Psalms 88:5

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

Free {H2670} among the dead {H4191}{H8801)}, like the slain {H2491} that lie {H7901}{H8802)} in the grave {H6913}, whom thou rememberest {H2142}{H8804)} no more: and they are cut off {H1504}{H8738)} from thy hand {H3027}.

Complete Jewish Bible

left by myself among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave -you no longer remember them; they are cut off from your care.

Berean Standard Bible

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.

American Standard Version

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 88:5 encapsulates the psalmist's profound and unremitting despair, where he likens his existential state to that of the dead—isolated, forgotten by God, and utterly severed from divine care. This verse stands as a stark articulation of deep anguish, reflecting a unique spiritual and physical crisis of feeling completely cut off from all hope and divine remembrance, a lament without a discernible shift towards resolution.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 88 is a singular and profoundly unsettling lament within the Psalter, distinguished by its complete lack of a turn towards hope, praise, or resolution. Attributed to Heman the Ezrahite, a Levitical musician, it is a raw, sustained outpouring of suffering, isolation, and a pervasive sense of divine abandonment. Verse 5 is deeply integrated into the psalmist's harrowing description of his dire physical and spiritual condition, where he feels his life ebbing away and identifies himself with those already consigned to the grave. This grim imagery intensifies his plea, underscoring his conviction that he is experiencing a metaphorical death while still alive, a state of being utterly beyond human or divine help or remembrance. The verse serves as a chilling climax to his self-identification with the perishing.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israelite thought, the grave, or Sheol, was generally conceived as a shadowy, silent realm of the dead, a place where active praise of God ceased and remembrance of Him was thought to be absent (as seen in [Psalm 6:5](/psalms/6-5 "Psalm 6:5 - In Death, No Remembrance of God")). The concept of a bodily resurrection, while nascent in some prophetic traditions, was not yet fully developed or widely understood as it would be in later Jewish apocalyptic literature and Christian theology. Therefore, to be "free among the dead" or "cut off from thy hand" was a terrifying prospect, signifying ultimate separation from God's active care, covenant faithfulness, and the vibrant community of the living. The psalmist's anguish reflects a deep-seated fear of being forgotten by God, which, in their worldview, implied being outside the realm of His protective and redemptive intervention, a fate worse than physical death for one whose identity was rooted in the covenant.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to the psalm's overarching themes of profound despair, divine abandonment, and existential isolation. The psalmist's identification with "the slain that lie in the grave" vividly portrays a state of utter hopelessness, where "freedom" is grimly found only in the oblivion of death. The core of his anguish revolves around the terrifying belief that God has forgotten him ("whom thou rememberest no more"), signifying a terrifying loss of divine remembrance, which implies a cessation of God's active acknowledgment and intervention on his behalf. Furthermore, the declaration "they are cut off from thy hand" underscores a complete severance from God's protective power and sustaining presence, a terrifying prospect for any Israelite who understood God's hand as the source of all life, blessing, and covenant fidelity, as exemplified in passages like [Psalm 145:16](/psalms/145-16 "Psalm 145:16 - God's Open Hand Providing for All Creation") and [Deuteronomy 32:39](/deuteronomy/32-39 "Deuteronomy 32:39 - God's Power Over Life and Death").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Free (Hebrew, _chophshîy'_):** (H2670) From the root meaning "to be free, exempt." This word, typically denoting liberation from bondage, tax, or care, carries a profound and grim irony in this context. Rather than signifying a positive release into a better state, it suggests a release from the burdens of life that comes only through the state of death. The psalmist is "at liberty" in the sense of being cast off, disconnected, and beyond the reach of the living—a chilling freedom from suffering found only in the grave.
* **Rememberest (Hebrew, _zâkar'_):** (H2142) A primitive root meaning "to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e., to remember; by implication, to mention." More than mere recollection, _zâkar_ implies an active acknowledgment, a mindful consideration, and a readiness to act on behalf of someone. To be forgotten by God in this sense means to be outside His active care, covenant relationship, and redemptive intervention, representing one of the deepest fears for an Israelite who relied on God's faithfulness and covenant promises.
* **Cut off (Hebrew, _gâzar'_):** (H1504) A primitive root meaning "to cut down or off; (figuratively) to destroy, divide, exclude, or decide." This verb, used in the passive voice (_nigzar_ in the KJV's implied Hebrew), signifies being severed, isolated, or violently separated. When applied to God's "hand," it powerfully conveys a complete and terrifying removal from divine protection, power, and sustaining presence. It suggests a final, irreversible break from the source of life and help, a state of utter abandonment.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Free among the dead":** The psalmist expresses a state of utter isolation and hopelessness, identifying himself with those who have no life, no future, and no active connection to the living. This "freedom" is a chilling paradox, implying a release from life's suffering only through a state akin to death, where he is beyond the reach of human or divine help. It speaks to a profound existential despair, where the only perceived liberty is the grim finality of the grave.
* **"like the slain that lie in the grave":** This simile intensifies the death imagery, specifically invoking the helplessness and finality associated with violent death. The "slain" are beyond recovery, beyond hope, and beyond the possibility of intervention, mirroring the psalmist's perceived state. It emphasizes the irreversible nature of his condition, as if he is already a corpse, devoid of life and agency.
* **"whom thou rememberest no more":** This clause reveals the core of the psalmist's anguish: the terrifying belief that God has ceased to remember him. This is not a mere lapse of memory but a withdrawal of divine active care, covenant faithfulness, and intervention, leaving the psalmist in a state of ultimate abandonment. For an Israelite, divine remembrance was synonymous with divine favor and action, making its absence a source of profound spiritual terror.
* **"and they are cut off from thy hand."**: This final phrase is the ultimate expression of the psalmist's perceived abandonment. To be "cut off from thy hand" signifies a complete severance from God's power, protection, and sustaining presence. It implies that his life is no longer under divine control or care, leaving him utterly vulnerable, without hope, and outside the sphere of divine blessing and intervention.

