your hand. <a href="/amp/psalms/88.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Cast away [from the living] and abandoned among the dead, Like the slain who lie in a [nameless] grave, Whom You no longer remember, And they are cut off from Your hand. <a href="/csb/psalms/88.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> abandoned among the dead. I am like the slain lying in the grave, whom you no longer remember, and who are cut off from your care. <a href="/hcsb/psalms/88.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> abandoned among the dead. I am like the slain lying in the grave, whom You no longer remember, and who are cut off from Your care. <a href="/asv/psalms/88.htm">American Standard Version</a> Cast off among the dead, Like the slain that lie in the grave, Whom thou rememberest no more, And they are cut off from thy hand. <a href="/cev/psalms/88.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> I am no better off than those in the grave, those you have forgotten and no longer help. <a href="/erv/psalms/88.htm">English Revised Version</a> Cast off among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more; and they are cut off from thy hand. <a href="/gwt/psalms/88.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> abandoned with the dead, like those who have been killed and lie in graves, like those whom you no longer remember, who are cut off from your power. <a href="/gnt/psalms/88.htm">Good News Translation</a> I am abandoned among the dead; I am like the slain lying in their graves, those you have forgotten completely, who are beyond your help. <a href="/isv/psalms/88.htm">International Standard Version</a> released to remain with the dead, lying in a grave like a corpse, remembered no longer, and cut off from your power. <a href="/msb/psalms/88.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> I am forsaken among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom You remember no more, who are cut off from Your care. <a href="/net/psalms/88.htm">NET Bible</a> adrift among the dead, like corpses lying in the grave, whom you remember no more, and who are cut off from your power. <a href="/nheb/psalms/88.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> set apart among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more. They are cut off from your hand. <a href="/wbt/psalms/88.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand. <a href="/web/psalms/88.htm">World English Bible</a> set apart among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more. They are cut off from your hand. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/psalms/88.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> Among the dead—free, "" As pierced ones lying in the grave, "" Whom You have not remembered anymore, "" Indeed, they have been cut off by Your hand. <a href="/ylt/psalms/88.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> Among the dead -- free, As pierced ones lying in the grave, Whom Thou hast not remembered any more, Yea, they by Thy hand have been cut off. <a href="/slt/psalms/88.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> Free among the dead, as they wounded lying down in the grave, whom thou no more didst remember them, and they were cut off by thy hand.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/psalms/88.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> free among the dead. Like the slain sleeping in the sepulchres, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cast off from thy hand. <a href="/cpdv/psalms/88.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> <V 87:6>idle among the dead. I am like the wounded sleeping in sepulchers, whom you no longer remember, and who have been repelled by your hand. <a href="/nabre/psalms/88.htm">New American Bible</a> My couch is among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave. You remember them no more; they are cut off from your influence. <a href="/nrsvce/psalms/88.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> like those forsaken among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, like those whom you remember no more, for they are cut off from your hand.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/psalms/88.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Like a nobleman abandoned among the dead, like the slain that lie down in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more; they are lost to thee. <a href="/hpbt/psalms/88.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> A free man among the dead, like the slain sleeping in the graves, those whom you remember no more and they were destroyed by your hands!