Psalms 89:48

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Psalms 89:48 in Multiple Translations

Berean Standard Bible BSB

What man can live and never see death? Can he deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah

King James Version KJV

What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.

American Standard Version ASV

What man is he that shall live and not see death, That shall deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? [Selah

Bible in Basic English BBE

What man now living will not see death? will he be able to keep back his soul from the underworld? (Selah.)

Free Bible Version FBV

There's no one who doesn't die—no one can save themselves from the power of the grave. Selah.

Geneva Bible 1599 GNV

What man liueth, and shall not see death? shall hee deliuer his soule from the hande of the graue? Selah.

Young's Literal Translation YLT

Who [is] the man that liveth, and doth not see death? He delivereth his soul from the hand of Sheol. Selah.

World English Bible WEB

What man is he who shall live and not see death, who shall deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah.

Noah Webster Bible WBS

What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.

Translation for Translators T4T

No one can [RHQ] keep on living and never die; ◄No one can [RHQ] avoid going/Everyone will go► to the place of the dead. (Think about that!)

Study Highlights

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Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 89:48

BAB

Word Study

Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.

Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.

Psalms 89:48 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB

HEB זְכָר אֲנִ֥י מֶה חָ֑לֶד עַל מַה שָּׁ֝֗וְא בָּרָ֥אתָ כָל בְּנֵי אָדָֽם

זְכָר zâkar H2142 to remember V-Qal-Impv-2ms

אֲנִ֥י ʼănîy H589 I Pron

מֶה mâh H4100 what? Part

חָ֑לֶד cheled H2465 lifetime/world N-ms

עַל ʻal H5921 upon Prep

מַה mâh H4100 what? Part

שָּׁ֝֗וְא shâvᵉʼ H7723 vanity N-ms

בָּרָ֥אתָ bârâʼ H1254 to create V-Qal-Perf-2ms

כָל kôl H3605 all N-ms

בְּנֵי bên H1121 son N-mp

אָדָֽם ʼâdâm H120 the man (Adam) N-ms

Hebrew Word Study

Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.

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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 89:48

זְכָר zâkar H2142 "to remember" V-Qal-Impv-2ms

To remember means to recall or mark something, like God remembering his covenant with Abraham in Genesis 9:1 and Exodus 2:24.

Definition: 1) to remember, recall, call to mind 1a) (Qal) to remember, recall 1b) (Niphal) to be brought to remembrance, be remembered, be thought of, be brought to mind 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to cause to remember, remind 1c2) to cause to be remembered, keep in remembrance 1c3) to mention 1c4) to record 1c5) to make a memorial, make remembrance

Usage: Occurs in 223 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] burn (incense), [idiom] earnestly, be male, (make) mention (of), be mindful, recount, record(-er), remember, make to be remembered, bring (call, come, keep, put) to (in) remembrance, [idiom] still, think on, [idiom] well. See also: Genesis 8:1; Psalms 74:2; Psalms 8:5.

אֲנִ֥י ʼănîy H589 "I" Pron

This Hebrew word is a simple way of saying 'I' or 'me', often used for emphasis. It is used by people like David in the Psalms to express their thoughts and feelings. The word is a basic part of the Hebrew language.

Definition: I (first pers. sing. -usually used for emphasis)

Usage: Occurs in 803 OT verses. KJV: I, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, [idiom] which, [idiom] who. See also: Genesis 6:17; Leviticus 19:36; 1 Samuel 25:24.

מֶה mâh H4100 "what?" Part

This Hebrew word means what or how, often used to ask questions or express surprise, like in Genesis when God asks Adam what he has done. It can also mean why or when, and is used in various ways throughout the Old Testament. It appears in many KJV translations, including how or what.

Definition: interr pron 1) what, how, of what kind 1a) (interrogative) 1a1) what? 1a2) of what kind 1a3) what? (rhetorical) 1a4) whatsoever, whatever, what 1b) (adverb) 1b1) how, how now 1b2) why 1b3) how! (exclamation) 1c) (with prep) 1c1) wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means? 1c2) because of what? 1c3) the like of what? 1c3a) how much?, how many?, how often? 1c3b) for how long? 1c4) for what reason?, why?, to what purpose? 1c5) until when?, how long?, upon what?, wherefore? indef pron 2) anything, aught, what may

Usage: Occurs in 655 OT verses. KJV: how (long, oft, (-soever)), (no-) thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing), whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why. See also: Genesis 2:19; Numbers 21:5; 1 Samuel 19:5.

חָ֑לֶד cheled H2465 "lifetime/world" N-ms

This word refers to a lifetime or the world as a temporary and fleeting thing, used to describe the shortness of life.

Definition: age, duration of life, the world

Usage: Occurs in 5 OT verses. KJV: age, short time, world. See also: Job 11:17; Psalms 39:6; Psalms 17:14.

