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Psalms 79

BSB·13 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1The nationsגוֹיִ֨ם׀ḡō·w·yim — Nation; a people or ethnic groupH1471 — Full Word Study →, O Godאֱ‍ֽלֹהִ֡ים’ĕlō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →, have invadedבָּ֤אוּbā·’ū — to come, go, enter, arriveH935 — Full Word Study → Your inheritanceבְּֽנַחֲלָתֶ֗ךָbə·na·ḥă·lā·ṯe·ḵā — Inheritance; received possession or propertyH5159 — Full Word Study →; they have defiledטִ֭מְּאוּṭim·mə·’ū — to be unclean, to defile or contaminateH2930 — Full Word Study → Your holyקָדְשֶׁ֑ךָqāḏ·še·ḵā — Holiness, sacred, consecrated, set apartH6944 — Full Word Study → templeהֵיכַ֣לhê·ḵal — Temple, palace, sanctuary structureH1964 — Full Word Study → and reduced Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֣םyə·rū·šā·lim — City of peaceH3389 — Full Word Study → to rubbleלְעִיִּֽים׃lə·‘î·yîm — heap of ruins; desolate placeH5856 — Full Word Study →. 2They have givenנָֽתְנ֡וּnā·ṯə·nū — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → the corpsesנִבְלַ֬תniḇ·laṯ — Carcass, dead body, carrionH5038 — Full Word Study → of Your servantsעֲבָדֶ֗יךָ‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā — Servant; slave; one in bondage or serviceH5650 — Full Word Study → as foodמַ֭אֲכָלma·’ă·ḵāl — Food, sustenance, or provisions for eatingH3978 — Full Word Study → to the birdsלְע֣וֹףlə·‘ō·wp̄ — birdH5775 — Full Word Study → of the airהַשָּׁמָ֑יִםhaš·šā·mā·yim — The heavens; sky; dwelling place of GodH8064 — Full Word Study →, the fleshבְּשַׂ֥רbə·śar — Flesh; body; meat; human natureH1320 — Full Word Study → of Your saintsחֲ֝סִידֶ֗יךָḥă·sî·ḏe·ḵā — The pious one; one characterized by faithfulness and covenant loyaltyH2623 — Full Word Study → to the beastsלְחַיְתוֹ־lə·ḥay·ṯōw- — alive, living, lifeH2416 — Full Word Study → of the earthאָֽרֶץ׃’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →. 3They have poured outשָׁפְכ֬וּšā·p̄ə·ḵū — to pour out, shed, spillH8210 — Full Word Study → their bloodדָמָ֨ם׀ḏā·mām — blood; life force; bloodshed; guiltH1818 — Full Word Study → like waterכַּמַּ֗יִםkam·ma·yim — Water; liquid; fluidsH4325 — Full Word Study → all aroundסְֽבִ֘יב֤וֹתsə·ḇî·ḇō·wṯ — around, on all sides, encirclingH5439 — Full Word Study → Jerusalemיְֽרוּשָׁלִָ֗םyə·rū·šā·lim — City of peaceH3389 — Full Word Study →, and there is no one to bury the dead. 4We have becomeהָיִ֣ינוּhā·yî·nū — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → a reproachחֶ֭רְפָּהḥer·pāh — Reproach, shame, insultH2781 — Full Word Study → to our neighborsלִשְׁכֵנֵ֑ינוּliš·ḵê·nê·nū — Neighbor; one who dwells nearbyH7934 — Full Word Study →, a scornלַ֥עַגla·‘aḡ — Derision, scorn, or mocking ridiculeH3933 — Full Word Study → and derisionוָ֝קֶ֗לֶסwā·qe·les — Derision, mockery, scornH7047 — Full Word Study → to those around usלִסְבִיבוֹתֵֽינוּ׃lis·ḇî·ḇō·w·ṯê·nū — around, on all sides, encirclingH5439 — Full Word Study →. 5How longעַד־‘aḏ- — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study →, O LORDיְ֭הוָהYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →? Will You be angryתֶּאֱנַ֣ףte·’ĕ·nap̄ — to be angry, to be displeased, to snort in angerH599 — Full Word Study → foreverלָנֶ֑צַחlā·ne·ṣaḥ — perpetual strength; eternal enduranceH5331 — Full Word Study →? Will Your jealousyקִנְאָתֶֽךָ׃qin·’ā·ṯe·ḵā — zealous passion; jealousy; fervent intensityH7068 — Full Word Study → burnתִּבְעַ֥רtiḇ·‘ar — to burn, consume, or act brutishlyH1197 — Full Word Study → likeכְּמוֹ־kə·mōw- — Like; according to; asH3644 — Full Word Study → fireאֵ֝֗שׁ’êš — Fire; flame; burningH784 — Full Word Study →? 