<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/psalms/88.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> Set apart among the dead, Like the slain that lie in the grave, Whom Thou rememberest no more; And they are cut off from Thy hand. <a href="/sep/psalms/88.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> free among the dead, as the slain ones cast out, who sleep in the tomb; whom thou rememberest no more; and they are rejected from thy hand. <a href="/parallel/psalms/88-5.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nFaD2oDhKPc?start=10934" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/psalms/88.htm">Day and Night I Cry Out Before You</a> …4I am counted among those descending to the Pit. I am like a man without strength. 5<a href="/hebrew/2670.htm" title="2670: ḥā·p̄ə·šî (Adj-ms) -- Free. From chaphash; exempt.">I am forsaken</a> <a href="/hebrew/4191.htm" title="4191: bam·mê·ṯîm (Prep-b, Art:: V-Qal-Prtcpl-mp) -- To die. A primitive root: to die; causatively, to kill.">among the dead,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3644.htm" title="3644: kə·mōw (Prep) -- Like, as, when. Or kamow; a form of the prefix k-, but used separately; as, thus, so.">like</a> <a href="/hebrew/2491.htm" title="2491: ḥă·lā·lîm (N-mp) -- Pierced, polluted. From chalal; pierced; figuratively, polluted.">the slain</a> <a href="/hebrew/7901.htm" title="7901: šō·ḵə·ḇê (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mpc) -- To lie down. A primitive root; to lie down.">who lie</a> <a href="/hebrew/6913.htm" title="6913: qe·ḇer (N-ms) -- A grave, sepulcher. Or qibrah; from qabar; a sepulchre.">in the grave,</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">whom</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">You</a> <a href="/hebrew/2142.htm" title="2142: zə·ḵar·tām (V-Qal-Perf-2ms:: 3mp) -- Remember. A primitive root; properly, to mark, i.e. To remember; by implication, to mention; also to be male.">remember</a> <a href="/hebrew/5750.htm" title="5750: ‘ō·wḏ (Adv) -- Or rod; from uwd; properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially, again, repeatedly, still, more.">no more,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1992.htm" title="1992: wə·hêm·māh (Conj-w:: Pro-3mp) -- They. Or hemmah; masculine plural from halak; they.">who</a> <a href="/hebrew/1504.htm" title="1504: niḡ·zā·rū (V-Nifal-Perf-3cp) -- To cut, divide. A primitive root; to cut down or off; to destroy, divide, exclude, or decide.">are cut off</a> <a href="/hebrew/3027.htm" title="3027: mî·yā·ḏə·ḵā (Prep-m:: N-fsc:: 2ms) -- Hand (indicating power, means, direction, etc.)">from Your care.</a> 6You have laid me in the lowest Pit, in the darkest of the depths.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/isaiah/53-3.htm">Isaiah 53:3</a> He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. <a href="/lamentations/3-6.htm">Lamentations 3:6</a> He has made me dwell in darkness like those dead for ages. <a href="/job/17-1.htm">Job 17:1</a> “My spirit is broken; my days are extinguished; the grave awaits me. <a href="/job/10-21.htm">Job 10:21-22</a> before I go—never to return—to a land of darkness and gloom, / to a land of utter darkness, of deep shadow and disorder, where even the light is like darkness.” <a href="/ezekiel/37-12.htm">Ezekiel 37:12-13</a> Therefore prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘O My people, I will open your graves and bring you up from them, and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. / Then you, My people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. <a href="/psalms/31-12.htm">Psalm 31:12</a> I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind. I am like a broken vessel. <a href="/psalms/143-3.htm">Psalm 143:3</a> For the enemy has pursued my soul, crushing my life to the ground, making me dwell in darkness like those long since dead. <a href="/isaiah/38-18.htm">Isaiah 38:18</a> For Sheol cannot thank You; Death cannot praise You. Those who descend to the Pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness. <a href="/job/14-10.htm">Job 14:10-12</a> But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last, and where is he? / As water disappears from the sea and a river becomes parched and dry, / so a man lies down and does not rise. Until the heavens are no more, he will not be awakened or roused from sleep. <a href="/ecclesiastes/9-5.htm">Ecclesiastes 9:5-6</a> For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, because the memory of them is forgotten. / Their love, their hate, and their envy have already vanished, and they will never again have a share in all that