They have surrounded me like water all day long; They have encircled me altogether.
Parallel translations
- WEB They came around me like water all day long. They completely engulfed me.
- KJV They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together.
- BSB All day long they engulf me like water; they enclose me on every side.
- NKJV They came around me all day long like water; They engulfed me altogether.
- NLT They swirl around me like floodwaters all day long. They have engulfed me completely.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
His troubles surround him like floodwaters all day, completely engulfing him. He is encompassed by sorrow on every side.
Overview
Heman pictures his afflictions as constant flooding waters that close in around him entirely. There is no respite from the encircling distress. The image of engulfing waters recalls the depths Christ entered, going through the floods of suffering to bring His people safely through.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Ps 22:16For dogs have surrounded me. A company of evildoers have enclosed me. They have pierced my hands and feet.
- Ps 116:3The cords of death surrounded me, the pains of Sheol got a hold of me. I found trouble and sorrow.
- Ps 69:1–2For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Lilies.” By David. Save me, God, for the waters have come up to my neck!
- Ps 42:7Deep calls to deep at the noise of your waterfalls. All your waves and your billows have swept over me.
- Ps 124:4then the waters would have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul;
- Ps 118:10–12All the nations surrounded me, but in Yahweh’s name, I cut them off.
- Lam 3:5–7He has built against me, and surrounded me with gall and travail.
- Job 30:14–15As through a wide breach they come, in the middle of the ruin they roll themselves in.
- Job 16:12–13I was at ease, and he broke me apart. Yes, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. He has also set me up for his target.
- Matt 27:39–44Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads,
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 88:17 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.