Psalms 88:7
Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah.
Original Language Analysis
עָ֭לַי
H5921
עָ֭לַי
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
1 of 7
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
סָמְכָ֣ה
lieth hard
H5564
סָמְכָ֣ה
lieth hard
Strong's:
H5564
Word #:
2 of 7
to prop (literally or figuratively); reflexively, to lean upon or take hold of (in a favorable or unfavorable sense)
חֲמָתֶ֑ךָ
Thy wrath
H2534
חֲמָתֶ֑ךָ
Thy wrath
Strong's:
H2534
Word #:
3 of 7
heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever)
וְכָל
H3605
וְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
4 of 7
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
Cross References
Psalms 42:7Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.Job 6:4For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.1 Peter 2:24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Historical Context
The attribution to Heman "upon Mahalath Leannoth" may indicate a mournful tune for singing this lament. That Israel included this unresolved anguish in their hymnbook reveals mature faith—acknowledging that God sometimes permits crushing suffering without providing immediate explanation or relief, preparing the way for understanding the cross.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you reconcile God's love with experiences where His wrath seems to press down upon you?
- What does it mean that Christ bore the full weight of divine wrath in your place?
- Why is it important that Scripture validates feelings of being overwhelmed by "all" of God's waves rather than requiring false optimism?
Analysis & Commentary
Thy wrath lieth hard upon me (סָמְכָה עָלַי חֲמָתֶךָ, samkhah alay chamatekha)—The verb "lieth hard" means to press down, to lean heavily upon, suggesting crushing weight. Chemah (חֵמָה) denotes burning wrath, fierce anger. Unlike psalms that blame enemies or Satan, Heman identifies God Himself as the source of his affliction—a brutally honest theology that refuses to sanitize suffering by separating it from divine sovereignty.
Thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves (וְכָל־מִשְׁבָּרֶיךָ עִנִּיתָ, vekhol-mishbarekha inita)—The imagery shifts to drowning under relentless waves, each one sent by God. Mishbar means breaker, the crashing surf that overwhelms. The totality—"all thy waves"—suggests unrelenting assault. Jonah used similar language (Jonah 2:3), but his psalm moved to deliverance; Psalm 88 offers no such relief. This previews Christ in Gethsemane, crushed under the weight of divine wrath against sin, waves of judgment breaking over Him for our redemption.