Psalm 44 23

Psalm 44:23 kjv

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

Psalm 44:23 nkjv

Awake! Why do You sleep, O Lord? Arise! Do not cast us off forever.

Psalm 44:23 niv

Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever.

Psalm 44:23 esv

Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever!

Psalm 44:23 nlt

Wake up, O Lord! Why do you sleep?
Get up! Do not reject us forever.

Psalm 44 verses

Psalm 44 23 Meaning

Psalm 44:23 is an impassioned, urgent plea from a people experiencing severe national distress and humiliation, who perceive God as inactive or indifferent to their suffering. It is a bold, almost demanding cry for God to intervene and deliver them, reflecting a tension between their unwavering covenant faithfulness and their present devastating circumstances. The psalmist questions God's perceived "sleep" and inaction, imploring Him to "arise" and prevent their utter destruction and perpetual abandonment.

Psalm 44 23 Context

Psalm 44 is a communal lament, expressing deep anguish and confusion experienced by the Israelite nation. Unlike many laments where suffering is a consequence of sin, this psalm emphasizes the people's faithfulness and obedience to God's covenant (Ps 44:17-22). They recount God's past victories (Ps 44:1-8) and contrast them sharply with their present reality of defeat, humiliation, and slaughter (Ps 44:9-16). Verse 23 forms the climax of this urgent plea, questioning God's apparent silence and inaction despite their undeserved suffering. It expresses a deep theological tension: how can a covenant-keeping God allow His covenant-keeping people to suffer such dire calamity and seemingly be indifferent? The psalmist’s raw and honest language is not an expression of doubt in God’s existence or power, but a bold cry of perplexity and desperate appeal for His intervention in a dire situation that challenges their understanding of God’s covenant promises. The backdrop is likely a military defeat or a period of national persecution where the people suffered precisely because they identified with God.

Psalm 44 23 Word analysis

• Awake: Hebrew עורה (`‘ûrâh`), a verb in the imperative mood, meaning "rouse oneself," "stir up," "be awake." It’s an urgent command, not a question of God’s literal slumber, but an anthropomorphic appeal for Him to act. This intense anthropomorphism conveys the psalmist's sense of desperate immediacy, like shaking someone awake from a deep sleep.
• why sleepest thou: Hebrew לָמָּה תִישָׁן (`lām_māh tiyshān`). "Lammah" means "why?" "Tiyshān" comes from ישן (`yāshēn`), "to sleep." This isn't implying God literally sleeps or is ignorant. It’s a metaphor for God's apparent inactivity or delay in responding to their distress. It expresses human frustration and impatience when God's timing doesn't align with their expectation for immediate rescue, despite His promise of perpetual watchfulness (Ps 121:4).
• O Lord: Hebrew אֲדֹנָי (`‘ădonāy`). This title refers to God as "my Lord" or "Master." It implies sovereign authority and absolute control, appealing to His position as their supreme ruler and covenant partner who has the power to act.
• arise: Hebrew קוּמָה (`qûmâh`), another imperative verb, meaning "stand up," "rise up," "take action," "appear." It reiterates and strengthens the plea for God to rouse Himself from inactivity, transitioning from a state of rest to dynamic intervention. This is a common phrase in biblical prayers of distress, signifying God's active, salvific presence.
• cast us not off: Hebrew אַל־תִּזְנַח (`’al-tiznakh`). "Al" means "not," "do not." "Tiznakh" comes from זנח (`zānakh`), meaning "to reject," "cast off," "abandon," "despise," "put away." This expresses their profound fear of ultimate divine abandonment, despite God's covenant promises of perpetual faithfulness. It highlights the perceived disparity between God’s character and their current experience.
• for ever: Hebrew לָנֶצַח (`lānetsakh`). "La" means "for," "to." "Netsach" means "perpetuity," "everlasting," "eternity," "permanently." This underscores the psalmist’s dread that their current suffering and God’s apparent rejection might be perpetual and unending, directly contradicting God’s covenant promise not to forsake His people. It is a desperate plea against a permanent state of suffering.

• "Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise...": This is a direct, emphatic anthropomorphic address. It is not blasphemous, but reflects the boldness and honesty allowed in covenant relationship with God. The repetition of verbs for rousing ("Awake," "arise") intensifies the urgency of the plea, reflecting extreme distress. The perceived "sleep" signifies God's silence, lack of intervention, or hiddenness in the face of overwhelming adversity.
• "...cast us not off for ever.": This phrase captures the core anxiety: that their suffering might lead to an irrevocable breach of the covenant, where God abandons them completely and permanently. It highlights the fear that the present suffering is not just temporary discipline but a lasting rejection. This fear stands in tension with God’s unchanging promises (e.g., Deut 31:6; Heb 13:5), compelling the people to remind God of His own character and word.

Psalm 44 23 Bonus section

The audacity of the psalmists in addressing God as if He is "sleeping" and needs to be "awakened" or "aroused" highlights a key aspect of covenant relationship. Unlike the stoic gods of other cultures who are indifferent or unreachable, the God of Israel invites such candid and even demanding prayers. This language functions as a rhetorical device to express extreme emotional distress and perplexity, pressing God for intervention based on His covenant commitments rather than doubting His attributes. This bold intercession implicitly serves as a reminder to God of His own glory and the vindication of His name among the nations, as His people are suffering for His sake (v. 22), not because of their rebellion. The very act of appealing implies an enduring faith in God’s ability and willingness to ultimately answer.

Psalm 44 23 Commentary

Psalm 44:23 is the culminating cry of a people steeped in covenant theology yet grappling with a paradox: their unwavering faithfulness met with severe, seemingly inexplicable suffering. It is a powerful example of biblical lament, where distress leads not to abandoning God, but to an audacious, raw, and desperate appeal to God. The anthropomorphic language of God "sleeping" is not literal, but a deeply felt metaphor for His perceived inaction or hiddenness in the face of His people's dire plight. The psalmist does not question God's power or existence, but rather challenges His apparent delay in acting on behalf of those who are suffering for His sake. This verse encapsulates the tension between theological truth (God never sleeps, Ps 121:4) and existential reality (God seems silent or absent). It expresses a fear of complete and eternal abandonment, urging God to reassert His covenant loyalty and intervene decisively. This direct appeal reminds believers that it is acceptable, even commendable, to bring our deepest fears, confusion, and desperate needs to God with unflinching honesty, appealing to His character and His promises. It embodies faith that despite the present darkness, God remains their sovereign Lord who can and will ultimately act.