Psalms 44:24 — Word Study
WLCלָֽמָּה־ פָנֶ֥יךָ תַסְתִּ֑יר תִּשְׁכַּ֖ח עָנְיֵ֣נוּ וְֽלַחֲצֵֽנוּ׃
BSAWhymâh [for what reason, on what account]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לָֽמָּה־ | why? | Preposition, pronoun |
| פָנֶ֥יךָ | face your | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| תַסְתִּ֑יר | do you hide | Verb, Hiphil, imperfect second person masculine singular |
| תִּשְׁכַּ֖ח | do you forget? | Verb, Qal, imperfect second person masculine singular |
| עָנְיֵ֣נוּ | affliction our | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| וְֽלַחֲצֵֽנוּ׃ | and oppression our | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Why do You hide Your face and forget our affliction and oppression? |
| KJV | Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression? |
| ASV | Wherefore hidest thou thy face, And forgettest our affliction and our oppression? |
| YLT | Why Thy face hidest Thou? Thou forgettest our afflictions and our oppression, |
| WEB | Why do you hide your face, and forget our affliction and our oppression? |
| BBE | Why is your face covered, and why do you give no thought to our trouble and our cruel fate? |
The translations agree on the general meaning of the verse, focusing on the themes of hiding and forgetting.
The sentence has a main clause followed by a subordinate clause, emphasizing the psalmist's urgent questions.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbיָשֵׁן
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 44:24
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — A Cry for Helpgenerated
Psalm 44:24 captures a moment of deep anguish where the psalmist feels abandoned by God. The verses surrounding this inquiry express a yearning for divine intervention, highlighting the emotional turmoil faced by the community in times of distress. This lament reflects a common theme in the Psalms, where the faithful cry out for God's presence during suffering, as seen in other passages like Psalm 10:1 and Psalm 13:1.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 10:1–11 | Why, O LORD, do You stand far off? Why do You hide in times of trouble? |
| 2 | Psalm 13:1 | How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? |
| 3 | Psalm 43:1–4 | Vindicate me, O God, and plead my case against an ungodly nation; deliver me from deceitful and unjust men. |
| 4 | Deuteronomy 32:20 | He said: “I will hide My face from them; I will see what will be their end. For they are a perverse generation— children of unfaithfulness. |
| 5 | Job 13:24 | Why do You hide Your face and consider me as Your enemy? |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — תַסְתִּ֑יר, tas.Tirgenerated
The verb תַסְתִּ֑יר (tas.Tir) is a Hiphil form meaning 'to hide' or 'to conceal'. It indicates an action taken to cover or keep something secret. The second person masculine singular form shows that the psalmist directly addresses God, pleading for clarity and presence.
This word is often used in contexts where something is deliberately concealed, suggesting a sense of abandonment or distance in the relationship between the psalmist and God. The emotional weight of this request underscores the psalmist's desperation for God's attention and help.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verbs תַסְתִּ֑יר (do you hide) and תִּשְׁכַּ֖ח (do you forget?) govern the main clauses of the verse, creating a direct appeal to God. The structure emphasizes the psalmist's urgent questions, reflecting a deep emotional state.
The order of the phrases places the focus on the actions of hiding and forgetting, which are central to the psalmist's lament. The use of direct address to God heightens the sense of intimacy and urgency in the plea.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew תַסְתִּ֑יר is rendered as ὑπνοῖς (hypnois), which suggests a state of sleep or inactivity. This choice may imply a perception of God’s inaction in the face of suffering, highlighting the psalmist's feelings of abandonment.
This translation choice narrows the focus from a simple act of hiding to a more profound sense of God being unresponsive, which adds a layer of emotional depth to the lament.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 44:24 expresses a heartfelt question to God about why He seems to hide and forget the suffering of His people. The psalmist feels abandoned and is pleading for God's attention during a time of distress, similar to other psalms that voice similar feelings.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
This question reflects a deep longing for God's presence and a feeling of abandonment during suffering, common in the Psalms.
Affliction refers to the suffering and distress experienced by the psalmist and the community, highlighting their hardships.
The psalmist feels forgotten due to the perceived silence and absence of God in their time of need, a theme often explored in lament psalms.
This verse mirrors other lament psalms that express feelings of abandonment and a cry for help, emphasizing the struggle of faith during difficult times.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I felt God's presence during difficult times, and how can I remember those moments?
- How can I express my feelings of abandonment to God in prayer, as the psalmist does?
- What does it mean to me when I feel that God is hiding His face?
- How can I support others who feel forgotten or oppressed, reflecting God's love and attention?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers have commented on this verse, reflecting on the nature of God's presence and the human experience of suffering.
We cannot see God’s face. But there is a place where, by faith, God shows himself to us. The place is with God; and if we were to stand on the rock—that is,Early Church Fathers on Psalms 44 →
"Wherefore hidest Thou Your face:" as if You were not present; as if you had forgotten us? "And forgettest our misery and trouble?" [Psalms 44:24].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 44 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 44:24 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleWherefore hidest thou thy face?.... See Psalms 10:1; [and] forgettest our affliction and our oppression.
