New International Version
Psalms 89:48
48Who can live and not see death, or who can escape the power of the grave?
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.
- 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
- New Living Translation (NLT)No one can live forever; all will die. No one can escape the power of the grave. Interlude
Context of Psalms 89:48
46How long, Lord? Will you hide yourself forever? How long will your wrath burn like fire? 47Remember how fleeting is my life. For what futility you have created all humanity! Who can live and not see death, or who can escape the power of the grave? 49Lord, where is your former great love, which in your faithfulness you swore to David? 50Remember, Lord, how your servant has been mocked, how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the nations,
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 redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them—
- Job 30:23I know you will bring me down to death, to the place appointed for all the living.
- Ecclesiastes 3:19Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless.
- Ecclesiastes 8:8As no one has power over the wind to contain it, so no one has power over the time of their death. As no one is discharged in time of war, so wickedness will not release those who practice it.
- Ecclesiastes 9:5For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even their name is forgotten.
- Ecclesiastes 12:7and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
- Hebrews 9:27Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,
- John 8:51Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”
- Hebrews 11:5By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.
- Psalms 49:15But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself.
- Acts 2:27because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay.
- 2 Corinthians 4:14because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself.
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
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