Psalms 88:14

KJV

LORD, why castest thou off my soul? [why] hidest thou thy face from me?

KJV (with Strong's)

LORD {H3068}, why castest thou off {H2186}{H8799)} my soul {H5315}? why hidest {H5641}{H8686)} thou thy face {H6440} from me?

Complete Jewish Bible

So why, ADONAI, do you reject me? Why do you hide your face from me?

Berean Standard Bible

Why, O LORD, do You reject me? Why do You hide Your face from me?

American Standard Version

Jehovah, why castest thou off my soul? Why hidest thou thy face from me?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 88:14 is a profound and poignant cry from the depths of despair, where the psalmist questions God's apparent abandonment and withdrawal. This verse encapsulates a feeling of intense spiritual distress, articulating a raw and unrelieved sense of isolation and divine absence as the psalmist asks why the Lord seems to have rejected his very soul and hidden His face from him. It stands as one of the most honest expressions of human anguish in the face of perceived divine silence.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 88 stands as one of the most unique and darkest laments in the entire Psalter, distinguished by its lack of any turn toward hope, trust, or resolution. Authored by Heman the Ezrahite, a Levite musician and wise man (as noted in [1 Chronicles 6:33](/1_chronicles/6-33 "1 Chronicles 6:33 - Heman the Musician") and [1 Kings 4:31](/1_kings/4-31 "1 Kings 4:31 - Heman's Wisdom")), it describes an individual overwhelmed by affliction, sickness, and social isolation, feeling utterly forsaken by both God and humanity. Unlike most psalms of lament which typically move from complaint to confidence or praise, Psalm 88 concludes in unmitigated darkness (e.g., [Psalms 88:18](/psalms/88-18 "Psalm 88:18 - Darkness is My Closest Friend")), making it a powerful and honest expression for those experiencing the most profound spiritual and emotional desolation. Its placement within Book III of the Psalter (Psalms 73-89) often highlights themes of suffering, the apparent failure of God's promises, and the struggle to reconcile divine justice with human experience, setting the stage for this particularly stark cry.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The act of lament was a legitimate and common form of prayer within ancient Israelite worship, providing a structured outlet for expressing pain, confusion, and even anger to God. The concept of God "hiding His face" was a well-understood idiom in the ancient Near East and within Israelite theology, signifying divine displeasure, withdrawal of favor, or a refusal to acknowledge or help. Conversely, God "showing His face" (as in the Aaronic blessing in [Numbers 6:25](/numbers/6-25 "Numbers 6:25 - The Lord Make His Face Shine Upon You")) implied blessing, favor, and intimate presence. For the psalmist, God's hidden face meant a terrifying absence of divine comfort and intervention, often associated with judgment or a profound sense of abandonment. The psalmist's suffering, while intensely personal, also resonates with the communal experience of distress and the theological struggles of a people who believed in a covenant-keeping God yet experienced hardship and exile, where God's presence often felt distant.

* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes to several major theological and narrative themes within the Psalter and broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it embodies **Profound Lament and Despair**, giving voice to the deepest human anguish and the feeling of being utterly cast off and forgotten. It is a raw, unvarnished expression of suffering in the face of perceived divine absence, challenging any simplistic notion that faith eliminates pain. Secondly, the verse highlights the theme of **Divine Abandonment or Withdrawal**, central to the psalmist's torment. The core complaint is the psalmist's sense that God has actively rejected him or withdrawn His favor, a feeling intensified by the use of strong Hebrew verbs. This theme is often explored in other laments, such as [Psalm 10:1](/psalms/10-1 "Psalm 10:1 - Why Do You Stand Far Off, O Lord?"). Finally, the repeated "why" in the verse underscores the theme of **Questioning God's Ways or Theodicy**, reflecting the psalmist's struggle to reconcile his intense suffering with his understanding of God's character and promises. This honest interrogation of divine silence and apparent indifference is a recurring motif in the laments (e.g., [Psalms 13:1](/psalms/13-1 "Psalm 13:1 - How Long, O Lord?")), affirming the legitimacy of bringing even our most difficult questions directly to God within the covenant relationship.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** From הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God. The psalmist addresses God by His covenant name, Yahweh, indicating a deep, personal relationship even in the midst of profound questioning. This is not a cry to an unknown deity, but to the God who has revealed Himself, making the perceived abandonment all the more agonizing.
* **castest off (Hebrew, _zânach'_):** A primitive root meaning to push aside, i.e.; reject, forsake, fail; cast away (off), remove far away (off). This verb conveys a strong, active sense of rejection, abandonment, or even abhorrence. It implies a deliberate act of pushing away or discarding, rather than mere neglect. The psalmist perceives God not just as distant, but as actively having rejected his very soul, intensifying the feeling of utter desolation and implying a divine decision to withdraw favor and support.
* **hidest (Hebrew, _çâthar'_):** A primitive root; to hide (by covering), literally or figuratively; be absent, keep close, conceal, hide (self), (keep) secret, [idiom] surely. When applied to God's face, it signifies a deliberate withdrawal of divine presence, favor, and attention. It implies a refusal to acknowledge or respond, leaving the psalmist in a terrifying state of isolation and spiritual darkness, as if God has intentionally turned away from his plight.
* **face (Hebrew, _pânîym'_):** Plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.). In biblical idiom, God's "face" represents His presence, favor, blessing, and active attention. To have God's face hidden is the antithesis of blessing and implies a profound and devastating absence of divine comfort, help, and intervention. It signifies the cessation of the life-giving light of God's countenance.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"LORD, why castest thou off my soul?":** This opening clause is a direct, accusatory question addressed to Yahweh, the covenant God. The psalmist feels his innermost being, his "soul" (נֶפֶשׁ, _nephesh_), has been actively rejected by God. The "why" is not a request for information but a desperate, anguished cry for an explanation for God's seemingly active and deliberate rejection of him, a profound theological struggle that challenges his understanding of God's character and covenant faithfulness.
* **"[why] hidest thou thy face from me?":** This parallel clause reinforces and intensifies the first. The act of God hiding His face signifies a deliberate withdrawal of His favor, comfort, and active presence. It implies a refusal to engage or respond to the psalmist's desperate cries, leaving him in a state of terrifying isolation and darkness, devoid of divine light or intervention. The repetition of "why" (implied in the KJV translation, but clearly present in the Hebrew structure) underscores the psalmist's utter bewilderment and desperate longing for understanding and a return of God's benevolent gaze.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 88:14 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound anguish and the psalmist's desperate plea. **Parallelism** is evident in the synonymous relationship between "castest thou off my soul" and "hidest thou thy face from me," where the second clause reiterates and intensifies the meaning of the first, emphasizing the dual aspects of perceived divine rejection and withdrawal. The repeated "why" functions as a powerful **Rhetorical Question**, not seeking a factual answer but expressing overwhelming confusion, pain, and a desperate plea for divine intervention or explanation. This direct questioning of God is a hallmark of lament psalms, demonstrating the psalmist's raw honesty and the theological space for such expressions within Israelite worship. Furthermore, the verse utilizes **Anthropomorphism** by attributing human actions like "casting off" and "hiding the face" to God, making His perceived actions relatable to the human experience of rejection and abandonment. "Hiding the face" also serves as a potent **Metaphor** for divine absence, displeasure, and the cessation of favor, vividly portraying the psalmist's spiritual desolation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 88:14 offers a profound theological statement on the nature of suffering and the legitimacy of honest lament before God. It challenges any simplistic theology that suggests faith always leads to immediate comfort or that true believers never experience profound despair or a sense of divine abandonment. Instead, it validates the darkest human experiences, affirming that even in the deepest spiritual desolation, crying out to God is a legitimate act of faith. This psalm, in its unrelieved darkness, serves as a crucial counterpoint within the Psalter, ensuring that the full spectrum of human suffering, including the perceived absence of God, is given voice within the sacred text. It teaches us that faith is not the absence of doubt or pain, but often the perseverance through it, continuing to address God even when He seems silent or absent. It underscores that God is robust enough to handle our rawest emotions and most challenging questions.

