What does Psalms 88:9 mean?
"Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee." - Psalms 88:9
Psalms 88:9 in the King James Version of the Bible reads: "Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee."
This verse is part of Psalm 88, a lamentation attributed to Heman the Ezrahite. The psalm is a cry of anguish and despair, expressing the depths of the author's suffering and the apparent absence of God. It is one of the most somber and desolate passages in the book of Psalms.
The verse itself begins with the speaker's acknowledgement of their own affliction. The phrase "mine eye mourneth" suggests a deep personal sorrow and grief that is visible to others. This lamentation is not just internal, but it is outwardly expressed and made evident through the speaker's eyes. This may indicate that the suffering has taken a physical toll on the individual, causing them to visibly grieve.
The second part of the verse, "LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee," conveys a plea for help and a desperate cry for divine intervention. The speaker is reaching out to God, beseeching Him for relief and deliverance from their affliction. The act of stretching out one's hands is a physical display of supplication, a gesture of earnestly seeking help and mercy from the Lord.
The verse captures the raw emotion of the psalmist as they wrestle with their suffering and seek solace in God. The phrase "I have called daily upon thee" is indicative of the constancy and persistence of the psalmist's prayers. Despite their anguish and despair, they have not ceased to call upon the Lord. Their unwavering faith and reliance on God are evident in their continuous seeking of His aid.
The context of Psalm 88 is one of profound suffering and distress. The psalmist is facing great affliction and is overwhelmed by the weight of their troubles. They feel abandoned by both God and man, and their lamentation is a desperate plea for divine intervention. The overarching theme of the psalm is the agony of the human experience and the struggle to find hope and comfort in the midst of overwhelming despair.
The symbolic significance of the verse lies in its depiction of the human experience of suffering and the seeking of divine assistance. The speaker's visible grief reflects the physical and emotional toll of their affliction. Their continual calling upon the Lord and stretching out of their hands symbolize a fervent appeal for God's mercy and compassion.
Overall, Psalm 88:9 is a poignant expression of human suffering and the unwavering faith in God's ability to bring comfort and deliverance. It serves as a profound reminder of the reality of pain and anguish in the human experience, and the enduring hope for relief through faith in God.
Have questions about Psalms 88:9?
Dive deeper into this scripture with Bible Chat — an AI-powered tool for exploring God's Word through conversation. Ask questions, get context, and grow in your understanding of the Bible.
Get Our Apps
Psalms 88:9 Artwork
Psalms 88:9 - "Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee."
"Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee." - Psalms 88:9
Psalms 88:3 - "For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave."
Psalms 88:7 - "Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah."
"Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?" - Psalms 88:12
Psalms 88:12 - "Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?"
"Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps." - Psalms 88:6
Psalms 88:17 - "They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together."
Psalms 88:11 - "Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?"
Psalms 88:6 - "Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps."
Psalms 119:88 - "Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth."
Psalms 88:13 - "But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee."
"I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength:" - Psalms 88:4
"O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:" - Psalms 88:1
Psalms 88:10 - "Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah."
Psalms 88:18 - "Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness."
"Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness." - Psalms 88:18
Psalms 88:1 - "O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:"
Psalms 88:2 - "Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;"
Psalms 88:4 - "I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength:"
Psalms 88:5 - "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."
"Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah." - Psalms 88:10
Psalms 88:15 - "I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted."
"But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee." - Psalms 88:13
"Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah." - Psalms 88:7
"Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?" - Psalms 88:11
Psalms 88:8 - "Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth."
"O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:" - Psalms 88:1
"Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off." - Psalms 88:16
"Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;" - Psalms 88:2