Psalms 88:14 Meaning and Explanation
“LORD, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The psalmist questions God's rejection and silence: Why has he cast off my soul and hidden his face?
The Context of Psalms 88:14
Direct questions to God about his rejection and concealment of his face.
What Does Psalms 88:14 Mean?
These are direct, anguished questions to God: 'Why?' The casting off of the soul is rejection of the person from the realm of God's care. Hiding the face—turning away—is perhaps the deepest expression of abandonment. To be cast off and avoided by God is the core pain underlying all the physical and social suffering.
These questions are not rhetorical but genuinely demanding explanation. The psalmist is not accepting the situation passively but challenging God directly. This is lament at its most raw: not stating facts but pressing God to explain the unexplainable suffering and abandonment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 88:14
What does Psalms 88:14 mean?
The psalmist questions God's rejection and silence: Why has he cast off my soul and hidden his face?
What is the context of Psalms 88:14?
Direct questions to God about his rejection and concealment of his face.