#### Literary Devices
The psalmist employs several potent literary devices to convey his profound despair. **Simile** is prominently featured in the phrase "like the slain that lie in the grave," directly comparing the psalmist's living state to the ultimate finality and helplessness of the dead. This vivid comparison underscores the depth of his suffering and his feeling of being as good as dead. **Hyperbole** is also evident, as the psalmist’s language is extreme, expressing a feeling of being literally "free among the dead" even while still alive, exaggerating his condition to convey its overwhelming and all-consuming nature. A chilling **irony** pervades the phrase "Free among the dead," as freedom is typically a positive concept, but here it denotes a grim liberty found only in the grave, a release from life's burdens through non-existence. Finally, **anthropomorphism** is used in "cut off from thy hand," attributing human-like qualities (a hand, the ability to cut off) to God, thereby powerfully emphasizing God's perceived withdrawal of power and the psalmist's complete removal from divine protection and sustenance.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 88:5 stands as a profound testament to the biblical allowance for raw, unmitigated lament. It challenges simplistic notions of faith always leading to immediate resolution or comfort, acknowledging that human experience can encompass seasons of deep, seemingly hopeless despair where even the presence of God feels absent. The psalmist's cry of being "forgotten" and "cut off" touches on the fundamental covenant relationship between God and His people, raising the terrifying question of what it means when that connection feels severed. While this psalm offers no resolution, it validates the experience of spiritual anguish and provides a voice for those who feel utterly abandoned, even by God. It serves as a crucial reminder that the biblical narrative embraces the full spectrum of human suffering, even when it appears to contradict God's promises of faithfulness, prompting us to seek deeper theological understanding of God's sovereignty and presence amidst profound darkness.

