The Meaning of Psalms 44:9 Explained

Psalms 44:9

KJV: But thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies.

YLT: In anger Thou hast cast off and causest us to blush, And goest not forth with our hosts.

Darby: But thou hast cast off, and put us to confusion, and dost not go forth with our armies;

ASV: But now thou hast cast us off, and brought us to dishonor, And goest not forth with our hosts.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But  thou hast cast off,  and put us to shame;  and goest not forth  with our armies. 

What does Psalms 44:9 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 44:9-26 - A Plea For Present Help
In Psalms 44:11 God's people are compared to sheep appointed for meat, which are sold by the shepherd for naught, so worthless are they. Before their savage foes sheep are defenseless and unresisting. Their bitter lot is aggravated by their fear lest the shepherd has forgotten them. The reference in Psalms 44:19 to jackals suggests the further picture of a harried and panting flock. It is hardly to be wondered at that God's tender mercies seemed withdrawn from his people!
But notice how the Apostle Paul uses these words in Romans 8:36. He does not complain of forsakenness, nor appeal for help. On the contrary, he declares that in all these things we are more than conquerors, and that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. This is the lesson of the New Testament-that we conquer when we are defeated; overcome when we are slain; are strongest when we are beaten to the dust; and ascend to the throne only when we fie in the grave where Jesus, our Master, lay! John 12:24; 2 Corinthians 13:3-4. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 44

1  The church, in memory of former favors
7  complains of her present evils
17  professing her integrity,
24  she fervently prays for helpfulness

What do the individual words in Psalms 44:9 mean?

But You have cast [us] off and put us to shame and not You do go out with our armies
אַף־ זָ֭נַחְתָּ וַתַּכְלִימֵ֑נוּ וְלֹא־ תֵ֝צֵ֗א בְּצִבְאוֹתֵֽינוּ

זָ֭נַחְתָּ  You  have  cast  [us]  off 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: זָנַח 
Sense: to cast off, reject, spurn.
וַתַּכְלִימֵ֑נוּ  and  put  us  to  shame 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, second person masculine singular, first person common plural
Root: כָּלַם  
Sense: to insult, shame, humiliate, blush, be ashamed, be put to shame, be reproached, be put to confusion, be humiliated.
וְלֹא־  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
תֵ֝צֵ֗א  You  do  go  out 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
בְּצִבְאוֹתֵֽינוּ  with  our  armies 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, common plural construct, first person common plural
Root: צָבָא 
Sense: that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host.