Psalm 44 19

Psalm 44:19 kjv

Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.

Psalm 44:19 nkjv

But You have severely broken us in the place of jackals, And covered us with the shadow of death.

Psalm 44:19 niv

But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals; you covered us over with deep darkness.

Psalm 44:19 esv

yet you have broken us in the place of jackals and covered us with the shadow of death.

Psalm 44:19 nlt

Yet you have crushed us in the jackal's desert home.
You have covered us with darkness and death.

Psalm 44 verses

Psalm 44 19 Meaning

Psalm 44:19 describes a profound experience of national humiliation and distress. It portrays the people of God as being severely "crushed" or "broken" by divine allowance, specifically in a place of desolation, figuratively known as the "place of jackals." This crushing experience is further intensified by being "covered with deep darkness," signifying a state of utter despair, confusion, and a perception of God's hidden presence, akin to the shadow of death itself. The verse encapsulates a feeling of extreme abandonment and suffering, contrasting sharply with their professed faithfulness in the preceding verses.

Psalm 44 19 Context

Psalm 44 is a corporate lament, sung by the community of Israel during a time of severe national distress. It opens by recalling God's mighty acts of deliverance in the past (vv. 1-8), which established their confidence in Him. However, the psalm then transitions sharply to their present reality: they feel utterly rejected, defeated, and shamed (vv. 9-16). Crucially, the people assert their blamelessness and faithfulness to God's covenant, stating they have not forgotten Him or dealt falsely (vv. 17-18). It is in this context of undeserved suffering, where their loyalty seems unrewarded and even punished, that verse 19 declares their crushed state in desolate darkness. The verse directly precedes a passionate cry for God to awake and redeem them, emphasizing their desperate need for His intervention after perceiving His withdrawal. The historical backdrop for this psalm could be the Babylonian exile, a devastating defeat by an enemy, or any period where God's covenant people experienced overwhelming calamity despite their faithfulness, leading to profound theological struggle and confusion.

Psalm 44 19 Word analysis

• Though you have broken us / When You crushed us:

  • Hebrew: dakka'ta (דַּכִּיתָ). From the root daka, meaning "to crush," "to bruise," "to break in pieces," "to pulverize." It implies a severe and overwhelming blow that destroys the integrity or strength of something.
  • Significance: This active verb attributed to God indicates that the people perceive their suffering as divinely permitted, if not directly inflicted. It's a complete dismantling, physically, spiritually, and socially, signifying utter helplessness and loss of hope without God's intervention.

• in the place of jackals:

  • Hebrew: mekom tannim (מְקוֹם תַּנִּים). Mekom means "place of." Tannim (plural of tan) refers to "jackals" (or sometimes "wolves" or "dragons" depending on context, but "jackals" is most common for ruined places).
  • Significance: Jackals are scavengers that inhabit desolate ruins, deserts, and places of destruction and decay (Jer 9:11, Isa 34:13). The "place of jackals" is thus a metaphor for utter ruin, desolation, humiliation, death, and being exposed to danger without defense. It implies being relegated to a shameful, cursed, or lifeless environment, far from the blessing and protection associated with God's presence among His people.

• and covered us:

  • Hebrew: tekhassenu (וַתְּכַסֵּנוּ). From the root kasah, meaning "to cover," "to conceal," "to clothe."
  • Significance: This emphasizes being completely enveloped and overwhelmed. It's not a superficial covering but a profound, encompassing state, indicating no escape from the affliction. It can suggest that God himself has shrouded them in this state of suffering.

• with deep darkness:

  • Hebrew: tsalmavet (צַלְמָוֶת). This unique word literally means "shadow of death" or "deepest darkness." It's a compound word from tsel (shadow) and mavet (death).
  • Significance: Far more than mere absence of light, tsalmavet denotes a state of profound gloom, despair, spiritual desolation, terror, and a condition bordering on, or equivalent to, the grave. It implies spiritual, mental, and physical suffering so extreme it feels like death. It is the antithesis of God's light and presence, speaking of existential anguish and abandonment.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "broken us... place of jackals": This phrase combines the internal experience of severe affliction (brokenness) with the external reality of being cast into a place of utter ruin and disgrace. It vividly paints a picture of being not only internally devastated but also publicly dishonored and abandoned to a predatory, life-extinguishing environment. This contrasts sharply with God's promise to dwell among His people and make their land fruitful.
  • "covered us with deep darkness": This speaks to the all-encompassing nature of their suffering, reaching beyond the physical realm into their spiritual and psychological state. The "deep darkness" highlights an absence of hope, direction, and perceived divine light, a feeling of being forsaken and left without guidance or comfort, akin to the experience of a dying person.

Psalm 44 19 Bonus section

The strong imagery in Psalm 44:19 reflects a theological tension concerning divine sovereignty and human suffering, particularly the suffering of the righteous. This tension is prevalent throughout the wisdom literature (e.g., Job) and prophetic books. The Psalm, including this verse, functions as a template for prayers when God's people find themselves in a season where past deliverances are distant memories, and present reality suggests divine disfavor, despite their genuine efforts to walk in obedience. It provides a biblical precedent for raw, honest complaint to God in moments of profound disorientation and perceived divine hiding. This verse prefigures the ultimate "crushing" and "deep darkness" experienced by the Messiah, who was forsaken by God in a place of death, thereby identifying with the extreme suffering of His people (Ps 22:1).

Psalm 44 19 Commentary

Psalm 44:19 powerfully expresses the agonizing paradox faced by a faithful people who perceive themselves to be undergoing inexplicable, severe suffering at God's hand. It describes a comprehensive dismantling: they are "crushed" (physically, psychologically, nationally) and plunged into an environment symbolizing ultimate desolation ("place of jackals") and spiritual blindness or despair ("deep darkness"). This verse captures the heart of communal lament where God's perceived absence and hostile actions towards His devoted covenant people provoke deep bewilderment. Despite their blamelessness (vv. 17-18), they endure a fate often reserved for the rebellious. The intensity of "deep darkness" underscores an overwhelming spiritual crisis, a feeling of being utterly abandoned to forces of chaos and death, without God's light or guiding hand. It's a confession of their perceived present reality, which radically contradicts their historical understanding of God's justice and faithfulness.