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Psalm 88

Psa. 88:1 KJV (With Strong’s)

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1
<<A Song
shiyr (Hebrew #7892)
from 7891; a song; abstractly, singing
KJV usage: musical(-ick), X sing(-er, -ing), song.
Pronounce: sheer
Origin: or feminine shiyrah {shee-raw'}
or Psalm
mizmowr (Hebrew #4210)
properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notes
KJV usage: psalm.
Pronounce: miz-more'
Origin: from 2167
σfor the sons
ben (Hebrew #1121)
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like 1, 251, etc.))
KJV usage: + afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to, (+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, + kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+) people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, + spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
Pronounce: bane
Origin: from {SI 11129}1129{/SI}
of Korah
Qorach (Hebrew #7141)
ice; Korach, the name of two Edomites and three Israelites
KJV usage: Korah.
Pronounce: ko'rakh
Origin: from 7139
, to the chief Musician
natsach (Hebrew #5329)
properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); also (as denominative from 5331), to be permanent
KJV usage: excel, chief musician (singer), oversee(-r), set forward.
Pronounce: naw-tsakh'
Origin: a primitive root
upon Mahalath
machalath (Hebrew #4257)
sickness; Machalath, probably the title (initial word) of a popular song
KJV usage: Mahalath.
Pronounce: makh-al-ath'
Origin: from 2470
Leannoth
`anah (Hebrew #6031)
to depress literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive (in various applications, as follows)
KJV usage: abase self, afflict(-ion, self), answer (by mistake for 6030{/SI}}}6030{/SI}}/SI}}6030}6030{/SI}{/SI}), chasten self, deal hardly with, defile, exercise, force, gentleness, humble (self), hurt, ravish, sing (by mistake for 6030{/SI}}}6030{/SI}}/SI}}6030}6030{/SI}{/SI}), speak (by mistake for 6030{/SI}}}6030{/SI}}/SI}}6030}6030{/SI}{/SI}), submit self, weaken, X in any wise.
Pronounce: aw-naw'
Origin: a primitive root (possibly rather ident. with 6030{/SI}}}6030{/SI}}/SI}}6030}6030{/SI}{/SI} through the idea of looking down or browbeating)
, γMaschil
maskiyl (Hebrew #4905)
instructive, i.e. a didactic poem
KJV usage: Maschil.
Pronounce: mas-keel'
Origin: from 7919
of Heman
Heyman (Hebrew #1968)
faithful; Heman, the name of at least two Israelites
KJV usage: Heman.
Pronounce: hay-mawn'
Origin: probably from 539
a the Ezrahite
'Ezrachiy (Hebrew #250)
an Ezrachite or descendant of Zerach
KJV usage: Ezrahite.
Pronounce: ez-raw-khee'
Origin: patronymic from 2246
.>> O Lord
Yhovah (Hebrew #3068)
(the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
KJV usage: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
Pronounce: yeh-ho-vaw'
Origin: from 1961
God
'elohiym (Hebrew #430)
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
KJV usage: angels, X exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty.
Pronounce: el-o-heem'
Origin: plural of 433
of my salvation
yshuw`ah (Hebrew #3444)
something saved, i.e. (abstractly) deliverance; hence, aid, victory, prosperity
KJV usage: deliverance, health, help(-ing), salvation, save, saving (health), welfare.
Pronounce: yesh-oo'-aw
Origin: feminine passive participle of 3467
, Ic have cried
tsa`aq (Hebrew #6817)
to shriek; (by implication) to proclaim (an assembly)
KJV usage: X at all, call together, cry (out), gather (selves) (together).
Pronounce: tsaw-ak'
Origin: a primitive root
day
yowm (Hebrew #3117)
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
KJV usage: age, + always, + chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), + elder, X end, + evening, + (for) ever(-lasting, -more), X full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, + old, + outlived, + perpetually, presently, + remaineth, X required, season, X since, space, then, (process of) time, + as at other times, + in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), X whole (+ age), (full) year(-ly), + younger.
Pronounce: yome
Origin: from an unused root meaning to be hot
and night
layil (Hebrew #3915)
also laylah {lah'- yel-aw}; from the same as 3883; properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity
KJV usage: ((mid-))night (season).
Pronounce: lah'-yil
Origin: or (Isa. 21:11) leyl {lale}
before thee:
σ
or, of.
γ
or, A Psalm of Heman the Ezrahite, giving instruction.
a
1 Kings 4:31• 31For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about. (1 Kings 4:31)
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Luke 18:7• 7And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? (Luke 18:7)