is done under the sun. <a href="/matthew/27-46.htm">Matthew 27:46</a> About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” <a href="/mark/15-34.htm">Mark 15:34</a> At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” <a href="/john/11-25.htm">John 11:25-26</a> Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. / And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” <a href="/romans/6-4.htm">Romans 6:4</a> We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life. <a href="/1_corinthians/15-42.htm">1 Corinthians 15:42-44</a> So will it be with the resurrection of the dead: What is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable. / It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. / It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom you remember no more: and they are cut off from your hand.free<a href="/isaiah/14-9.htm">Isaiah 14:9-12</a> Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations… <a href="/isaiah/38-10.htm">Isaiah 38:10-12</a> I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years… <a href="/ezekiel/32-18.htm">Ezekiel 32:18-32</a> Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt, and cast them down, even her, and the daughters of the famous nations, unto the nether parts of the earth, with them that go down into the pit… whom<a href="/psalms/136-23.htm">Psalm 136:23</a> Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:<a href="/genesis/8-1.htm">Genesis 8:1</a> And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged;<a href="/genesis/19-29.htm">Genesis 19:29</a> And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.cut<a href="/psalms/88-16.htm">Psalm 88:16</a> Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off.<a href="/psalms/31-22.htm">Psalm 31:22</a> For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.<a href="/job/6-9.htm">Job 6:9</a> Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!from thy hand.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/psalms/16-2.htm">Apart</a> <a href="/psalms/80-14.htm">Care</a> <a href="/psalms/80-8.htm">Cast</a> <a href="/psalms/83-4.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/psalms/79-3.htm">Dead</a> <a href="/psalms/71-11.htm">Forsaken</a> <a href="/psalms/81-7.htm">Free</a> <a href="/psalms/88-3.htm">Grave</a> <a href="/psalms/85-9.htm">Hand</a> <a href="/psalms/78-36.htm">Lie</a> <a href="/psalms/85-8.htm">Ones</a> <a href="/psalms/73-21.htm">Pierced</a> <a href="/psalms/86-9.htm">Prostrate</a> <a href="/psalms/79-8.htm">Remember</a> <a href="/psalms/83-4.htm">Remembered</a> <a href="/psalms/8-4.htm">Rememberest</a> <a href="/psalms/62-3.htm">Slain</a> <a href="/psalms/88-3.htm">Soul</a> <a href="/psalms/77-12.htm">Thought</a> <a href="/psalms/88-3.htm">Underworld</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/psalms/107-14.htm">Apart</a> <a href="/psalms/91-11.htm">Care</a> <a href="/psalms/88-14.htm">Cast</a> <a href="/psalms/88-16.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/psalms/88-10.htm">Dead</a> <a href="/psalms/119-53.htm">Forsaken</a> <a href="/psalms/91-15.htm">Free</a> <a href="/psalms/88-11.htm">Grave</a> <a href="/psalms/89-13.htm">Hand</a> <a href="/psalms/89-35.htm">Lie</a> <a href="/psalms/88-18.htm">Ones</a> <a href="/psalms/109-22.htm">Pierced</a> <a href="/psalms/99-5.htm">Prostrate</a> <a href="/psalms/89-47.htm">Remember</a> <a href="/psalms/98-3.htm">Remembered</a> <a href="/matthew/5-23.htm">Rememberest</a> <a href="/psalms/89-10.htm">Slain</a> <a href="/psalms/88-14.htm">Soul</a> <a href="/psalms/90-9.htm">Thought</a> <a href="/psalms/89-48.htm">Underworld</a><div class="vheading2">Psalm 88</div>1. <a href="/psalms/88-1.htm">A prayer containing a grievous complaint.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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In biblical context, being "forsaken" is a powerful expression of feeling separated from God, akin to the lament of Jesus on the cross (<a href="/matthew/27-46.htm">Matthew 27:46</a>). The psalmist's expression here can be seen as a type of Christ, who was also forsaken in death for the sake of humanity's redemption.like the slain who lie in the grave The imagery of the slain lying in the grave evokes the finality and silence of death. In ancient Israel, the grave (Sheol) was seen as a place of no return, where the dead were cut off from the living and from God. This reflects the cultural understanding of death as a separation from the covenant community and God's presence, as seen in <a href="/job/7-9.htm">Job 7:9-10</a>.whom You remember no more In the Hebrew Bible, to be remembered by God is to be in His favor and care. The psalmist's lament that