God’s Word Translation
Psalms 89:48
48Can a mortal go on living and never see death? Who can set himself free from the power of the grave? Selah
Psalms 89:48 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.
- New International Version (NIV)Who can live and not see death, or who can escape the power of the grave?
- English Standard Version (ESV)What man can live and never see death? Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah
- New King James Version (NKJV)What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave? Selah
Context of Psalms 89:48
46How long, O Lord? Will you hide yourself forever? How long will your anger continue to burn like fire? 47Remember how short my life is! Have you created Adam’s descendants for no reason? Can a mortal go on living and never see death? Who can set himself free from the power of the grave? Selah 49Where is the evidence of your mercy, Lord? You swore an oath to David on ⌞the basis of⌟ your faithfulness. 50Remember, O Lord, how your servant has been insulted. Remember how I have carried in my heart ⌞the insults⌟ from so many people.
Read all of Psalms 89Psalms 89:48 word by word
מִ֤י גֶ֣בֶר יִֽ֭חְיֶה וְלֹ֣א יִרְאֶה־מָּ֑וֶת יְמַלֵּ֨ט נַפְשׁ֖וֹ מִיַּד־שְׁא֣וֹל סֶֽלָה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- What manגָּבֶרgeber · great manH1397
- livethחָיָהchâyâh · to liveH2421
- and shall not seeרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- deathמָ֫וֶתmâveth · deathH4194
- shall he deliverמָלַטmâlaţ · to escapeH4422
- his soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soulH5315
- from the handיָדyâd · hand: powerH3027
- of the graveשְׁאוֹלshe'ôl she'ôl · hell: SheolH7585
- Selahסֶ֫לָהselâh · SelahH5542
Cross-references for Psalms 89:48
- Psalms 49:7No one can ever buy back another person or pay God a ransom for his life.
- Job 30:23I know you will lead me to death, to the dwelling place appointed for all living beings.
- Ecclesiastes 3:19Humans and animals have the same destiny. One dies just like the other. All of them have the same breath ⌞of life⌟. Humans have no advantage over animals. All ⌞of life⌟ is pointless.
- Ecclesiastes 8:8No one has the power to prevent the spirit of life from leaving. No one has control over the day of his own death. There is no way to avoid the war ⌞against death⌟. Wickedness will not save wicked people ⌞from dying⌟.
- Ecclesiastes 9:5The living know that they will die, but the dead don’t know anything. There is no more reward for the dead when the memory of them has faded.
- Ecclesiastes 12:7Then the dust ⌞of mortals⌟ goes back to the ground as it was before, and the breath of life goes back to God who gave it.
- Hebrews 9:27People die once, and after that they are judged.
- John 8:51I can guarantee this truth: Whoever obeys what I say will never see death.”
- Hebrews 11:5Faith enabled Enoch to be taken instead of dying. No one could find him, because God had taken him. Scripture states that before Enoch was taken, God was pleased with him.
- Psalms 49:15But God will buy me back from the power of hell because he will take me. Selah
- Acts 2:27because you do not abandon my soul to the grave or allow your holy one to decay.
- 2 Corinthians 4:14We know that the one who brought the Lord Jesus back to life will also bring us back to life through Jesus. He will present us to God together with you.
Commentaries on Psalms 89:48
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 48What man is he that liveth - All men are mortal, and death is uncertain and no man, by wisdom, might, or riches, can deliver his life from the hand - the power, of death and the grave.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 48What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? - Shall not die - to see death being an expression often used to denote death itself. Death is represented as a real object, now invisible, but which will make itself visible to us when we die. The meaning here is, “All men are mortal; this universal law must apply to kings as well as to other men; in a short time he to whom these promises pertain will pass away from the earth; and the promises made to…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 38-52Verses 38-52 Sometimes it is not easy to reconcile God's providences with his promises, yet we are sure that God's works fulfil his word. When the great Anointed One, Christ himself, was upon the cross, God seemed to have cast him off, yet did not make void his covenant, for that was established for ever. The honour of the house of David was lost. Thrones and crowns are often laid in the dust; but there is a crown of glory reserved for Christ's spiritual…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-52Book Three (Psalms 73–89) starts and ends with serious questions. Psalm 89 begins with praise for how the Lord established David’s throne and kingdom (89:1–37). But later the psalmist protests that the Lord seems to have rejected his covenant with David (Psalm 89:38–51; see 2 Samuel 7:8–16).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 38-5238-52. present a striking contrast to these glowing promises, in mournful evidences of a loss of God's favor. cast off--and rejected (compare Psa 15:4; 43:2; 44:9).Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 89:48
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 89
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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