Psalm 89:48
New International Version
Who can live and not see death, or who can escape the power of the grave?

New Living Translation
No one can live forever; all will die. No one can escape the power of the grave. Interlude

English Standard Version
What man can live and never see death? Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah

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

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

New King James Version
What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave? Selah

New American Standard Bible
What man can live and not see death? Can he save his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah

NASB 1995
What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah.

NASB 1977
What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah.

Legacy Standard Bible
What man can live and not see death? Can he provide his soul escape from the power of Sheol? Selah.

Amplified Bible
What man can live and not see death? Can he rescue his soul from the [powerful] hand of Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead)? Selah.

Christian Standard Bible
What courageous person can live and never see death? Who can save himself from the power of Sheol? Selah

Holman Christian Standard Bible
What man can live and never see death? Who can save himself from the power of Sheol? Selah

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

Contemporary English Version
No one can escape the power of death and the grave.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Can a mortal go on living and never see death? Who can set himself free from the power of the grave? [Selah]

Good News Translation
Who can live and never die? How can we humans keep ourselves from the grave?

International Standard Version
What valiant man can live and not see death? Who can deliver himself from the power of Sheol. Interlude

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

NET Bible
No man can live on without experiencing death, or deliver his life from the power of Sheol. (Selah)

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

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

World English Bible
What man is he who shall live and not see death, who shall deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Who [is] the man that lives, and does not see death? He delivers his soul from the hand of Sheol. Selah.

Young's Literal Translation
Who is the man that liveth, and doth not see death? He delivereth his soul from the hand of Sheol. Selah.

Smith's Literal Translation
What man shall live and not see death? Shall he deliver his soul from the hand of hades? Silence.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Who is the man that shall live, and not see death: that shall deliver his soul from the hand of hell?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Who is the man that will live, and yet not see death? Who will rescue his own soul from the hand of the underworld?

New American Bible
What is man, that he should live and not see death? Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah VI

New Revised Standard Version
Who can live and never see death? Who can escape the power of Sheol? Selah
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Who is the man who lives and shall not see death? Shall he deliver his soul from the hand of Sheol?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Who is the man who will live and will not see death and will save his soul from the hand of Sheol?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
What man is he that liveth and shall not see death, That shall deliver his soul from the power of the grave? Selah

Brenton Septuagint Translation
What man is there who shall live, and not see death? shall any one deliver his soul from the hand of Hades? Pause.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
I Will Sing of His Love Forever
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?…

Cross References
Hebrews 9:27
Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment,

Ecclesiastes 3:20
All go to one place; all come from dust, and all return to dust.

Job 14:14
When a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, until my renewal comes.

1 Corinthians 15:22
For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

Romans 5:12
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned.

Ecclesiastes 12:7
before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

Genesis 3:19
By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground—because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”

1 Corinthians 15:26
The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

Job 7:1
“Is not man consigned to labor on earth? Are not his days like those of a hired hand?

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Samuel 14:14
For we will surely die and be like water poured out on the ground, which cannot be recovered. Yet God does not take away a life, but He devises ways that the banished one may not be cast out from Him.

James 4:14
You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

Job 14:1-2
“Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble. / Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.

1 Peter 1:24
For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,

Isaiah 40:6-8
A voice says, “Cry out!” And I asked, “What should I cry out?” “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field. / The grass withers and the flowers fall when the breath of the LORD blows on them; indeed, the people are grass. / The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”


Treasury of Scripture

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

what

Psalm 49:7-9
None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: …

Job 30:23
For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.

Ecclesiastes 3:19,20
For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity…

see death

John 8:51
Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

Hebrews 11:5
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

shall

Psalm 49:15
But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.

Acts 2:27
Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

2 Corinthians 4:14
Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

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Psalm 89
1. The psalmist praises God for his covenant
5. For his wonderful power
15. For the care of his church
19. For his favor to the kingdom of David
38. Then complaining of contrary events
46. He expostulates, prays, and blesses God.