* [Psalm 22:1](/psalms/22-1 "Psalm 22:1 - My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?")
* [Isaiah 59:2](/isaiah/59-2 "Isaiah 59:2 - Sin Separates from God")
* [Lamentations 3:8](/lamentations/3-8 "Lamentations 3:8 - God Shuts Out Prayer")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 88:14 provides profound comfort and validation for those experiencing deep spiritual desolation or a sense of God's absence. It assures us that our raw, honest questions and feelings of despair are not outside the bounds of biblical expression or God's understanding. This psalm teaches us that it is not only permissible but often necessary to bring our unvarnished pain directly to God, without pretense or sugarcoating. It underscores the importance of persevering in prayer, even when God seems silent or distant, reminding us that true faith can cry out "why?" and still cling to the One who seems to have withdrawn. Embracing the message of Psalm 88 can foster profound empathy for others undergoing intense suffering, reminding us that faith does not always eliminate pain or doubt, but rather provides a framework for enduring it with honesty before our Creator, trusting in His ultimate sovereignty even when His ways are inscrutable.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Psalm 88:14 validate your own experiences of spiritual desolation or perceived divine absence?**
* **In what ways can expressing raw, honest lament to God deepen your faith rather than diminish it?**
* **What does this psalm teach us about perseverance in prayer, even when answers or comfort seem absent?**

### FAQ
**Is it acceptable for a believer to question God or feel abandoned by Him, as the psalmist does in Psalms 88:14?**

Answer: Absolutely. The Psalms, particularly the laments, provide a divine precedent and model for honest, direct communication with God, even when it involves questioning His ways or expressing feelings of abandonment. The psalmist's cry in [Psalms 88:14](/psalms/88-14 "Psalm 88:14 - Why Cast Thou Off My Soul?") is not a rejection of God, but a desperate plea *to* Him, born out of a profound relationship. It demonstrates that faith is robust enough to handle our deepest pain and confusion. God invites us to bring our whole selves, including our doubts and despair, into His presence. This honesty can actually deepen faith by fostering authenticity and trust that God is big enough to hear and handle our rawest emotions, even when answers are not immediately forthcoming.

**Why is Psalm 88 unique among the laments in that it offers no resolution or turn towards hope?**

Answer: Psalm 88's unrelieved darkness serves a crucial theological purpose: it validates the experience of profound, persistent suffering and the reality that not all pain is immediately resolved or understood in this life. While most laments move from complaint to confidence, Psalm 88 stands as a powerful voice for those in the deepest pits of despair, assuring them that their experience is acknowledged and given expression within scripture. It prevents a simplistic theology that might imply that true faith always leads to immediate relief or understanding. This psalm, in its raw honesty, points us beyond itself to the ultimate resolution found in Christ, who experienced the deepest abandonment on our behalf, providing hope for those who feel utterly forsaken and reminding us that God's plan often encompasses suffering that transcends our immediate comprehension, as seen in [Isaiah 55:8-9](/isaiah/55-8-9 "Isaiah 55:8-9 - God's Thoughts Are Higher Than Ours").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 88:14, with its raw cry of perceived divine abandonment, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The psalmist's agonizing question, "LORD, why castest thou off my soul? [why] hidest thou thy face from me?" echoes most powerfully in Jesus' own cry from the cross: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" as recorded in [Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Abandonment"), directly quoting [Psalm 22:1](/psalms/22-1 "Psalm 22:1 - My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?"). On the cross, Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")), and in that moment, He truly experienced the Father's face being hidden from Him—the ultimate "casting off" of the beloved Son. This divine separation, which the psalmist only feared, Jesus fully endured, bearing the full weight of humanity's sin and its consequent alienation from God. Because Jesus plumbed the depths of abandonment and suffering, He perfectly identifies with our deepest despair ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Our High Priest Understands")), proving Himself a compassionate high priest who has suffered in every way we have, yet without sin. His experience of being "cast off" ensures that those who are in Him will never be eternally separated from God's love and presence ([Romans 8:38-39](/romans/8-38 "Romans 8:38-39 - Nothing Can Separate Us from God's Love")). Through His ultimate sacrifice, the hidden face of God is revealed in mercy and reconciliation to all who believe, offering an eternal bond that transcends even the deepest earthly suffering, as promised in [John 14:18](/john/14-18 "John 14:18 - I Will Not Leave You As Orphans").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Job 13:24

Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?

Psalms 13:1

¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

Psalms 43:2

For thou [art] the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

Psalms 44:24

Wherefore hidest thou thy face, [and] forgettest our affliction and our oppression?

Matthew 27:46

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Psalms 44:9

¶ But thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies.

Psalms 69:17

And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily.