LORD, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?

PSALMS 88:14KJV
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Psalms 88:14 (KJV)

What does Psalms 88:14 mean?

Psalms 88:14 is a cry from someone who feels abandoned by God, asking why God has rejected their soul and hidden His presence from them. The verse expresses deep distress and confusion over feeling cut off from God’s care and attention.

The speaker in Psalms 88:14 is traditionally understood to be Heman the Ezrahite, voicing his prayer directly to the LORD during a time of intense suffering. The verse is part of a larger psalm known for its raw honesty about pain and a sense of spiritual isolation, as the writer pleads for God to respond and not remain distant.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 88:14

  • LORD (יְהוָה, Yahweh): This is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing a direct, covenant relationship. The use of this name shows the psalmist is addressing God personally, not just generally.
  • off (זָנַח, zanach): This word often means to reject or cast away. Here, it highlights the psalmist’s feeling of being deliberately set aside by God, not just overlooked.
  • soul (נֶפֶשׁ, nephesh): This word can mean life, self, or inner being. The psalmist is not just talking about physical suffering but a deep, personal sense of abandonment.
  • hidest (סָתַר, satar): This verb means to hide or conceal. The psalmist’s complaint is not just about God’s absence, but about God actively hiding His “face,” which in Hebrew thought means withdrawing favor or attention.
  • face (פָּנִים, panim): In Hebrew, “face” often represents presence or attention. The psalmist longs for God’s presence but feels it has been withdrawn.

Why Psalms 88:14 matters

  • Psalms 88:14 clarifies that feeling abandoned or unheard by God is not a new or shameful experience; it is honestly recorded in Scripture.
  • The verse emphasizes the personal nature of the psalmist’s struggle, using direct language to describe a relationship with God that feels broken or distant.
  • This verse connects to the larger theme of Psalms 88, which is unique among the psalms for its unrelieved lament, showing that the Bible gives space for unresolved pain and unanswered questions.

Where else these words appear

“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 60:1 To the chief Musician upon Shushaneduth, Michtam of David, to teach; when he strove with Aramnaharaim and with Aramzobah, when Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand. O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again.
  • 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.

“hidest” Hebrew H5641 · used in 80 verses

  • Genesis 4:14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
  • Psalms 10:11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.
  • Proverbs 28:28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.