More on:

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Day,
Ezrahite,
God,
Heman,
Korah,
Leannoth,
Mahalath Leannoth; Mahalathleannoth,
Maschil,
Music; Musicians; Musical Instruments,
Night,
Psalms,
Salvation,
Songs

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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1-18:  A prayer containing a grievous complaint.
A.M. cir. 2473.
B.C. cir. 1531.
(Title.)
for.
or, of.Mahalath.
Psa. 53:1• 1<<To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David.>> The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good. (Psa. 53:1)
;
Psa. 53•  (Psa. 53)
:*title
Maschil, etc.
or, A Psalm of Heman the Ezrahite, givinginstruction. Supposed to have been written by Heman, son of Zerah, and grandson of Judah, on the oppression of the Hebrews in Egypt.Heman.
1 Kings 4:31• 31For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about. (1 Kings 4:31)
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1 Chron. 2:6• 6And the sons of Zerah; Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara: five of them in all. (1 Chron. 2:6)
Lord.
Psa. 27:1,9• 1<<A Psalm of David.>> The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
 9Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. (Psa. 27:1,9)
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Psa. 51:14• 14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. (Psa. 51:14)
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Psa. 62:7• 7In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. (Psa. 62:7)
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Psa. 65:5• 5By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea: (Psa. 65:5)
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Psa. 68:19• 19Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. (Psa. 68:19)
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Psa. 79:9• 9Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake. (Psa. 79:9)
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Psa. 140:7• 7O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. (Psa. 140:7)
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Gen. 49:18• 18I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord. (Gen. 49:18)
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Isa. 12:2• 2Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. (Isa. 12:2)
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Luke 1:47• 47And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. (Luke 1:47)
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Luke 2:30• 30For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, (Luke 2:30)
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Titus 2:10,13• 10Not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (Titus 2:10,13)
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Titus 3:4‑7• 4But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
 5Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
 6Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
 7That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4‑7)
I have.
Psa. 22:2• 2O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. (Psa. 22:2)
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Psa. 86:3• 3Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. (Psa. 86:3)
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Neh. 1:6• 6Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned. (Neh. 1:6)
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Isa. 62:6• 6I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence, (Isa. 62:6)
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Luke 2:37• 37And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. (Luke 2:37)
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Luke 18:7• 7And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? (Luke 18:7)
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1 Thess. 3:10• 10Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith? (1 Thess. 3:10)
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2 Tim. 1:3• 3I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; (2 Tim. 1:3)
• Book 3. Series 2. Appendix Psalm. (““The Placement of the Psalms in Prophecy”” by B. Anstey)
• God is known and looked to according to His revealed name as the only Savior, and it is just to this point that the soul is brought by the exercises spoken of in the psalm; cast by the pressure of all around to find it comes from God's hand, and more yet, God's judgment so as to be therein a pure and sovereign salvation from Him. Jehovah, God of my salvation, governs the psalm. (“Practical Reflections on the Psalms: Psalms 88-89” by J.N. Darby)
• The psalm depicts the deep distress of a godly soul who is learning in his conscience the reality and horror of God’s wrath against sin, and a broken law. (“Psalms 88” by H. Smith)
• (vv. 1-7) The godly man realizes that salvation is alone found with God. Thus he addresses Jehovah as the God of his salvation. Nevertheless, the soul is in deep distress that leads it to cry to God day and night. (“Psalms 88” by H. Smith)
• This psalm begins the final series of this book. It brings us to the lowest point in the third book, beginning with night and ending in darkness. There is no light or deliverance in it for the remnant. Psalm 88 describes the hour of the Jew’s greatest calamity; when the armies of the King of the North and his Arab confederacy invade and desolate the land. (“Book 3.” by B. Anstey)

J. N. Darby Translation

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A Song, a Psalm for the sons of Korah. To the chief Musician. Upon Mahalath Leannothe. An instruction. Of Heman the Ezrahite. Jehovah, God of my salvation, I have cried by day and in the night before thee.

JND Translation Notes

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The meaning of Mahalath is uncertain, see Ps. 53. Leannoth may mean "for subdued singing."