Read John Gill on Psalms 44 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryWherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression? No JFB commentary on this verse.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 44 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleHidest thou thy face, i.e. dost not regard our miseries, nor affordest us any pity or help. Forgettest our affliction and our oppression, when we have not forgotten thee. This seems not well to become thy faithfulness and goodness.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 44 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 44:24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, [and] forgettest our affliction and our oppression?Ver. 24. Wherefore hidest thou thy face?] God sometimes concealeth his love, as Joseph did, out of increasement of love; he retireth, but faith fetcheth him out, as the woman of Canaan did, Mark 7:24-25.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 44 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 24. Wherefore hidest thou thy face] Show us the cause why thou withdrawest from us the testimony of thy approbation.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 44 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges24. hidest thou thy face] In anger or indifference, instead of shewing the light of Thy countenance in gracious help to Thy people (Psalms 44:3; Psalms 80:3). our affliction and our oppression] Cp. Deuteronomy 26:7; Exodus 3:7; Exodus 3:9; 2 Kings 13:4; 2 Kings 14:26. The latter word occurs elsewhere in the Psalter only in Psalms 42:9, Psalms 43:2.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 44 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleWherefore hidest thou thy face? - See the notes at Psalms 13:1. Why dost thou turn away from us, and refuse to aid us, and leave us to these unpitied sufferings?
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 44 →The verse in English, compared — 16 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Why do You hide Your face and forget our affliction and oppression?
Why do you hide your face, and forget our affliction and our oppression?
Why do You hide Your face and forget our affliction and oppression?
Why do you look the other way, and ignore the way we are oppressed and mistreated?
Tyndale line
Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?
Wherefore hidest thou thy face, And forgettest our affliction and our oppression?
Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?
Why hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?
Wherefore hidest thou thy face? and forgettest our miserie and our affliction?
Strictly literal
Wherefore hidest thou thy face, [and] forgettest our affliction and our oppression?
Why Thy face hidest Thou? Thou forgettest our afflictions and our oppression,
Why do You hide Your face? You forget our afflictions and our oppression,
(44:25) Wherefore wilt thou hide thy face, wilt thou forget our misery, and our oppression?
Why do you hide your face and forget our affliction and our oppression?
Simplified
Why do you look away from us and take no notice of our suffering and misery?
Why is your face covered, and why do you give no thought to our trouble and our cruel fate?
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text presents the verse as it is, while the Septuagint aligns closely with it, differing only in the rendering of the verbs. The Dead Sea Scrolls show partial restoration, indicating that the core of the text remains consistent across these witnesses, though some words are missing.
לָֽמָּה־ פָנֶ֥יךָ תַסְתִּ֑יר תִּשְׁכַּ֖ח עָנְיֵ֣נוּ וְֽלַחֲצֵֽנוּ׃
5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[עור׳ה] [למה] [תישן] [אדני] הקיצ׳ה אל [תזנח] לנצח
1 word on the leather — 2 partly restored, 5 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 44:24
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
מָה (mah) is a Hebrew word primarily used as an interrogative particle meaning 'what?' or 'how?'. It can also function as an indefinite pronoun, encompassing meanings like 'anything' or 'whatever'. The word is versatile, appearing in various adverbial forms and often used with prefixes to express different nuances, such as reason or manner.
מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַהּ, מֶה, מַּ, מָ—pron.interrog. and indef. what? how? aught
interrog. what?
Used adverbially
Indef. pron.
With preps.
base
H4100 מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַהּ, מֶה, מַּ, מָ—pron. interrog. and indef. what? how? aught . interrog. what?
. Used adverbially
. Indef. pron.
. With preps.
4100 mah maw
or mah {mah}; or ma {maw}; or ma {mah}; also meh {meh}; a
primitive particle; properly, interrogative what? (including
how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including
how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even
relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various
adverbial or conjunctive senses:--how (long, oft, (-
soever)), (no-)thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing),
whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.
מָה (mah) — what?.
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
Prep | Part — Preposition · pronounHR/Pi
The Hebrew word פָּנֶה (*pāneh*) is a noun meaning 'face' or 'presence,' and it appears in various contexts, including the faces of seraphim and animals, as well as the surface of the ground. It can also function as an adverb meaning 'before' or 'in front of.' The word is built from a root that suggests turning or facing, and it encompasses a wide range of applications, both literal and figurative.