* [Psalm 13:1-6](/psalms/13-1-6 "Psalm 13:1-6 - A Lament Turning to Trust")
* [Isaiah 49:15-16](/isaiah/49-15-16 "Isaiah 49:15-16 - God Will Not Forget His People")
* [Lamentations 3:1-20](/lamentations/3-1-20 "Lamentations 3:1-20 - Jeremiah's Deep Despair")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 88:5, in its profound darkness, offers a crucial validation for the human experience of deep, seemingly hopeless despair. It reminds us that the biblical narrative does not shy away from the raw realities of suffering, isolation, and the terrifying feeling of divine distance. For those grappling with severe depression, spiritual desolation, or a sense of being utterly forgotten by God, this psalm provides a powerful voice for their pain, demonstrating that even biblical figures wrestled with such profound anguish. It grants permission to lament without immediate resolution, acknowledging that faith journeys can include seasons of intense spiritual darkness where God's presence feels absent. While the psalmist expresses a pre-resurrection understanding of death and the grave, his cry of abandonment resonates deeply, inviting us to bring our most agonizing feelings before God, trusting that even in the silence, He hears and acknowledges our pain. This psalm, therefore, serves as a vital anchor for empathy, a guide for honest engagement with suffering, and ultimately, points us toward the ultimate hope that transcends the grave through Christ.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Psalm 88:5 validate the experience of profound despair and feeling forgotten by God, and what comfort can we draw from the Bible's inclusion of such raw laments?**
* **In what ways might we, like the psalmist, feel "cut off from God's hand" in seasons of intense suffering or spiritual dryness, and how does this psalm encourage us to vocalize that pain honestly before God?**
* **How does understanding the psalmist's pre-resurrection perspective on death deepen our appreciation for the hope offered in the New Testament concerning God's remembrance and ultimate victory over the grave through Christ?**

### FAQ
**Is Psalm 88 truly unique among the laments in the Psalter?**

Answer: Yes, Psalm 88 is notably unique within the collection of Psalms for its sustained tone of unmitigated despair. Unlike most other laments, which typically begin with a cry of distress but conclude with an expression of hope, trust, or praise (e.g., [Psalm 13](/psalms/13 "Psalm 13 - A Lament Turning to Trust") or [Psalm 22](/psalms/22 "Psalm 22 - A Psalm of Anguish and Praise")), Psalm 88 offers no such resolution. It starts in deep anguish and ends there, without any glimmer of light or shift in the psalmist's desperate plea. This makes it a crucial text for understanding the full spectrum of human suffering and the biblical allowance for a raw, unvarnished cry before God, even when comfort or resolution feels absent. It serves as a profound theological statement on the reality of human suffering and the honesty permitted in prayer.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Psalms 88:5 expresses the psalmist's terrifying sense of being "free among the dead" and "cut off from thy hand" in a pre-resurrection context, its profound anguish finds its ultimate fulfillment and transformation in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus, the true Lamb of God, fully entered into the depths of human suffering and abandonment. On the cross, He cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")), experiencing the ultimate severance from the Father's hand on behalf of humanity's sin, taking upon Himself the very curse of being "cut off" (cf. [Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeemed Us from the Curse")). He truly descended into the realm of the dead, conquering Sheol itself, as prophesied in [Psalm 16:10](/psalms/16-10 "Psalm 16:10 - You Will Not Abandon My Soul to Sheol") and powerfully affirmed by Peter in [Acts 2:27](/acts/2-27 "Acts 2:27 - Peter's Sermon on Pentecost"). Through His glorious resurrection, Jesus definitively broke the power of death and the grave, ensuring that those who are in Him are never truly "cut off" from God's hand, but are eternally remembered and held secure ([John 10:28-29](/john/10-28-29 "John 10:28-29 - No One Can Snatch Them Out of My Hand")). Thus, the psalmist's lament, though ending in darkness, powerfully foreshadows the one who would experience ultimate abandonment to bring ultimate remembrance and everlasting life, transforming the grim "freedom among the dead" into the glorious freedom of resurrection and eternal communion with God ([1 Corinthians 15:55-57](/1_corinthians/15-55-57 "1 Corinthians 15:55-57 - Victory Over Death Through Christ")).

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

Isaiah 53:8

He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

Psalms 31:22

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.

Genesis 19:29

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.

Isaiah 38:10

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.

Isaiah 38:12

Mine age is departed, and is removed from me as a shepherd's tent: I have cut off like a weaver my life: he will cut me off with pining sickness: from day [even] to night wilt thou make an end of me.

Psalms 31:12

I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.

Psalms 88:16

Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off.