עַל ʻal H5921 "upon" Prep

This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.

Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)

Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.

מַה mâh H4100 "what?" Part

שָּׁ֝֗וְא shâvᵉʼ H7723 "vanity" N-ms

Vanity or falsehood, this word describes something empty, useless, or deceitful, like the idols worshipped by the Israelites in Isaiah 41:29, or the lies and false promises spoken by false prophets in Jeremiah 23:25.

Definition: : false 1) emptiness, vanity, falsehood 1a) emptiness, nothingness, vanity 1b) emptiness of speech, lying 1c) worthlessness (of conduct) Also means: shav (שָׁוְא ": vain" H7723H)

Usage: Occurs in 48 OT verses. KJV: false(-ly), lie, lying, vain, vanity. See also: Exodus 20:7; Isaiah 1:13; Psalms 12:3.

בָּרָ֥אתָ bârâʼ H1254 "to create" V-Qal-Perf-2ms

This verb means to create or make something, often used to describe God's creative power. It can also mean to choose or select something. The Bible uses it to describe God's creation of the world.

Definition: 1) to create, shape, form 1a) (Qal) to shape, fashion, create (always with God as subject) 1a1) of heaven and earth 1a2) of individual man 1a3) of new conditions and circumstances 1a4) of transformations 1b) (Niphal) to be created 1b1) of heaven and earth 1b2) of birth 1b3) of something new 1b4) of miracles 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to cut down 1c2) to cut out

Usage: Occurs in 46 OT verses. KJV: choose, create (creator), cut down, dispatch, do, make (fat). See also: Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 40:28; Psalms 51:12.

כָל kôl H3605 "all" N-ms

The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.

Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.

בְּנֵי bên H1121 "son" N-mp

In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.

Definition: : child/son

Usage: Occurs in 3653 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. See also: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 23:3; Genesis 34:18.

אָדָֽם ʼâdâm H120 "the man (Adam)" N-ms

Adam was the first human, created by God and mentioned in Genesis 2:19, who married Eve and had sons including Cain, Abel, and Seth.

Definition: The first named man living at the time before the Flood, first mentioned at Gen.2.19; married to Eve (H2332); father of: Cain (H7014B), Abel (H1893) and Seth (H8352); also translated "man" at Gen.2.19,21,23; 3.8,9,20; 5.2; "mankind" at Deu.32.8; "others" at Job.31.33; Another spelling of a.dam (אָדָם "Adam" H0121) man, human being

Usage: Occurs in 526 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] another, [phrase] hypocrite, [phrase] common sort, [idiom] low, man (mean, of low degree), person. See also: Genesis 1:26; Judges 18:7; Psalms 8:5.

Study Notes — Psalms 89:48

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Context
Cross References
Psalms 89:48 Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
Reflection Questions
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 89:48
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 89:48
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 89:48
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 89:48
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 89:48
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 89:48
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 89:48
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 89:48
Sermons on Psalms 89:48

Context — I Will Sing of His Love Forever

46How long, O LORD? Will You hide Yourself forever? Will Your wrath keep burning like fire? 47Remember the briefness of my lifespan! For what futility You have created all men!

48What man can live and never see death? Can he deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah

49Where, O Lord, is Your loving devotion of old, which You faithfully swore to David? 50Remember, O Lord, the reproach of Your servants, which I bear in my heart from so many people—

Cross References

	Reference	Text (BSB)
1	Psalms 49:15	But God will redeem my life from Sheol, for He will surely take me to Himself. Selah
2	Hebrews 11:5	By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.
3	Ecclesiastes 9:5	For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, because the memory of them is forgotten.
4	Psalms 49:7–9	No man can possibly redeem his brother or pay his ransom to God. For the redemption of his soul is costly, and never can payment suffice, that he should live on forever and not see decay.
5	Ecclesiastes 12:7	before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
6	Ecclesiastes 8:8	As no man has power over the wind to contain it, so no one has authority over his day of death. As no one can be discharged in wartime, so wickedness will not release those who practice it.
7	Job 30:23	Yes, I know that You will bring me down to death, to the place appointed for all the living.
8	John 8:51	Truly, truly, I tell you, if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death.”
9	Acts 2:27	because You will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay.
10	Psalms 22:29	All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before Him— even those unable to preserve their lives.

Psalms 89:48 Summary

[Psalms 89:48 asks a profound question about human existence: Can anyone avoid death? The answer, based on the Bible, is no, as seen in Hebrews 9:27, which states that it is appointed for men to die once. This reality should prompt us to think about our lives and how we are living them, remembering that our time is limited, as Psalms 90:12 reminds us to number our days and live wisely.]

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the power of Sheol mentioned in Psalms 89:48?

