The Meaning of Psalms 44:17 Explained

Psalms 44:17

KJV: All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.

YLT: All this met us, and we did not forget Thee, Nor have we dealt falsely in Thy covenant.

Darby: All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely against thy covenant:

ASV: All this is come upon us; Yet have we not forgotten thee, Neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

All this is come  upon us; yet have we not forgotten  thee, neither have we dealt falsely  in thy covenant. 

What does Psalms 44:17 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 It is hardly to be wondered at that God's tender mercies seemed withdrawn from his people!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 44:17 mean?

All this has come upon us but not we have forgotten You nor have we dealt falsely with Your covenant
כָּל־ זֹ֣את בָּ֭אַתְנוּ וְלֹ֣א שְׁכַחֲנ֑וּךָ וְלֹֽא־ שִׁ֝קַּ֗רְנוּ בִּבְרִיתֶֽךָ

זֹ֣את  this 
Parse: Pronoun, feminine singular
Root: זׄאת  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, such.
בָּ֭אַתְנוּ  has  come  upon  us 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular, first person common plural
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
וְלֹ֣א  but  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
שְׁכַחֲנ֑וּךָ  we  have  forgotten  You 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common plural, second person masculine singular
Root: כָּשַׁח 
Sense: to forget, ignore, wither.
וְלֹֽא־  nor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
שִׁ֝קַּ֗רְנוּ  have  we  dealt  falsely 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, first person common plural
Root: שָׁקַר  
Sense: to do or deal falsely, be false, trick, cheat.
בִּבְרִיתֶֽךָ  with  Your  covenant 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: בְּרִית  
Sense: covenant, alliance, pledge.