God no longer remembers the dead underscores the perceived absence of divine intervention or blessing. This contrasts with the hope found in other scriptures, such as <a href="/isaiah/49-15.htm">Isaiah 49:15-16</a>, where God assures His people that He will not forget them.who are cut off from Your care Being "cut off" signifies a complete disconnection from God's protection and provision. This phrase highlights the psalmist's feeling of being beyond the reach of God's mercy, similar to the exile experience of Israel when they felt abandoned by God (<a href="/lamentations/3-31.htm">Lamentations 3:31-33</a>). It also foreshadows the ultimate separation from God that Christ endured on the cross, emphasizing the depth of His sacrifice.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/t/the_psalmist.htm">The Psalmist (Heman the Ezrahite)</a> The author of <a href="/bsb/psalms/88.htm">Psalm 88</a>, traditionally identified as Heman the Ezrahite, is expressing deep anguish and a sense of abandonment by God. 2. <a href="/topical/t/the_dead.htm">The Dead</a> Refers to those who have passed away, symbolizing a state of separation and forgottenness, both physically and spiritually. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_grave.htm">The Grave (Sheol)</a> In Hebrew, "Sheol" is the realm of the dead, a place of darkness and separation from the living and, metaphorically, from God. 4. <a href="/topical/g/god's_care.htm">God's Care</a> The psalmist feels cut off from God's providence and attention, highlighting a perceived absence of divine intervention. 5. <a href="/topical/t/the_slain.htm">The Slain</a> Represents those who have died violently or prematurely, emphasizing the psalmist's feeling of being spiritually "slain" or defeated.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_reality_of_despair.htm">The Reality of Despair</a> Acknowledge that even faithful believers can experience profound despair and feelings of abandonment. <a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_lament.htm">The Importance of Lament</a> Lament is a valid and biblical way to express our deepest emotions to God, serving as a form of prayer and communication. <a href="/topical/g/god's_presence_in_silence.htm">God's Presence in Silence</a> Even when God seems silent, He is present. Our feelings of being "cut off" do not equate to actual separation from His love. <a href="/topical/h/hope_beyond_the_grave.htm">Hope Beyond the Grave</a> While the psalmist feels forgotten, the New Testament assures us of eternal life and remembrance in Christ. <a href="/topical/c/community_support.htm">Community Support</a> Encourage believers to support one another in times of spiritual darkness, reflecting God's care through the body of Christ.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_psalm_88.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 88</a> <a href="/q/are_the_dead_aware_of_events_on_earth.htm">Are the dead aware of events on earth?</a> <a href="/q/why_does_psalm_43_2_imply_god_forsakes.htm">Why does Psalm 43:2 suggest God has forsaken the writer, when other passages emphasize God's constant presence?</a> <a href="/q/why_is_psalm_88_devoid_of_hope.htm">Why does Psalm 88 present unrelenting despair without any expression of hope, seeming to contradict other passages that emphasize God's deliverance (Psalm 88:1-3)?</a> <a href="/q/why_lacks_deliverance_in_psalm_88.htm">If the Old Testament often portrays God rescuing the faithful, why does Psalm 88 contain no promise of deliverance at all?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/psalms/88.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(5) Free among the dead . . .--So the old versions without exception, taking chaphshi as an adjective, as in <a href="/job/3-19.htm" title="The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master.">Job 3:19</a> (where used of an emancipated slave); <a href="/1_samuel/17-25.htm" title="And the men of Israel said, Have you seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who kills him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.">1Samuel 17:25</a> (free from public burdens). So of the separate house for lepers, who were cut off from society (<a href="/2_kings/15-5.htm" title="And the LORD smote the king, so that he was a leper to the day of his death, and dwelled in a several house. And Jotham the king's son was over the house, judging the people of the land.">2Kings 15:5</a>). Hence some refer the psalm to Uzziah. The Targum explains, "freed from legal duties." But plainly the meaning is here exactly that of defunctus. The verse offers an instance of introverted parallelism, and this clause answers to "they are cut off from thy hand." Gesenius, however, makes the Hebrew word a noun (comp. <a href="/ezekiel/27-20.htm" title="Dedan was your merchant in precious clothes for chariots.">Ezekiel 27:20</a>), and renders, among the dead is my couch.Whom thou.