6Pour outשְׁפֹ֤ךְšə·p̄ōḵ — to pour out, shed, spillH8210 — Full Word Study → Your wrathחֲמָתְךָ֨ḥă·mā·ṯə·ḵā — Intense rage, burning wrath, divine angerH2534 — Full Word Study → onאֶֽל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → the nationsהַגּוֹיִם֮hag·gō·w·yim — Nation; a people or ethnic groupH1471 — Full Word Study → thatאֲשֶׁ֪ר’ă·šer — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → do notלֹא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → acknowledge Youיְדָ֫ע֥וּךָyə·ḏā·‘ū·ḵā — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study →, onוְעַ֥לwə·‘al — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → the kingdomsמַמְלָכ֑וֹתmam·lā·ḵō·wṯ — Kingdom; sovereign rule or realmH4467 — Full Word Study → thatאֲשֶׁ֥ר’ă·šer — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → refuseלֹ֣אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → to callקָרָֽאוּ׃qā·rā·’ū — To call, summon, or proclaimH7121 — Full Word Study → on Your nameבְּ֝שִׁמְךָ֗bə·šim·ḵā — Name; reputation; renownH8034 — Full Word Study →, 7forכִּ֭יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → they have devouredאָכַ֣ל’ā·ḵal — to eat, consume, devourH398 — Full Word Study → Jacobיַעֲקֹ֑בya·‘ă·qōḇ — He grasps the heelH3290 — Full Word Study → and devastatedהֵשַֽׁמּוּ׃hê·šam·mū — to be desolate; to be appalled; to lie wasteH8074 — Full Word Study → his homelandנָוֵ֥הוּnā·wê·hū — Pleasant dwelling place or homeH5116 — Full Word Study →. 8Do not holdתִּזְכָּר־tiz·kār- — to remember, recall, or mentionH2142 — Full Word Study → pastרִאשֹׁ֫נִ֥יםri·šō·nîm — First, foremost, or former; earliest in time or orderH7223 — Full Word Study → sinsעֲוֺנֹ֪ת‘ă·wō·nōṯ — Iniquity, guilt, or moral wrongdoingH5771 — Full Word Study → against us; let Your compassionרַחֲמֶ֑יךָra·ḥă·me·ḵā — Compassion, mercy, womb; deep emotional affectionH7356 — Full Word Study → comeיְקַדְּמ֣וּנוּyə·qad·də·mū·nū — to meet, come before, prevent, anticipateH6923 — Full Word Study → quicklyמַ֭הֵרma·hêr — to hurry, hasten, act quickly or speedilyH4118 — Full Word Study →, forכִּ֖יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → we are broughtדַלּ֣וֹנוּḏal·lō·w·nū — To hang down, languish, become weak or impoverishedH1809 — Full Word Study → lowמְאֹֽד׃mə·’ōḏ — Much, greatly, very, exceedinglyH3966 — Full Word Study →. 9Help usעָזְרֵ֤נוּ׀‘ā·zə·rê·nū — to help, aid, supportH5826 — Full Word Study →, O Godאֱלֹ֘הֵ֤י’ĕ·lō·hê — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → of our salvationיִשְׁעֵ֗נוּyiš·‘ê·nū — Salvation, deliverance, safetyH3468 — Full Word Study →, forעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → the gloryכְּבֽוֹד־kə·ḇō·wḏ- — weightiness, honor, splendor, gloryH3519 — Full Word Study → of Your nameשְׁמֶ֑ךָšə·me·ḵā — Name; reputation; renownH8034 — Full Word Study →; deliver usוְהַצִּילֵ֥נוּwə·haṣ·ṣî·lê·nū — to rescue, deliver, or snatch awayH5337 — Full Word Study → and atoneוְכַפֵּ֥רwə·ḵap·pêr — To atone; to cover sin and make reconciliationH3722 — Full Word Study → forעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → our sinsחַ֝טֹּאתֵ֗ינוּḥaṭ·ṭō·ṯê·nū — sin; sin offering; sinfulnessH2403 — Full Word Study →, for the sakeלְמַ֣עַןlə·ma·‘an — because of, for the sake of, in order thatH4616 — Full Word Study → of Your nameשְׁמֶֽךָ׃šə·me·ḵā — Name; reputation; renownH8034 — Full Word Study →. 