Psalms 88:5 Meaning and Explanation
“Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The psalmist is abandoned among the dead and forgotten by God.
The Context of Psalms 88:5
Deepening the despair: not only is the psalmist with the dead, but seemingly forgotten by God.
What Does Psalms 88:5 Mean?
The phrase 'free among the dead' is a rare construction meaning the psalmist lies unbound, unresisting, passive among corpses—present with the dead even while still alive. The comparison to 'the slain that lie in the grave' reinforces this: like the war-dead who are buried and lost, the psalmist is cut off from the living world.
The final clause—'whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand'—expresses the most painful element: abandonment by God himself. To be cut off from God's hand (his power and care) and removed from his remembrance is the ultimate desolation in the psalmist's view.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 88:5
What does Psalms 88:5 mean?
The psalmist is abandoned among the dead and forgotten by God.
What is the context of Psalms 88:5?
Deepening the despair: not only is the psalmist with the dead, but seemingly forgotten by God.