Psalms 88:10

Authorized King James Version

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Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah.

Original Language Analysis

הֲלַמֵּתִ֥ים to the dead H4191
הֲלַמֵּתִ֥ים to the dead
Strong's: H4191
Word #: 1 of 8
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
תַּעֲשֶׂה Wilt thou shew H6213
תַּעֲשֶׂה Wilt thou shew
Strong's: H6213
Word #: 2 of 8
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
פֶּ֑לֶא wonders H6382
פֶּ֑לֶא wonders
Strong's: H6382
Word #: 3 of 8
a miracle
אִם H518
אִם
Strong's: H518
Word #: 4 of 8
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
רְ֝פָאִ֗ים shall the dead H7496
רְ֝פָאִ֗ים shall the dead
Strong's: H7496
Word #: 5 of 8
properly, lax, i.e., (figuratively) a ghost (as dead; in plural only)
יָק֤וּמוּ׀ arise H6965
יָק֤וּמוּ׀ arise
Strong's: H6965
Word #: 6 of 8
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
יוֹד֬וּךָ and praise H3034
יוֹד֬וּךָ and praise
Strong's: H3034
Word #: 7 of 8
physically, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands); intensively, to bemoan (by wringing the ha
סֶּֽלָה׃ thee Selah H5542
סֶּֽלָה׃ thee Selah
Strong's: H5542
Word #: 8 of 8
suspension (of music), i.e., pause

Analysis & Commentary

Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee?—The psalmist employs rhetorical questions to press God for intervention now, before death makes it too late. The Hebrew "wonders" (פֶּלֶא, pele) refers to God's miraculous acts of salvation—but what good are they for the dead? Shall the dead arise (רְפָאִים יָקוּמוּ, refaim yakumu)—The Rephaim were the shades, the weak, shadowy existence of the departed in Sheol, incapable of vigorous praise.

From the Old Testament perspective, death ended active worship. The psalmist essentially argues: "God, if You want praise, You must act while I live!" Yet the New Testament transforms this logic—Christ's resurrection demonstrated that God does show wonders to the dead, that the dead do arise to praise Him. What seemed impossible to Heman became reality in Christ, who "abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" (2 Timothy 1:10).

Historical Context

This verse reflects the shadowy Old Testament understanding of the afterlife before the full revelation of resurrection. While hints of resurrection appear (Job 19:25-27; Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2), the dominant Old Testament view saw Sheol as a place of silence and inactivity. Jesus' resurrection radically transformed this understanding.

Questions for Reflection