--The dead are "clean forgotten, out of mind" even to God.From thy hand--i.e., from the guiding, helping hand which, though stretched out for living men, does not reach to the grave.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/psalms/88.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 5. - Free among the dead; or, "east out among the dead." Placed with corpses, as one that needs burial. Like the slain that lie in the grave. Like those who are thrown into a pit dug on a battlefield, among whom there are often some who have not breathed their last (see the Prayerbook Version). Whom thou rememberest no more. We have already beard the complaint that in death there is no remembrance of God on the part of man (<a href="/psalms/6-5.htm">Psalm 6:5</a>); now we have the converse statement, that neither is there then any remembrance of man on the part of God. The psalmist speaks, not absolute truth, but the belief of his day - a belief which vanished when life and immortality were brought to light by the gospel. And they are out off from thy hand; i.e. severed from thee, shut up in a place where thou dwell eat not (see <a href="/job/10-21.htm">Job 10:21, 22</a>). <a href="/commentaries/psalms/88-5.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>I am forsaken חָ֫פְשִׁ֥י (ḥā·p̄ə·šî) Adjective - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2670.htm">Strong's 2670: </a> Exempt among the dead, בַּמֵּתִ֗ים (bam·mê·ṯîm) Preposition-b, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4191.htm">Strong's 4191: </a> To die, to kill like כְּמ֤וֹ (kə·mōw) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3644.htm">Strong's 3644: </a> Like, as, when the slain חֲלָלִ֨ים ׀ (ḥă·lā·lîm) Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2491.htm">Strong's 2491: </a> Pierced, polluted who lie שֹׁ֥כְבֵי (šō·ḵə·ḇê) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7901.htm">Strong's 7901: </a> To lie down in the grave, קֶ֗בֶר (qe·ḇer) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6913.htm">Strong's 6913: </a> A grave, sepulcher whom אֲשֶׁ֤ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative <a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that You לֹ֣א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> Not, no remember זְכַרְתָּ֣ם (zə·ḵar·tām) Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2142.htm">Strong's 2142: </a> To mark, to remember, to mention, to be male no more, ע֑וֹד (‘ō·wḏ) Adverb <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5750.htm">Strong's 5750: </a> Iteration, continuance, again, repeatedly, still, more who וְ֝הֵ֗מָּה (wə·hêm·māh) Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1992.htm">Strong's 1992: </a> They are cut off נִגְזָֽרוּ׃ (niḡ·zā·rū) Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1504.htm">Strong's 1504: </a> To cut down, off, to destroy, divide, exclude, decide from Your care. מִיָּדְךָ֥ (mî·yā·ḏə·ḵā) Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3027.htm">Strong's 3027: </a> A hand <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/psalms/88-5.htm">Psalm 88:5 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/psalms/88-5.htm">Psalm 88:5 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/psalms/88-5.htm">Psalm 88:5 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/psalms/88-5.htm">Psalm 88:5 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/psalms/88-5.htm">Psalm 88:5 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/psalms/88-5.htm">Psalm 88:5 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/psalms/88-5.htm">Psalm 88:5 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/psalms/88-5.htm">Psalm 88:5 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/psalms/88-5.htm">Psalm 88:5 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/psalms/88-5.htm">Psalm 88:5 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/psalms/88-5.htm">OT Poetry: Psalm 88:5 Set apart among the dead like (Psalm Ps Psa.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/psalms/88-4.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Psalm 88:4"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Psalm 88:4" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/psalms/88-6.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Psalm 88:6"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Psalm 88:6" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>