10Whyלָ֤מָּה׀lām·māh — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → should the nationsהַגּוֹיִם֮hag·gō·w·yim — Nation; a people or ethnic groupH1471 — Full Word Study → askיֹאמְר֣וּyō·mə·rū — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study →, “Whereאַיֵּ֪ה’ay·yêh — where; in what placeH346 — Full Word Study → is their Godאֱ‍ֽלֹהֵ֫יהֶ֥ם’ĕlō·hê·hem — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →?” Before our eyesלְעֵינֵ֑ינוּlə·‘ê·nê·nū — Eye; sight; appearance; fountainH5869 — Full Word Study →, make knownיִוָּדַ֣עyiw·wā·ḏa‘ — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study → among the nationsבַּגִּיִּיםbag·gī·yīm — Nation; a people or ethnic groupH1471 — Full Word Study → Your vengeanceנִ֝קְמַ֗תniq·maṯ — Vengeance; retributive justice or retaliationH5360 — Full Word Study → for the bloodshedדַּֽם־dam- — blood; life force; bloodshed; guiltH1818 — Full Word Study → of Your servantsעֲבָדֶ֥יךָ‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā — Servant; slave; one in bondage or serviceH5650 — Full Word Study →. 11May the groansאֶנְקַ֪ת’en·qaṯ — Groaning, sighing, deep lamentationH603 — Full Word Study → of the captivesאָ֫סִ֥יר’ā·sîr — prisoner, one held in captivityH616 — Full Word Study → reach Youתָּ֤ב֣וֹאtā·ḇō·w — to come, go, enter, arriveH935 — Full Word Study →; by the strengthכְּגֹ֥דֶלkə·ḡō·ḏel — Greatness, magnitude, splendorH1433 — Full Word Study → of Your armזְרוֹעֲךָ֑zə·rō·w·‘ă·ḵā — arm; power, strength, mightH2220 — Full Word Study → preserveה֝וֹתֵ֗רhō·w·ṯêr — to remain, be left over, excelH3498 — Full Word Study → those condemnedבְּנֵ֣יbə·nê — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → to deathתְמוּתָֽה׃ṯə·mū·ṯāh — Death; mortality; the state of being deadH8546 — Full Word Study →. 12Pay backוְהָ֘שֵׁ֤בwə·hā·šêḇ — to turn back, return, restoreH7725 — Full Word Study → intoאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → the lapsחֵיקָ֑םḥê·qām — Bosom; lap; embrace; inner chamberH2436 — Full Word Study → of our neighborsלִשְׁכֵנֵ֣ינוּliš·ḵê·nê·nū — Neighbor; one who dwells nearbyH7934 — Full Word Study → sevenfoldשִׁ֭בְעָתַיִםšib̲·ʿā·t̲a·yim — Seven times; sevenfold multiplication or repetitionH7659 — Full Word Study → the reproachחֶרְפָּ֘תָ֤םḥer·pā·ṯām — Reproach, shame, insultH2781 — Full Word Study → they hurled at Youחֵרְפ֣וּךָḥê·rə·p̄ū·ḵā — to reproach, defy, or insult; to blasphemeH2778 — Full Word Study →, O Lordאֲדֹנָֽי׃’ă·ḏō·nāy — Master, LordH136 — Full Word Study →. 13Then weוַאֲנַ֤חְנוּwa·’ă·naḥ·nū — We, us, ourselves (first person plural pronoun)H587 — Full Word Study → Your peopleעַמְּךָ֨׀‘am·mə·ḵā — a people; nation; communityH5971 — Full Word Study →, the sheepוְצֹ֥אןwə·ṣōn — flock of sheep or goatsH6629 — Full Word Study → of Your pastureמַרְעִיתֶךָ֮mar·‘î·ṯe·ḵā — Pasture, flock, or grazing groundH4830 — Full Word Study →, will thankנ֤וֹדֶ֥הnō·w·ḏeh — To give thanks, praise, or acknowledgeH3034 — Full Word Study → You foreverלְע֫וֹלָ֥םlə·‘ō·w·lām — forever, eternity, perpetual durationH5769 — Full Word Study →; from generationלְדֹ֥רlə·ḏōr — generation; age; lifetime; posterityH1755 — Full Word Study → to generationוָדֹ֑רwā·ḏōr — generation; age; lifetime; posterityH1755 — Full Word Study → we will declareנְ֝סַפֵּ֗רnə·sap·pêr — To count, record, or declareH5608 — Full Word Study → Your praiseתְּהִלָּתֶֽךָ׃tə·hil·lā·ṯe·ḵā — Praise, song of praise, object of praiseH8416 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — Psalms 79
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Psalm 79 is a communal lament, likely written in response to the destruction of Jerusalem and the desecration of the temple, possibly during the Babylonian invasion or a similar national catastrophe. The psalmist cries out to God on behalf of the entire nation, expressing deep grief over the slaughter of God's people, the violation of His holy place, and the mockery of Israel's enemies. Yet even in this dark hour, the prayer moves from lamentation to intercession, ultimately calling upon God to act for the sake of His own name and glory. This psalm teaches us that bringing our deepest pain and confusion to God is not a lack of faith—it is the very foundation of faith.

