They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together.
They came round about {H5437}{H8804)} me daily {H3117} like water {H4325}; they compassed {H5362}{H8689)} me about together {H3162}.
They surge around me all day like a flood, from all sides they close in on me.
All day long they engulf me like water; they enclose me on every side.
They came round about me like water all the day long; They compassed me about together.
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.
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Psalms 22:16
For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. -
Psalms 116:3
The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. -
Psalms 69:1
¶ To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, [A Psalm] of David. Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto [my] soul. -
Psalms 69:2
I sink in deep mire, where [there is] no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. -
Psalms 124:4
Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul: -
Job 30:14
They came [upon me] as a wide breaking in [of waters]: in the desolation they rolled themselves [upon me]. -
Job 30:15
¶ Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passeth away as a cloud.
Psalm 88:17 is a poignant cry from one of the Bible's darkest psalms, often referred to as a psalm of lament. This verse, penned by Heman the Ezrahite, vividly describes the overwhelming nature of the psalmist's suffering, portraying it as an inescapable flood.
Context
Psalm 88 stands out because, unlike most psalms of lament, it offers no clear resolution or expression of hope at the end. The psalmist, Heman, feels utterly abandoned by God and humanity, afflicted by deep physical and spiritual distress. The preceding verses detail his feeling of being cast into the lowest pit, consumed by God's wrath, and shunned by friends (Psalm 88:6, Psalm 88:8). Verse 17 continues this theme, emphasizing the relentless and engulfing nature of his troubles.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word for "water," mayim (מַיִם), is frequently used in the Old Testament as a powerful metaphor for overwhelming danger, chaos, or distress. Just as a flood can sweep away everything in its path, so too are the psalmist's afflictions depicted as consuming him. The verb "compassed" (סָבַב - savav) emphasizes the idea of being completely encircled, leaving no room for escape or relief.
Related Scriptures
The imagery of being overwhelmed by water is a recurring motif in the Psalms and other biblical texts when describing profound distress. For instance, Psalm 69:1 similarly cries, "Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul." This shared imagery underscores the deep, life-threatening nature of the suffering experienced by the faithful. The feeling of being surrounded by troubles also echoes themes found in Psalm 22:16, where the psalmist feels "dogs have compassed me."
Practical Application
Psalm 88:17 offers a profound validation for those experiencing deep, unrelenting suffering. It acknowledges that it is permissible to express profound despair and feelings of being overwhelmed to God. This verse reminds us that the Bible does not shy away from the raw realities of human pain. It encourages us to bring our whole, unvarnished selves to God, even when we feel utterly abandoned and drowning in our circumstances. In an age where mental health struggles are increasingly recognized, this psalm serves as a powerful reminder that lament, even without immediate resolution, is a vital part of the spiritual journey.