Psalms 115:17 Meaning and Explanation
“The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Those who die cease to offer praise; the dead are silent.
The Context of Psalms 115:17
A sobering reminder that praise is the privilege of the living.
What Does Psalms 115:17 Mean?
This verse starkly contrasts the living with the dead. Those who 'go down into silence' (enter the grave, Sheol) are removed from the capacity to praise God. Their mouths are shut; their voices are stilled. Death ends active worship.
The verse is not a claim about the afterlife's nature but an urgent call to praise while alive. It echoes the earlier theme: the dead are like the idols—silent, powerless, unable to respond. But the living have voice and can give glory.
Psalms 115:17 in the Original Language
דּוּמָה (dumah), 'silence' — deafness and voicelessness; the realm of the dead where no one can hear or be heard.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 115:17
What does Psalms 115:17 mean?
Those who die cease to offer praise; the dead are silent.
What is the context of Psalms 115:17?
A sobering reminder that praise is the privilege of the living.