Psalms 88:10

Translations

King James Version (KJV)

Will you show wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise you? Selah.

American King James Version (AKJV)

Will you show wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise you? Selah.

American Standard Version (ASV)

Wilt thou show wonders to the dead? Shall they that are decreased arise and praise thee? Selah

Basic English Translation (BBE)

Will you do works of wonder for the dead? will the shades come back to give you praise? (Selah.)

Webster's Revision

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

World English Bible

Do you show wonders to the dead? Do the dead rise up and praise you? Selah.

English Revised Version (ERV)

Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall they that are deceased arise and praise thee? Selah

Clarke's Psalms 88:10 Bible Commentary

Wilt thou show wonders to the dead! - מתים methim, dead men.

Shall the dead - רפאים rephaim, "the manes or departed spirits."

Arise and praise thee? - Any more in this life? The interrogations in this and the two following verses imply the strongest negations.

Barnes's Psalms 88:10 Bible Commentary

Wilt thou show wonders to the dead? - The wonders - or the things suited to excite admiration - which the living behold. Shall the dead see those things which here tend to excite reverence for thee, and which lead people to worship thee? The idea is that the dead will be cut off from all the privileges which attend the living on earth; or, that those in the grave cannot contemplate the character and the greatness of God. He urges this as a reason why he should be rescued. The sentiment here is substantially the same as in Psalm 6:5. See the notes at that passage. Compare Isaiah 38:18.

Shall the dead arise and praise thee? - The original word, here rendered "the dead," is Rephaim - רפאים rephâ'iym. On its meaning, see the notes at Isaiah 14:9. It means, properly, relaxed, languid, feeble, weak; and is then applied to the dead - the shades - the Manes - dwelling in the under-world in Sheol, or Hades, and supposed to be as shades or shadows, weak and feeble. The question here is not whether they would rise to live again, or appear in this world, but whether in Sheol they would rise up from their resting places, and praise God as men in vigor and in health can on the earth. The question has no reference to the future resurrection. It relates to the supposed dark, dismal, gloomy, inactive state of the dead.

Wesley's Psalms 88:10 Bible Commentary

88:10 Wonders - In raising them to life. To praise thee - In this world?