Psalms 88:15

KJV

I [am] afflicted and ready to die from [my] youth up: [while] I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.

KJV (with Strong's)

I am afflicted {H6041} and ready to die {H1478}{H8802)} from my youth {H5290} up: while I suffer {H5375}{H8804)} thy terrors {H367} I am distracted {H6323}{H8799)}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Since my youth I have been miserable, close to death; I am numb from bearing these terrors of yours.

Berean Standard Bible

From my youth I was afflicted and near death. I have borne Your terrors; I am in despair.

American Standard Version

I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: While I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalm 88:15 encapsulates the psalmist's profound and unremitting suffering, portraying a life marked by affliction from an early age that culminates in a state of mental and emotional collapse under the perceived terrors of God. This verse powerfully conveys a soul overwhelmed by despair, feeling utterly abandoned and disoriented by a relentless, divinely-sourced anguish.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 88 stands as one of the most singular and intense laments in the Psalter, uniquely devoid of any concluding note of hope, praise, or resolution. Attributed to Heman the Ezrahite, identified as a temple musician (1 Chronicles 25:5), this "Maskil" (a psalm of instruction or contemplation) plunges the reader into the deepest abyss of human suffering and spiritual anguish. Unlike the typical lament psalm that transitions from complaint to trust or petition, Psalm 88 ends in utter darkness, with its final word being "darkness" (חֹשֶׁךְ, _choshek_). This deliberate lack of resolution underscores the raw, unmitigated reality of overwhelming sorrow, loneliness, and what the psalmist perceives as God's overwhelming wrath and abandonment, setting the stage for the desolation expressed in verse 15.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** While the precise historical circumstances of Heman's suffering are not detailed, the psalm reflects a common ancient Near Eastern and Israelite understanding that all experiences, including suffering, ultimately fell under divine sovereignty. In this worldview, affliction was often interpreted as a sign of divine displeasure or judgment, even if the specific cause remained a mystery. The psalmist, likely a Levitical singer dedicated to temple service, would have been steeped in covenant theology, which promised blessing for obedience and curses for disobedience. His profound distress, therefore, is intensified by the perception that God Himself is the source of his "terrors," a concept that would have been deeply unsettling for a devout individual. The cultural context also emphasizes the importance of community and divine favor; the psalmist's isolation and sense of divine abandonment compound his agony.
* **Key Themes:** Psalm 88, and specifically verse 15, powerfully articulates several pervasive themes. Firstly, it highlights **lifelong affliction**, emphasizing a chronic, pervasive suffering that has defined the psalmist's entire existence, suggesting a deep-seated and enduring hardship rather than a temporary trial. Secondly, the theme of **divine terrors** is central, as the psalmist attributes his suffering directly to "thy terrors," indicating a terrifying sense of being under God's judgment or experiencing an overwhelming dread that feels divinely ordained. This reflects a wrestling with God's sovereignty over suffering. Thirdly, the verse vividly portrays **mental and emotional breakdown**, with the declaration "I am distracted" pointing to a severe psychological impact. The intensity of his affliction and the perceived divine onslaught have led to a state of profound mental anguish, confusion, and despair. Finally, the entire psalm, including this verse, serves as a profound example of **unfiltered lament**, granting permission for believers to express the full spectrum of their pain, even when it feels like God Himself is the source of their distress, without neat answers or immediate comfort, much like the raw cry found in [Psalm 22:1](/psalms/22-1 "Psalm 22:1 - The Cry of Dereliction") or the weary nights described in [Job 7:3](/job/7-3 "Job 7:3 - Job's Wearisome Nights").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Afflicted (Hebrew, _ʿānî'_):** This adjective, derived from the verb _ʿānâ_, signifies being poor, humble, miserable, or suffering. It denotes a state of oppression, distress, or lowliness, often implying a prolonged condition of hardship. In this context, it underscores the psalmist's deep and pervasive state of suffering, not merely a fleeting moment of discomfort but a fundamental aspect of his existence.
* **Terrors (Hebrew, _ʾêmâ'_):** This noun conveys dread, horror, or terror. It describes an overwhelming, crushing fear or a sense of awe-inspiring, terrifying power. When attributed to God ("thy terrors"), it suggests a profound, existential dread that the psalmist experiences as emanating directly from the divine, intensifying his sense of abandonment and judgment rather than protection.
* **Distracted (Hebrew, _ʾāfûnâ'_):** This verb, found only here in the Hiphil participle, means to be bewildered, perplexed, distraught, or in despair. It speaks to a mental state of utter confusion, incapacitation, and emotional disarray. The psalmist is not merely distracted in a trivial sense, but his mind is overwhelmed and broken by the intensity of his suffering and the divine "terrors," leading to a profound psychological collapse.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"I [am] afflicted and ready to die from [my] youth up":** This clause establishes the chronic and lifelong nature of the psalmist's suffering. The affliction is not a recent development but has been a defining characteristic of his life "from his youth." The phrase "ready to die" (literally, "drawing near to death") emphasizes the severity and existential threat of his condition, suggesting that his suffering is so intense it constantly brings him to the brink of death, a state of perpetual mortal danger.
* **"[while] I suffer thy terrors I am distracted":** This second clause directly links the psalmist's internal turmoil to God's actions. The phrase "suffer thy terrors" indicates a direct experience of divine dread or overwhelming fear that the psalmist perceives as originating from God Himself. This terrifying experience culminates in his mental and emotional breakdown, expressed by "I am distracted," signifying a complete loss of mental coherence, a state of bewilderment and despair where his mind can no longer function normally under the immense pressure of perceived divine wrath.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 88:15 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its profound despair. The most prominent is **Hyperbole**, as the psalmist declares he is "ready to die from my youth up," an exaggeration that vividly expresses the lifelong, pervasive, and life-threatening nature of his suffering, rather than a literal continuous near-death experience. The phrase "thy terrors" can be seen as a form of **Personification**, attributing agency and a tangible presence to abstract "terrors" that are perceived as actively inflicted by God. There is also a strong element of **Confession** and **Lament**, as the psalmist openly and honestly articulates his deepest pain and confusion to God, without reservation. The structure of the verse also exhibits a form of **Parallelism**, where the first clause describes the duration and intensity of physical/existential suffering, and the second clause details the source (divine terrors) and the psychological impact (distraction), creating a cumulative effect of overwhelming distress.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 88:15 confronts us with the profound theological mystery of suffering, particularly when it feels divinely ordained or permitted. It challenges simplistic notions of cause and effect in suffering, presenting a picture of deep anguish without a clear explanation or resolution. The psalmist's raw honesty validates the experience of feeling utterly abandoned by God, even when one is devoted to Him. This psalm serves as a divine permission slip for believers to articulate their most profound pain, confusion, and even anger to God, trusting that such unfiltered lament is a legitimate form of prayer. It underscores that faith does not always equate to emotional tranquility or immediate answers, but often involves wrestling with the silence and perceived severity of God. The verse forces us to grapple with God's sovereignty over all circumstances, even those that bring immense pain, and to acknowledge that some suffering remains a profound mystery in this life.

