Psalm Chapter 79 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.
2 The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.
3 Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.
4 We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.
5 How long, Lord? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?
Psl. 79 (Old Testament)
6 Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.
7 For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.
8 O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.
9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake.
10 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed.
11 Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;
12 And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.
13 So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.
Key Takeaways from This Psalm:
Psalm 79:9
Verse: עוֹזֵר לַנָּכְרִי בְּשִׁמְךָ
Transliteration: Ozer lanokhri b’shimkha
English: “Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; deliver us and forgive our sins.”
Focus Word: יוֹשִׁיעַ (Yoshia)
- Root: י-ש-ע (Yod-Shin-Ayin)
- Meaning: “To save,” “to deliver,” “to rescue.”
- Deeper Insight: Yoshia conveys God’s saving intervention, often associated with deliverance from enemies or peril.
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar (Institution & Dates) | Work | View on Psalm 79 |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Scott (University of Edinburgh, 1747–1821) | Commentary on the Holy Bible | The Psalm models grief over communal suffering while seeking divine justice. |
| John Owen (University of Oxford, 1616–1683) | A Commentary on the Psalms | God’s sovereignty offers hope even amid overwhelming adversity. |
| George Buchanan (St Andrews / Paris, 1506–1582) | Commentaries on the Psalms | Illustrates the tension between human weakness and divine providence. |
| Philip Doddridge (Northampton Academy, 1702–1751) | Family Expositor | Calls for repentance and trust, showing how calamity directs attention to God. |
| John Brown (Edinburgh, 1722–1787) | Self-Interpreting Bible | The Psalm teaches believers to seek God’s help with both humility and urgency. |
| Scholar & Work | View |
|---|---|
| John Calvin – Commentary on the Psalms | Calvin sees the psalm as a lament over the horrific destruction of Jerusalem. The psalmist appeals to God’s honor amid national shame. Pleas for forgiveness and deliverance arise from covenant hope. |
| Matthew Henry – Exposition on the Psalms | Henry interprets the psalm as the Church suffering under cruel oppression. The desecration of holy places evokes deep sorrow. Prayer is made for pardon, justice, and salvation. |
| Albert Barnes – Notes on the Psalms | Barnes views the psalm as describing national calamity brought by foreign invaders. The psalmist asks God to avenge His people. Mercy and salvation are urgently sought. |
| John Morison – Practical Exposition of the Psalms | Morison reads the psalm as a cry from a devastated people. Their ruin is laid before God in grief. Hope is grounded in God’s everlasting mercy. |
| William Walford – Commentary on the Psalms | Walford sees the psalm as a national prayer for divine forgiveness and help. The ravages of the enemy provoke lament. God’s compassion is urgently invoked. |
| Andrew A. Bonar – Christ and His Church in the Psalms | Bonar interprets the psalm as the Church mourning over spiritual desolation. The prayer includes both confession and longing for vengeance upon evil. God’s glory is the psalmist’s chief concern. |
| Joseph Parker – People’s Bible Notes | Parker views the psalm as human helplessness displayed before divine mercy. The enemy’s triumph intensifies the plea. Deliverance is expected from God alone. |
| Thomas Dale – Exposition of the Psalms | Dale sees the psalm as the voice of faith amid utter ruin. The people cry for forgiveness and vindication. God’s name is appealed to for restoration. |
| Horatius Bonar – Psalm Meditations | Bonar interprets the psalm as lament born of righteous sorrow. God’s mercy is the community’s only hope. Prayer anticipates divine intervention. |
| Christopher Wordsworth – Commentary on the Psalms | Wordsworth sees the psalm as the Church mourning destruction at the hands of the ungodly. The cry for vengeance is rooted in God’s justice. Praise awaits His deliverance. |
