88:6 You place me in the lowest regions of the pit, 1
in the dark places, in the watery depths.
116:16 Yes, Lord! I am indeed your servant;
I am your lowest slave. 2
You saved me from death. 3
1 tn The noun בּוֹר (bor, “pit,” “cistern”) is sometimes used of the grave and/or the realm of the dead. See v. 4.
2 tn Heb “I am your servant, the son of your female servant.” The phrase “son of a female servant” (see also Ps 86:16) is used of a son born to a secondary wife or concubine (Exod 23:12). In some cases the child’s father is the master of the house (see Gen 21:10, 13; Judg 9:18). The use of the expression here certainly does not imply that the
3 tn Heb “you have loosed my bonds.” In this context the imagery refers to deliverance from death (see v. 3).