[פָּנֶה], pl. פָּנִים 2123 n.m. face, also faces
face, faces
presence, person
technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence
face of seraphim
face of animals
face (= surface) of ground
as adv.loc. before
for other phrases
with prepositions
base
H6440 פָּנֶה, pl. פָּנִים face, also faces . . face, faces
. . presence, person
. technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence
. face of seraphim
. face of animals
. face (= surface) of ground
. as adv. loc. before
. for other phrases
. with prepositions
6440 paniym paw-neem'
plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun (paneh
{paw-neh'}; from 6437); the face (as the part that turns);
used in a great variety of applications (literally and
figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a
preposition (before, etc.):--+ accept, a-(be- )fore(-time),
against, anger, X as (long as), at, + battle, + because (of),
+ beseech, countenance, edge, + employ, endure, + enquire,
face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er
time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, X him(-self), +
honourable, + impudent, + in, it, look(-eth) (- s), X me, +
meet, X more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), X on,
open, + out of, over against, the partial, person, + please,
presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, + regard, right
forth, + serve, X shewbread, sight, state, straight, + street,
X thee, X them(-selves), through (+ - out), till, time(-s)
פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face: before.
: before/to/front
1) face
1a) face, faces
1b) presence, person
1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)
1d) face (of animals)
1e) face, surface (of ground)
1f) as adv of loc/temp
1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before
1g) with prep
1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of
פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face.
: face
1) face
1a) face, faces
1b) presence, person
1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)
1d) face (of animals)
1e) face, surface (of ground)
1f) as adv of loc/temp
1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before
1g) with prep
1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from…
HNcmpc/Sp2ms — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp2ms
סָתַר (sa.tar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to hide or conceal. It encompasses various forms, including hiding oneself, being hidden, and carefully concealing something or someone. The entries indicate its use in different grammatical aspects, such as the Niphal, Piel, Pual, Hiphil, and Hithpael stems. The Aramaic equivalent is noted as סְתַר.
סָתַר vb. hide, conceal
Niph.
hide oneself
be hid, concealed
Pi. Imv. carefully hide (i.e. shelter) the outcasts
Pu. Pt. love carefully concealed
Hithp. hide oneself carefully
Hiph. conceal, hide
base
H5641 סָתַר hide, conceal . . hide oneself
. be hid, concealed
. Imv. carefully hide (i.e. shelter) the outcasts
. Pt. love carefully concealed
. hide oneself carefully
. conceal, hide
5641 cathar saw-thar'
a primitive root; to hide (by covering), literally or
figuratively:--be absent, keep close, conceal, hide (self),
(keep) secret, X surely.
סָתַר (sa.tar) — to hide.
1) to hide, conceal
1a) (Niphal)
1a1) to hide oneself
1a2) to be hidden, be concealed
1b) (Piel) to hide carefully
1c) (Pual) to be hidden carefully, be concealed
1d) (Hiphil) to conceal, hide
1e) (Hithpael) to hide oneself carefully
Aramaic equivalent: se.tar (סְתַר "to hide" H5642A)
HVhi2ms — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect second person masculine singularHVhi2ms
The Hebrew word שָׁכַח (shakach) means 'to forget' and encompasses various nuances such as ignoring or ceasing to care. It can appear in different forms, including Qal (to forget), Niphal (to be forgotten), and Hiphil (to cause to forget). The entries highlight its primitive root nature and its usage in contexts where memory or attention is lacking.
שָׁכַח 102 vb. forget
Qal 86 forget
Niph. be forgotten
Pi. י׳ hath caused to forget
Hiph. to make my people forget my name
Hithp. they were forgotten in the city.
base
H7911 שָׁכַח forget
7911 shakach shaw-kakh'
or shakeach {shaw-kay'-akh}; a primitive root; to mislay,
i.e. to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention:--X
at all, (cause to) forget.
שָׁכַח (sha.khach) — to forget.
1) to forget, ignore, wither
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to forget
1a2) to cease to care
1b) (Niphal) to be forgotten
1c) (Piel) to cause to forget
1d) (Hiphil) to make or cause to forget
1e) (Hithpael) to be forgotten
Aramaic equivalent: she.khach (שְׁכַח "to find" H7912)
HVqi2ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine singularHVqi2ms
עֳנִי (oniy) refers to affliction, poverty, and misery. It is derived from the root word עָנָה (H6031), which relates to depression or trouble. The entries consistently emphasize its meanings related to suffering and hardship.
עֳנִי n.m. affliction, poverty
base
H6040 עֳנִי affliction, poverty
6040 `oniy on-ee'
from 6031; depression, i.e. misery: --afflicted(-ion),
trouble.
see HEBREW for 06031
עֳנִי (o.ni) — affliction.
1) affliction, poverty, misery
1a) affliction
1b) poverty
HNcmsc/Sp1bp — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp1bp
לַ֫חַץ (lachats) refers to oppression or distress, indicating a sense of pressure or affliction. It is derived from the root word לַחַץ (H3905), which also relates to distress. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning related to suffering or hardship.
לַ֫חַץ n.m. oppression, distress
base
H3906 לַ֫חַץ oppression, distress
3906 lachats lakh'-ats
from 3905; distress:--affliction, oppression.
see HEBREW for 03905
לַ֫חַץ (la.chats) — oppression.
oppression, distress, pressure
HC/Ncmsc/Sp1bp — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHC/Ncmsc/Sp1bp