The power of Sheol refers to the grave or the place of the dead, as seen in Psalms 9:13, where it is described as a place that holds the souls of the deceased, emphasizing the inevitability of death for all humans.

Is it possible for humans to avoid death according to Psalms 89:48?

According to this verse, it is not possible for humans to avoid death, as it states 'What man can live and never see death?', highlighting the universal reality of mortality, a theme also found in Hebrews 9:27.

What is the significance of the word 'Selah' at the end of Psalms 89:48?

The word 'Selah' is a Hebrew term that means 'pause' or 'rest', indicating a moment for reflection or contemplation, inviting the reader to ponder the profound question about mortality and the power of death, much like in Psalms 3:2 where it prompts a pause after a declaration of trust in God.

How does Psalms 89:48 relate to the broader theme of human existence?

This verse underscores the transient nature of human life, as also expressed in Psalms 90:12, reminding us to number our days and live wisely, recognizing that our time on earth is short and that we will all face death, emphasizing the need to seek eternal life through faith in God, as taught in John 11:25-26.

Reflection Questions

What does the inevitability of death, as mentioned in Psalms 89:48, teach us about the importance of living each day for God?
How can reflecting on our own mortality, as prompted by this verse, help us prioritize our lives and focus on what truly matters?
In what ways can the reality of death and the power of Sheol motivate us to seek a deeper relationship with God and to live according to His will?
What comfort or hope can be found in Scripture, such as in John 14:1-4, for those who fear death or are grieving the loss of a loved one?

Gill's Exposition on Psalms 89:48

What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death?.... Every living man must die; as sure as a man lives, so sure he shall die: be he strong and mighty, as the word signifies, or weak and sickly;

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 89:48

How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire?

Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 89:48

All men at their best estate are mortal and miserable, kings and people must unavoidably die by the condition of their natures; and therefore, Lord, do not increase our affliction, which of itself is more than enough; neither proceed in these violent courses upon us, who, without such severity, must perish of and from ourselves.

Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 89:48

Psalms 89:48 What man [is he that] liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.Ver. 48. What man is he that liveth, &c.] q.d. Since die we must, let us live while we may, to some good purpose. Selah] q.d. Mark it, and meditate well and oft on this savoury subject.

Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 89:48

(48) What man.—Rather, What hero, or champion, or great man. The word is used of a king (Jeremiah 22:30; comp. Isaiah 22:17). The verse repeats a common poetic theme:— “Pallida mors æquo pulsat pede pauperum tabernas, Regumque turres.”—HORACE, I. Od. iv.The hand of the grave.—Rather, of the underworld, “hand” being used for “power.”

Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 89:48

Verse 48. What man is he that liveth] All men are mortal, and death is uncertain and no man, by wisdom, might, or riches, can deliver his life from the hand-the power, of death and the grave.

Cambridge Bible on Psalms 89:48

48. What man is he that shall live on, and not see death, That shall deliver his soul from the hand of Sheol? The word for man is gĕ ?bĕ ?r, ‘strong man,’ as distinguished from women, children, and non-combatants, as much as to say, What man is so strong that he shall live on and escape the iron grasp of Death? “There is no armour against fate, Death lays his icy hand on kings.”

Barnes' Notes on Psalms 89:48

What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? - Shall not die - to see death being an expression often used to denote death itself.

Sermons on Psalms 89:48

	Sermon	Description
	Until My Change Comes by Thomas Watson	Thomas Watson preaches on the importance of understanding the brevity and challenges of life, likening it to a day with its shortness, vicissitudes, labor, and irreversibility, urg
	Life or Death (Daniel Kauffman’s Funeral Message by Roman Kauffman	Roman Kauffman preaches about the sobering reality of death and the importance of being prepared for our appointed time to face God's judgment. He emphasizes that just as Daniel ha
	A Jewel Worth More Than Heaven! by Thomas Brooks	Thomas Brooks emphasizes the paramount importance of guarding one's soul, which he describes as a jewel worth more than heaven. He warns against the dangers of vanity and materiali
	God Is a Rewarder by David Wilkerson	In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of walking with God and giving Him our whole heart. He challenges the audience to examine their lives and see if they truly l
	(Genesis) Genesis 6:8-12 by J. Vernon McGee	In this sermon, the preacher discusses the importance of man's promise of a Redeemer and the need for humanity to look for a Savior. The story of Cain and Abel is used as an exampl
	(Genesis #7) Enoch Walked With God by J. Glyn Owen	In this sermon, the preacher discusses the transformative power of walking with God. He uses the example of Zacchaeus, who was changed after spending just an hour with Jesus. The p
	Christ in Genesis: Enoch's Heaven by Stephen Kaung	In this sermon, the preacher discusses the concept of the end times and the imminent judgment that will come upon the earth. He emphasizes the need for believers to live differentl