Psalm 77 8

Psalm 77:8 kjv

Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?

Psalm 77:8 nkjv

Has His mercy ceased forever? Has His promise failed forevermore?

Psalm 77:8 niv

Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time?

Psalm 77:8 esv

Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time?

Psalm 77:8 nlt

Is his unfailing love gone forever?
Have his promises permanently failed?

Psalm 77 verses

Psalm 77 8 Meaning

Psalm 77:8 expresses a profound rhetorical question, born from the Psalmist Asaph's deep lament and internal struggle. It voices a desperate inquiry into the very nature of God, questioning if His fundamental attributes of steadfast love and faithfulness to His promises could possibly cease, whether for a limited time or for all eternity. This rhetorical form emphasizes the overwhelming despair experienced, positing an unthinkable scenario to highlight the depth of spiritual crisis. Ultimately, such questions are answered implicitly by God's unchanging character revealed throughout Scripture, but they serve to articulate intense spiritual and emotional pain.

Psalm 77 8 Context

Psalm 77, a psalm of Asaph, is a profound lament expressing deep distress and confusion. Verses 1-9 establish the Psalmist's anguished cry to God, marked by restless nights, sorrow, and rhetorical questions concerning God's seeming abandonment. The specific cultural and historical backdrop often involves a time of national hardship or exile, where Israel questions God's covenant loyalty despite past deliverance. Asaph’s lament is intensely personal yet resonates with communal doubt. The questioning of verse 8 represents the emotional nadir of this section, a pivotal moment before the psalm turns to a remembrance of God's mighty acts in the past (starting in verse 10), serving as a foundation for renewed hope and faith. The immediate context shows a mind wrestling with perceived divine withdrawal amidst suffering, pushing against the very foundations of Yahweh's character as known to Israel.

Psalm 77 8 Word analysis

• Has His steadfast love (הֶחָסֶד - hechesed): This refers to "His steadfast love" or "His lovingkindness." The Hebrew term chesed is a cornerstone of the covenant relationship between God and Israel. It denotes loyal love, mercy, goodness, and faithfulness. It's not mere affection but a committed, unwavering devotion, especially in the context of a covenant or relationship. The question "Has His chesed...?" strikes at the very heart of God's character and covenant faithfulness, which were foundational to Israel's identity and hope.
• ceased (גָּמַר - gamar): This verb means "to be finished," "to be consumed," "to be brought to an end." It implies a complete and utter cessation or vanishing. The Psalmist wonders if this ultimate and irreplaceable attribute of God has somehow run its course or been used up.
• forever? (לָנֶצַח - lanetsach): This adverb emphasizes unending duration, "eternally," "always." The question concerns not a temporary pause but a permanent discontinuance. It deepens the anxiety, implying an existential threat to the basis of their hope.
• Will His promise (הָאֹמֶר - ha'omer): This word translates to "the promise" or "the word." It refers to a divine declaration, an utterance, a decree, or a commitment. In a biblical context, it frequently signifies God's authoritative, spoken word that guarantees a future action or outcome. This can encompass prophetic utterances, covenant stipulations, or direct assurances. The questions highlight the reliability of divine pronouncements.
• fail (אָפֵס - aphas): This verb means "to come to an end," "to be exhausted," "to vanish," "to disappear completely." It's stronger than mere failure; it implies a total absence or non-existence. If God's promises "fail" in this sense, they would cease to exist or apply, suggesting an ultimate collapse of the divine plan.
• for all generations? (לְדוֹר וָדוֹר - ledor vador): This phrase signifies "for all generations," "from generation to generation." It indicates trans-generational continuity and perpetuity. The question posits whether God's faithfulness extends across time, to future descendants, or if its efficacy has diminished through the ages.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• Has His steadfast love ceased forever?: This phrase questions the timeless endurance of God's covenant loyalty. The juxtaposition of "steadfast love" (an unchanging attribute) and "ceased forever" (an absolute end) highlights the extreme mental and spiritual crisis of the psalmist, indicating a perceived rupture in the divine-human relationship that strikes at the core of God's known character.
• Will His promise fail for all generations?: This second rhetorical question probes the ongoing reliability of God's word and commitments. It emphasizes not only the immediate faithfulness but also its enduring application across history and for all future generations. If His promises "fail," it implies that the divine plan and any hope based on past declarations are nullified, threatening not just the present but all future expectation. This links directly to the foundational covenants made with Israel.

Psalm 77 8 Bonus section

Psalm 77:8 embodies a type of "faith in tension." It demonstrates that faith does not preclude profound questioning and honest lament. The Psalmist is not outright denying God but is struggling to reconcile present suffering with past understanding of God's character. This reflects a common human experience when facing perceived divine silence or withdrawal. This particular form of questioning also serves a theological purpose by affirming the impossibility of these statements being true – it reinforces God’s unwavering faithfulness through a desperate plea that such a thing could not possibly occur. The Psalmist is essentially screaming "No!" even as he forms the question. It highlights God's unique identity among ancient Near Eastern deities; Yahweh, unlike capricious gods, is inherently dependable due to His chesed and unfailing word.

Psalm 77 8 Commentary

Psalm 77:8 captures the agonizing depth of the Psalmist Asaph's spiritual despair. This verse functions as a poignant lament, articulating the rhetorical yet emotionally authentic questioning of God's foundational attributes: His steadfast love (chesed) and His unwavering promises. The intensity of "ceased forever" and "fail for all generations" reveals a mind grappling with profound suffering that threatens to shake the very foundations of faith. While for believers, God's love and promises are eternally certain (Mal 3:6, Heb 6:17-18), the human experience of deep trial can make these truths feel distant or challenged. The verse gives voice to the raw honesty of doubt permissible within a trusting relationship with God. It underscores that spiritual struggle is real, yet it paradoxically sets the stage for a deliberate act of faith: the turning point in the psalm, where Asaph shifts from focusing on his distress to meditating on God's mighty acts in the past, thereby re-anchoring his faith in historical evidence of God's unchanging nature.