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Psalms 88:10

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¶ Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise [and] praise thee? Selah.

Wilt thou shew {H6213}{H8799)} wonders {H6382} to the dead {H4191}{H8801)}? shall the dead {H7496} arise {H6965}{H8799)} and praise {H3034}{H8686)} thee? Selah {H5542}.

Will you perform wonders for the dead? Can the ghosts of the dead rise up and praise you? (Selah)

Do You work wonders for the dead? Do departed spirits rise up to praise You? Selah

Wilt thou show wonders to the dead? Shall they that are deceased arise and praise thee? [Selah

Commentary

Psalm 88:10 KJV: "¶ Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise [and] praise thee? Selah."

Context of Psalms 88:10

Psalm 88 stands out as one of the Bible's most profound and unremitting laments. Authored by Heman the Ezrahite, it is unique in its complete lack of resolution or hope, ending in darkness. The psalmist is suffering intensely, feeling abandoned by God, friends, and family, convinced he is on the brink of death and confined to the grave. This verse, therefore, is not a theological statement on the afterlife but a desperate cry from someone feeling utterly cut off from life and God's active presence, questioning the very purpose of God's power if it cannot extend to the realm of the dead to bring forth praise.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Profound Despair: The verse encapsulates the psalmist's deep sense of hopelessness, questioning if God's miraculous power ("wonders") can even reach those in the grave, and if the dead can offer praise.
  • The Old Testament Understanding of Death: In the Old Testament, the realm of the dead (often referred to as Sheol or the pit) was typically depicted as a place of silence, inactivity, and separation from God's active praise. The psalmist's questions reflect this common understanding, where praise and remembrance of God were primarily functions of the living. This sentiment is echoed in Psalm 6:5 and Isaiah 38:18.
  • The Urgency of Life for Praise: The rhetorical questions imply that if one is dead, the opportunity to witness God's wonders or offer Him praise is lost. This underscores the value of life and health as the proper time for worship and communion with God.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "dead" here is repha'im (רְפָאִים), which can refer to the deceased or shades, emphasizing their weakened, inactive state in the underworld. The word for "praise" is yadah (יָדָה), meaning to give thanks, laud, or confess. The psalmist's lament hinges on the understanding that this active, vibrant praise cannot emanate from the inert state of the grave.

Practical Application

While Psalm 88 is a psalm of unrelieved gloom, it offers profound insights for believers today:

  • Validation of Suffering: It reminds us that it is permissible to bring our deepest, darkest despair and questions before God, even when there seems to be no light. God can handle our raw honesty.
  • Value of Life and Health: The psalm indirectly highlights the preciousness of our living days, as they are the time when we can actively experience God's wonders and offer Him praise.
  • The Hope of Resurrection: For Christians, this Old Testament lament stands in stark contrast to the New Testament's glorious revelation of resurrection and life beyond death through Jesus Christ. While Heman saw death as the end of praise, Jesus declared Himself "the resurrection, and the life," ultimately conquering death so that even the dead in Christ shall rise to praise Him (1 Corinthians 15:55). The New Testament offers a hope that transcends the limits of this Old Testament lament.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 6:5 (7 votes)

    For in death [there is] no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

  • Isaiah 26:19 (5 votes)

    Thy dead [men] shall live, [together with] my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew [is as] the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

  • Psalms 30:9 (5 votes)

    What profit [is there] in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?

  • Isaiah 38:18 (4 votes)

    For the grave cannot praise thee, death can [not] celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.

  • Isaiah 38:19 (4 votes)

    The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I [do] this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:52 (3 votes)

    In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:57 (3 votes)

    But thanks [be] to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.