Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.

PSALMS 44:23KJV
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Psalms 44:23 (KJV)

What does Psalms 44:23 mean?

Psalms 44:23 is a plea for God to respond to a people who feel abandoned in their suffering. The speakers call on the Lord to act for them rather than leave them rejected forever.

The psalm speaks in the voice of a community: “cast us not off.” After the image of sheep facing slaughter in verse 22, the urgent commands “Awake” and “arise” picture God as someone who seems asleep while danger continues.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 44:23

  • “Lord” — אֲדֹנָי (adonai): This title means “Lord” or “Master.” The speakers address the one they regard as having authority to intervene.
  • “off” — זָנַח (zanach): This word can mean to reject or cast away. In “cast us not off for ever,” the concern is that the people may remain rejected.
  • “ever” — נֶצַח (netsach): This word can express a lasting or unending period. It gives force to the fear that their present distress could continue indefinitely.

Why Psalms 44:23 matters

  • The question “why sleepest thou?” gives voice to the speakers’ sense that God is not responding. Psalm 44:23 uses the image of sleep to express that experience; Psalm 121:4, by contrast, says that the one who watches over Israel does not sleep.
  • The plea follows a claim of continued loyalty. In Psalms 44:17–18, the speakers say they have not forgotten God or turned away from him, even though trouble has come upon them.

Where else these words appear

“sleepest” Hebrew H3462 · used in 19 verses

  • Genesis 2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
  • 1 Kings 19:5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.
  • Proverbs 4:16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

“off” Hebrew H2186 · used in 20 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
  • Psalms 60:10 Wilt not thou, O God, which hadst cast us off? and thou, O God, which didst not go out with our armies?
  • Isaiah 19:6 And they shall turn the rivers far away; and the brooks of defence shall be emptied and dried up: the reeds and flags shall wither.

“arise” Hebrew H6974 · used in 21 verses

  • 1 Samuel 26:12 So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.
  • Psalms 59:5 Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.
  • Jeremiah 31:26 Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me.

“ever” Hebrew H5331 · used in 42 verses

  • 1 Samuel 15:29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.
  • Psalms 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
  • Isaiah 13:20 It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.