Psalms 44:19

Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.

Though thou hast sore broken {H1794}{H8765)} us in the place {H4725} of dragons {H8577}, and covered {H3680}{H8762)} us with the shadow of death {H6757}.

though you pressed us into a lair of jackals and covered us with death-dark gloom.

But You have crushed us in the lair of jackals; You have covered us with deepest darkness.

That thou hast sore broken us in the place of jackals, And covered us with the shadow of death.

Psalm 44:19 KJV describes a moment of profound national or communal distress, where the people of God express their deep suffering and sense of abandonment, even while maintaining their covenant faithfulness.

Context of Psalm 44:19

This verse is part of a communal lament in Psalm 44. The psalm begins by recalling God's mighty acts of deliverance in the past, through which Israel inherited the land (verses 1-8). However, the psalmist then contrasts this glorious past with their present, bewildering reality: they are suffering severe military defeat, humiliation, and exile, feeling as though God has rejected and abandoned them (verses 9-16). Despite their faithfulness and innocence in this particular crisis (verses 17-18), they find themselves in an unbearable situation, leading to the desperate cry of verse 19 and the subsequent plea for divine intervention.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Profound Suffering and Despair: The phrase "sore broken us" vividly conveys a sense of deep physical and emotional injury, perhaps national defeat or dispersion, implying utter devastation. It speaks to a breaking of spirit and strength.
  • Hostile and Perilous Environment: "In the place of dragons" points to a desolate, dangerous, and enemy-infested territory. Symbolically, dragons (or jackals, as some translations render the Hebrew) represent fierce, wild, and destructive forces or hostile nations that threaten Israel's existence.
  • Imminent Danger of Death: To be "covered us with the shadow of death" uses powerful imagery to denote extreme peril, despair, and a feeling of being enveloped by mortal danger. This phrase echoes the sentiment found in other psalms, such as Psalm 23:4, where the psalmist walks through the "valley of the shadow of death," indicating a near-death experience or a place of profound gloom.
  • Perceived Divine Abandonment: The lament expresses a sense that God, who once fought for them, has now allowed them to be utterly defeated and exposed to their enemies. This feeling of being forsaken, despite their continued faithfulness, is a central tension in the psalm.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "dragons" is tannim (תַּנִּים), which can refer to jackals, serpents, or large sea creatures/monsters, often symbolizing wilderness desolation, enemies, or chaos. In this context, it emphasizes a place of extreme danger and wildness, where destructive forces reside. The term "shadow of death" is tsalmavet (צַלְמָוֶת), a poetic compound meaning deep darkness, gloom, or mortal peril, conveying a sense of being overwhelmed by circumstances akin to death itself.

Related Scriptures

The theme of being "covered with the shadow of death" resonates strongly with passages describing overwhelming distress and the threat of extinction, such as Job 3:5, where darkness and gloom are invoked. The imagery of desolation inhabited by wild creatures can also be found in prophetic warnings, for example, in Isaiah 34:13 concerning the judgment on Edom.

Practical Application

Psalm 44:19 offers a powerful reminder that even the faithful can experience profound suffering, national calamity, or personal despair that feels like divine abandonment. It validates the human experience of lament and feeling "sore broken" in "places of dragons"—metaphorical hostile environments, severe illnesses, or overwhelming life challenges. The psalm, including this verse, serves as a model for crying out to God honestly in the midst of distress, even when His presence feels distant. It encourages believers to maintain their faith and hope in God's ultimate deliverance, even when circumstances seem dire and deathly. This verse acknowledges the harsh realities of a fallen world while implicitly pointing to the need for divine intervention and ultimate redemption.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Job 3:5

    Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.

  • Psalms 23:4

    Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

  • Psalms 51:8

    Make me to hear joy and gladness; [that] the bones [which] thou hast broken may rejoice.

  • Jeremiah 14:17

    ¶ Therefore thou shalt say this word unto them; Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.

  • Isaiah 35:7

    And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, [shall be] grass with reeds and rushes.

  • Revelation 16:10

    And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,

  • Revelation 12:9

    And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

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