What man can live and never see death?
This rhetorical question emphasizes the inevitability of death for all humanity, a theme consistent throughout Scripture. In Genesis 3:19, the curse of death is pronounced upon Adam and his descendants due to sin. Ecclesiastes 3:2 and Hebrews 9:27 affirm that there is a time to be born and a time to die, underscoring the universality of death. The question also highlights human mortality in contrast to God's eternal nature, as seen in Psalm 90:2. This phrase invites reflection on the transient nature of life and the need for divine intervention for eternal life, pointing towards the hope of resurrection found in 1 Corinthians 15:22.

Can he deliver his soul from the power of Sheol?
Sheol, in the Hebrew context, refers to the realm of the dead, a place of darkness and separation from the living. The question implies human inability to escape death's grip through personal effort or merit. This aligns with Job 14:14, where Job questions the possibility of life after death. The power of Sheol is a reminder of the consequences of sin, as described in Romans 6:23. However, the New Testament reveals that Jesus Christ has conquered death and Sheol, offering deliverance through His resurrection (Revelation 1:18). This deliverance is a central tenet of Christian faith, providing hope for eternal life through Christ.

Selah
The term "Selah" is often interpreted as a pause for contemplation or reflection, inviting the reader to meditate on the profound truths just expressed. It serves as a moment to consider the weight of human mortality and the hope of divine salvation. In the context of the Psalms, "Selah" encourages deeper engagement with the text, prompting believers to trust in God's promises and the assurance of life beyond death through faith in Jesus Christ.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ethan the Ezrahite
Traditionally attributed as the author of Psalm 89, Ethan was a wise man during the time of King Solomon. His psalm reflects on God's covenant with David and the apparent contradiction of current suffering.

2. Sheol
In Hebrew thought, Sheol is the realm of the dead, a place where souls go after death. It is often depicted as a shadowy existence, separate from the living.

3. Davidic Covenant
The promise God made to David, ensuring that his lineage would endure forever. Psalm 89 reflects on this covenant and the seeming contradiction of Israel's current struggles.
Teaching Points
The Inevitability of Death
Every human being faces the certainty of death. This reality should lead us to reflect on our lives and our relationship with God.

The Power of Sheol
Sheol represents the power of death, a force that no human can escape on their own. This highlights our need for a Savior who can deliver us from death.

Hope in Christ
While death is inevitable, Christians have hope in Jesus Christ, who conquered death and offers eternal life to those who believe in Him.

Reflecting on Mortality
Understanding our mortality should inspire us to live purposefully and align our lives with God's will, seeking His guidance and strength.

The Assurance of Salvation
Believers can find comfort in the assurance of salvation through Christ, who has delivered us from the power of Sheol and given us the promise of eternal life.(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 aequo pulsat pede pauperum tabernas,

Regumque turres."--HORACE, I. Od. iv.

The hand of the grave.--Rather, of the underworld, "hand" being used for "power."

Verse 48. - What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? Shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? An expansion of the first clause of ver. 47. Man's littleness, feebleness, and fleetingness should draw forth the pity and loving kindness of God.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
What
מִ֤י (mî)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

man
גֶ֣בֶר (ḡe·ḇer)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1397: A valiant man, warrior, a person simply

can live
יִֽ֭חְיֶה (yiḥ·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2421: To live, to revive

and never
וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

see
יִרְאֶה־ (yir·’eh-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

death?
מָּ֑וֶת (mā·weṯ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4194: Death, the dead, their place, state, pestilence, ruin

Can he deliver
יְמַלֵּ֨ט (yə·mal·lêṭ)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4422: To be smooth, to escape, to release, rescue, to bring forth young, emit sparks

his soul
נַפְשׁ֖וֹ (nap̄·šōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

from the power
מִיַּד־ (mî·yaḏ-)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3027: A hand

of Sheol?
שְׁא֣וֹל (šə·’ō·wl)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 7585: Underworld (place to which people descend at death)

Selah
סֶֽלָה׃ (se·lāh)
Interjection
Strong's 5542: Suspension, pause


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OT Poetry: Psalm 89:48 What man is he who shall live (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 89:47
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