The Meaning of Psalms 88:12 Explained

Psalms 88:12

KJV: Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

YLT: Are Thy wonders known in the darkness? And Thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

Darby: Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

ASV: Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? And thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Shall thy wonders  be known  in the dark?  and thy righteousness  in the land  of forgetfulness? 

What does Psalms 88:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 88:1-18 - A Cry From The Waves
Most of the psalms which begin in sorrow end in exuberant joy and praise. This is an exception. There seems to be no break in the monotony of grief and despair. In Psalms 88:1-8 it would appear that the psalmist was oppressed by some loathsome disorder which made even his friends shrink from companionship. But it is a hopeful sign when, even in such circumstances, a man can still speak of God as "the God of my salvation."
In Psalms 88:9-18 the psalmist combats his despair by reminding God and himself that his has been a praying soul. Surely the Almighty will not forget his outstretched hands, nor the prayers that have anticipated the morning! It is a true argument. That you can pray at all is a sure sign that the divine Spirit is within your heart. From unknown depths He is helping your infirmity, and this proves that God has not forgotten or forsaken you. If just now life's bark is overwhelmed with difficulty, God rules the waves. The storm-wind will presently subside at His rebuke. Lover and friend will again stand round about you, and your soul will come back into light. God's days are not like man's-from morning to evening, but from dark to dawn. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 88

1  A prayer containing a grievous complaint

What do the individual words in Psalms 88:12 mean?

shall be known in the dark Your wonders and Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness
הֲיִוָּדַ֣ע ؟ בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ פִּלְאֶ֑ךָ וְ֝צִדְקָתְךָ֗ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ ؟ נְשִׁיָּֽה

הֲיִוָּדַ֣ע  shall  be  known 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
؟ בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ  in  the  dark 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֹשֶׁךְ  
Sense: darkness, obscurity.
פִּלְאֶ֑ךָ  Your  wonders 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: פֶּלֶא  
Sense: wonder, marvel.
וְ֝צִדְקָתְךָ֗  and  Your  righteousness 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: צְדָקָה  
Sense: justice, righteousness.
בְּאֶ֣רֶץ  in  the  land 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
؟ נְשִׁיָּֽה  of  forgetfulness 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: נְשִׁיָּה  
Sense: forgetfulness, oblivion.