Verses 1–5: The Cry of Desperation

The psalmist opens with a raw account of national devastation. The heathen have entered God's inheritance (verse 1), they have defiled His holy temple, and laid Jerusalem on heaps—language depicting complete destruction. Verses 2–3 describe the horrific aftermath: bodies of God's servants left unburied, their blood shed like water with no one to give them proper funeral rites. This was not merely military defeat; it was spiritual violation and national humiliation (verse 4), as neighboring peoples now mocked Israel's God and covenant community.

The tone shifts in verse 5 to urgent questioning: "How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever?" This is the cry of a suffering believer who does not deny God's existence or power, but desperately wants to understand His timing. The application here is profound: God welcomes our honest questions. Bringing our "why?" prayers to Him demonstrates trust, not rebellion. We need not pretend everything is fine when our hearts are breaking.

Verses 6–9: The Shift from Complaint to Petition

Having poured out his complaint, the psalmist now makes specific requests. He asks God to pour out His wrath upon the nations that have not known Him (verses 6–7). This is not petty revenge; it is a prayer that God's justice be made manifest and that the nations recognize His sovereignty. The psalmist acknowledges that Israel's suffering is partly due to their own sins (verse 8: "remember not against us former iniquities"), yet appeals to God's tender mercies to act speedily on their behalf.

Verse 9 crystallizes the true motive: the prayer is fundamentally for the glory of God's name, not merely for Israel's relief. The psalmist asks for deliverance and forgiveness "for thy name's sake"—recognizing that God's reputation among the nations depends on His faithfulness to His people. This teaches us that true intercession centers on God's glory, not just our comfort.

Verses 10–13: Justice, Mercy, and Praise

Verse 10 presents the core concern: "Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God?" The psalmist understands that the world judges God by how He treats His people. He therefore calls on God to be known among the nations by avenging the blood of His servants (verse 10). Verses 11–12 continue the petition: preserve the prisoners, and return judgment upon the mocking neighbors sevenfold—a figure of speech for complete and thorough justice.

Yet notice the magnificent conclusion (verses 12–13): despite all the pain, the psalmist vows future thanksgiving and praise. This is not naive optimism, but confident faith that God will ultimately act. The psalm ends not in bitterness but in a promise that God's people will declare His praise to all generations.

Application for Today

Psalm 79 reminds us that lament is a biblical prayer form. When we face injustice, loss, or suffering, we need not hide our grief from God. Yet the psalm also teaches us to anchor our prayers in God's character and glory rather than mere self-interest, and to trust that His ultimate purpose is to be glorified before all nations. Our hardships become opportunities to witness to God's faithfulness.

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