* [Psalm 22:1](/psalms/22-1 "Psalm 22:1 - The Cry of Dereliction")
* [Lamentations 3:1-20](/lamentations/3-1-20 "Lamentations 3:1-20 - Jeremiah's Deep Anguish")
* [Job 3:1-26](/job/3-1-26 "Job 3:1-26 - Job's Lament and Curse of His Birth")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 88:15 offers a crucial theological and pastoral validation for those enduring chronic suffering, mental health struggles, or profound spiritual dryness. It assures us that the Bible does not shy away from the darkest human experiences, providing a voice for the voiceless and a sanctuary for the despairing. This verse encourages radical honesty in prayer, inviting us to bring our deepest pain, confusion, and even our accusations against God directly to Him, knowing that He can handle our unfiltered lament. It fosters profound empathy for those who feel alienated, abandoned, or believe God is the source of their affliction, reminding us that such experiences are deeply human and profoundly reflected in Scripture. Ultimately, while challenging, it implicitly acknowledges God's sovereignty over all circumstances, even those that bring immense pain, prompting a deeper wrestling with theological questions about suffering and encouraging us to hold onto God even when He feels distant or terrifying.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Psalm 88:15 challenge your understanding of faith and suffering?**
* **In what ways might expressing raw, unfiltered lament like the psalmist's be a healthy spiritual practice?**
* **How can you cultivate empathy for those who feel abandoned by God or experience chronic despair, even if their experience is different from yours?**
* **What does this verse teach you about the mystery of God's sovereignty in the midst of human pain?**

### FAQ
**Why does Psalm 88 end without a resolution or hope, unlike most laments?**

Answer: Psalm 88 is unique in its lack of a hopeful resolution, concluding instead with "darkness." This distinct feature serves a crucial theological purpose: it validates the reality of profound, unmitigated suffering and despair within the human experience, even for devout believers. It teaches us that not all suffering has an immediate, clear resolution, and that it is permissible to express raw, unresolved pain to God. It stands as a testament to the Bible's unflinching honesty about the human condition, acknowledging that some seasons of life are simply dark, without a visible light at the end of the tunnel, yet still within the scope of God's awareness. This psalm provides a voice for those who feel their suffering is unending, reminding them they are not alone in their experience, and that even in the deepest despair, God hears the cry of His people, even if the answer is not immediately apparent. It complements other psalms that do end in hope, showing the full spectrum of human-divine interaction. While it doesn't offer a direct "happy ending," it implicitly invites the reader to trust in the God who hears, even in the darkness, as seen in other psalms where the psalmist chooses to put their hope in God despite their soul's despair (e.g., [Psalm 42:5](/psalms/42-5 "Psalm 42:5 - Hope in God Amidst Despair")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 88:15, with its agonizing portrayal of lifelong affliction, perceived divine terrors, and mental distraction, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While the psalmist experienced the crushing weight of human suffering and a sense of divine abandonment, Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, truly bore the full weight of God's wrath against sin on the cross. The psalmist's "terrors" become a foreshadowing of the divine judgment that Christ willingly endured, becoming "a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief" ([Isaiah 53:3-5](/isaiah/53-3-5 "Isaiah 53:3-5 - The Suffering Servant")). On the cross, Jesus cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Abandonment")), echoing the very sentiment of abandonment and divine wrath that pervades Psalm 88. His suffering was not merely physical or emotional, but a spiritual agony of cosmic proportions, as he took upon himself the sins of the world. Therefore, Jesus fully enters into the experience of the psalmist, validating the depths of human despair and feeling the ultimate "distraction" of being separated from the Father. Because Christ experienced the ultimate affliction and divine terrors, he is our sympathetic High Priest, able to empathize with our weaknesses and sufferings ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our Sympathetic High Priest")). Through his suffering and resurrection, the despair of Psalm 88 is transformed into the hope of the Gospel, where even in the darkest valleys, believers can find solace and the promise that in Christ, we have overcome the world ([John 16:33](/john/16-33 "John 16:33 - Overcoming the World")), and one day, God will wipe away every tear ([Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Tears or Pain")).

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 6:4

For the arrows of the Almighty [are] within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.

Luke 22:44

And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Isaiah 53:10

¶ Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put [him] to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed, he shall prolong [his] days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

Job 7:11

Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

Job 7:16

I loathe [it]; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days [are] vanity.

Psalms 73:14

For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

Zechariah 13:7

¶ Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man [that is] my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.