Psalm 88 9

Psalm 88:9 kjv

Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.

Psalm 88:9 nkjv

My eye wastes away because of affliction. LORD, I have called daily upon You; I have stretched out my hands to You.

Psalm 88:9 niv

my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, LORD, every day; I spread out my hands to you.

Psalm 88:9 esv

my eye grows dim through sorrow. Every day I call upon you, O LORD; I spread out my hands to you.

Psalm 88:9 nlt

My eyes are blinded by my tears.
Each day I beg for your help, O LORD;
I lift my hands to you for mercy.

Psalm 88 verses

Psalm 88 9 Meaning

Psalm 88:9 depicts the psalmist, Heman the Ezrahite, in a state of profound physical and emotional distress. His eyesight is failing due to overwhelming sorrow, yet despite his weakening condition and ceaseless affliction, he maintains a posture of unwavering supplication, persistently crying out to the Lord daily and lifting his hands in desperate prayer.

Psalm 88 9 Context

Psalm 88 stands unique among the Psalms for its relentless and unremitting lament, often considered the "darkest psalm." It is one of the "orphan psalms" (Ps 88 and 89) from Book III of the Psalter, both bearing the title "A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite" (though Ps 89 is Ethan the Ezrahite). The immediate context of Psalm 88 is the psalmist's deep and suffocating despair, feeling abandoned by God and enduring overwhelming suffering, physically close to death. There is no shift from lament to praise or trust, as is typical in most lament psalms; the psalm ends as it begins, shrouded in darkness and hopelessness. The verse "my eye grows dim because of sorrow" highlights the profound physical toll of his mental anguish and relentless affliction, which includes social isolation, feeling abhorrent to others, and experiencing God's wrath. This cultural context often involved public expressions of grief and prayer, with specific physical postures such as raising hands, signifying humility and earnest petition. The absence of a "turn" in this psalm challenges typical ancient Near Eastern beliefs about divine intervention, suggesting an unwavering, perhaps incomprehensible, silence from God in the face of profound righteousness.

Psalm 88 9 Word analysis

• My eye (עיני - `eyni):

  • Literal: "my eye."
  • Significance: In ancient Hebrew thought, the "eye" (עין - `ayin) is not just an organ of sight but often represents a person's inner vitality, well-being, perception, and life force. Its dimming or failing indicates a profound deterioration of physical and emotional health, near-death state, or intense suffering.

• grows dim (דַּלָּה - dalah):

  • Root meaning: From a root implying to "draw water" or to be "poor," "weak," "exhausted," "withered."
  • Significance: It's more than just losing sight; it implies a total physical and spiritual depletion. The psalmist's very essence is draining away, perhaps comparable to water from a bucket (Lam 3:49-50, Job 17:7).

• because of sorrow (מִקּוֹף - miqqôp):

  • Meaning: "from affliction," "from anguish," "from vexation," "from grief." The prefix mi- indicates cause or source.
  • Significance: The affliction is not merely external, but an internal, consuming anguish that affects the body deeply. It's an overwhelming burden on the soul, leading to physical decay.

• LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH):

  • The covenant name of God, indicating His personal and relational aspect.
  • Significance: Despite the profound suffering and perceived abandonment, the psalmist addresses God by His personal, covenant name, showing that his lament arises from a relationship, not mere intellectual doubt. He expects a response from the God of the covenant.

• I call (קָרָ֫אתִי - qārā'tî):

  • Meaning: "I called," "I cried out." A verb indicating persistent, vocal pleading.
  • Significance: Despite his weakness, his voice is not silenced. His calling is an act of determined faith, expressing his deep need and conviction that only God can help.

• daily (כָּל-יוֹם - kol-yôm):

  • Literal: "all day," "every day."
  • Significance: Emphasizes the continuity and relentless nature of his prayer. It's not an occasional plea but a ceaseless cry born of chronic distress, highlighting both the depth of his suffering and his unwavering reliance on God, even without a visible answer.

• I spread out (פָּרָ֫שְׂתִּי - pāraṣtî):

  • Meaning: "I stretched out," "I spread forth."
  • Significance: This is a specific posture of prayer in the ancient Near East, symbolizing earnest supplication, desperation, total surrender, and yearning for divine intervention or blessing. It is a physical embodiment of absolute dependence.

• my hands to You (יָדַי אֵלֶיךָ - yād̄ay 'êleyḵā):

  • Meaning: "my hands to You (God)."
  • Significance: This gesture reinforces the verbal prayer, showing utmost sincerity and humble petition. It signifies reaching out for divine help, expressing utter helplessness and placing oneself fully at God's mercy (Ex 17:11, Ps 141:2, 1 Tim 2:8).

• Words-group analysis:

  • "My eye grows dim because of sorrow": This phrase collectively depicts the psalmist's extreme physical and emotional exhaustion. It paints a picture of a body literally fading from the sheer weight of grief and affliction.
  • "To You, LORD, I call daily; I spread out my hands to You": This phrase captures the paradox of his condition: a weakening body (eyes dim) juxtaposed with unceasing spiritual action (calling, stretching hands). It demonstrates profound spiritual tenacity in the face of overwhelming despair. The daily, persistent act of prayer signifies his only hope and his unwavering belief in God's ultimate authority, even when feeling abandoned.

Psalm 88 9 Bonus section

Psalm 88 is often identified as the only psalm that concludes without a glimpse of hope, resolution, or praise, ending on a note of sustained darkness ("darkness is my only companion," Ps 88:18). This unique characteristic deepens the theological weight of verse 9. Heman's persistent prayer "daily" and with hands spread out is not fueled by an immediate hope of rescue within the psalm's narrative, but by an unwavering, desperate clinging to God despite the experiential lack of God's presence or intervention. It signifies prayer as an ultimate act of surrender and trust, even when feeling forsaken. Heman the Ezrahite, a Levite and one of King David's chief musicians (1 Chr 6:33, 25:1), as well as a wise man mentioned alongside Solomon (1 Kgs 4:31), might suggest that deep spiritual understanding and giftedness do not exempt one from profound, prolonged periods of darkness and despair. His psalm reminds us that godly individuals can endure overwhelming suffering where God's comfort feels entirely absent, yet they persist in addressing God. This Psalm serves as a profound comfort for those in the deepest pits of spiritual or physical agony, validating their raw, unfiltered cries to God.

Psalm 88 9 Commentary

Psalm 88:9 vividly portrays the depth of the psalmist Heman's anguish. His "eye grows dim because of sorrow," a poignant image of his physical decline and inner desolation. This is not merely tiredness but a fading of his very life force, an indicator of the profound suffering consuming him from within. Despite this overwhelming despair, he does not cease his spiritual discipline. His continuous, "daily" "calling" and "spreading out" of "hands to You, LORD," demonstrate a tenacious faith. This persistence in prayer, even when God seems silent and absent, is a core theme. It showcases an unwavering reliance on the covenant God (YHWH), a determination to pour out his heart no matter how dire the circumstances or how long the perceived divine silence. Heman models a raw, honest approach to God in lament, a pattern of clinging to the Divine in utter desperation and helplessness, highlighting that genuine faith does not always imply emotional serenity but can manifest in cries of deep distress. His prayer is a desperate lifeline in a sea of torment, an act of sheer will against the encroaching darkness.