Bible Strands
Psalms 88:14
Why, O LORD, do You reject me? Why do You hide Your face from me?
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses Yahweh during a season of prolonged affliction and near-death despair, immediately following a declaration of persistent morning prayer.
The words — תִּזְנַ֣ח (tiz.Nach) literally means "do you reject" and תַּסְתִּ֖יר (tas.Tir) literally means "do you hide," both functioning as direct interrogatives aimed at God.
The thread — The motif of divine rejection and hidden face appears in Job 13:24, Psalms 13:1, and Psalms 43:2.
Why it lands — The text records a direct question about perceived abandonment rather than offering comfort, requiring the reader to examine how persistent prayer coexists with the experience of divine silence.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Lord, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?
Cross-references
- Job 13:24 Why do You hide Your face and consider me as Your enemy?
- Psalms 13:1 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?
- Psalms 43:2 For You are the God of my refuge. Why have You rejected me? Why must I walk in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?
- Psalms 44:24 Why do You hide Your face and forget our affliction and oppression?
- Matthew 27:46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
- Psalms 44:9 But You have rejected and humbled us; You no longer go forth with our armies.
- Psalms 69:17 Hide not Your face from Your servant, for I am in distress. Answer me quickly!
- Psalms 77:7 “Will the Lord spurn us forever and never show His favor again?