Psalm 79 11

Psalm 79:11 kjv

Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;

Psalm 79:11 nkjv

Let the groaning of the prisoner come before You; According to the greatness of Your power Preserve those who are appointed to die;

Psalm 79:11 niv

May the groans of the prisoners come before you; with your strong arm preserve those condemned to die.

Psalm 79:11 esv

Let the groans of the prisoners come before you; according to your great power, preserve those doomed to die!

Psalm 79:11 nlt

Listen to the moaning of the prisoners.
Demonstrate your great power by saving those condemned to die.

Psalm 79 verses

Psalm 79 11 Meaning

Psalm 79:11 is an urgent and impassioned prayer, pleading with God to hear the desperate cries of His people, particularly those who are imprisoned or facing imminent death. It invokes the immense power of God as the basis for His intervention, asking Him to miraculously preserve those who are destined for slaughter. The verse encapsulates a profound reliance on God's sovereignty and might in a time of severe national distress and peril.

Psalm 79 11 Context

Psalm 79 is a lament of the community, likely written in the aftermath of a devastating foreign invasion, specifically referencing the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, the slaughter of its inhabitants, and the desecration of the holy city. While not explicitly naming the Babylonians, the details align with the events of 586 BC, where the city was razed, and many were killed or taken captive. The psalm expresses the shock, grief, and indignation of God's people as their sanctuary lies in ruins, their kin are massacred, and their enemies mock their God. It is a desperate cry for God to act, to intervene with His divine wrath against the perpetrators and to restore His honor, which has been severely defamed. Verse 11 specifically appeals to God's attention and power on behalf of the most vulnerable and those on the brink of death within this catastrophe.

Psalm 79 11 Word analysis

• Let the groaning (אֶנְקַת - ʾenqaṯ): This Hebrew term denotes a deep, guttural sound of distress, anguish, or pain, often uttered when one is utterly overwhelmed and unable to articulate full words. It is not merely a complaint but a spontaneous, visceral cry arising from deep physical or emotional suffering. It implies a non-verbal appeal to divine mercy.

• of the prisoner (אָסִיר - ʾāsîr): Refers to one bound or fettered, someone in captivity or in chains. This signifies extreme vulnerability and lack of freedom. It paints a picture of individuals completely helpless and reliant on an outside force for liberation. This also carries a connotation of being unjustly held.

• come before You (תְבוֹאֶךָ - ṯeḇōʾeḵā): An imperative verb meaning "let it come to You" or "let it enter Your presence." It implies a direct appeal for God's attention and intercession, suggesting a desire for their desperate cry to reach the divine throne room directly, indicating intimate and immediate communication with God. It emphasizes divine awareness and active reception of their plea.

• According to the greatness (גֹּדֶל - gōḏel): Refers to the magnitude, immensity, or vastness of something. Here, it is paired with power, emphasizing the unlimited and supreme nature of God's might. The appeal is not for a small measure of help but for an intervention commensurate with His infinite capability.

• of Your power (כֹּחֶךָ - kōḥeḵā): Denotes strength, might, force, ability, or potency. This attributes to God an unhindered capacity to act decisively and supernaturally. The prayer is a testament to the belief that only God possesses the necessary omnipotence to reverse their dire situation.

• preserve (הוֹתֵר - hôṯēr): An imperative verb meaning "to save," "to rescue," "to cause to survive," or "to deliver." It implies an active, powerful act of liberation and sustainment from immediate danger or death. It suggests a sparing of life where death seems inevitable.

• those who are appointed to die (בְּנֵי תְמוּתָה - bnê ṯēmûtâh): Literally translated as "sons of death." This is a Hebrew idiom denoting individuals destined or sentenced to die, those in mortal danger, or whose death is a near certainty. It underscores the desperate and imminent peril facing these individuals, making God's requested intervention all the more miraculous.

• "Let the groaning of the prisoner come before You": This phrase captures the desperate plea for divine attention. It's a prayer for God to not merely hear, but to acknowledge and act upon the voiceless cries of those suffering utmost degradation and confinement. It implies that true understanding and compassion originate from God's active reception of human suffering.

• "According to the greatness of Your power preserve those who are appointed to die": This second clause links the request for preservation directly to God's infinite might. The magnitude of the danger ("appointed to die") requires a proportional magnitude of divine power for deliverance. It's an appeal for a miraculous rescue, demonstrating faith in God's unparalleled ability to override any humanly determined fate, even death.

Psalm 79 11 Bonus section

This verse powerfully combines human desperation with divine capability. The use of "groaning" rather than explicit words of prayer shows the depth of distress, so overwhelming that structured petitions might be impossible. Yet, this unarticulated suffering is still potent enough to be "heard" by God. Furthermore, "sons of death" is not just a metaphor; it refers to those condemned, already marked for destruction, highlighting the urgency and extremity of their situation. This makes God's "preserving" power truly an act against fate, asserting His dominion over life and death, echoing throughout scripture as a foundational truth about Yahweh, in stark contrast to the impotence of other supposed deities in whom their oppressors might trust. The prayer subtly invokes God's jealousy for His name and His glory among the nations, as the non-preservation of His people would reflect negatively on His power to outsiders.

Psalm 79 11 Commentary

Psalm 79:11 is a poignant and deeply theological plea within a psalm of national calamity. It is not merely a request for aid but an urgent appeal grounded in the attributes of God Himself. The Psalmist first emphasizes the divine attention to human suffering, pleading for the "groaning of the prisoner" to reach God's ears. This 'groaning' signifies the profound, inarticulate anguish of those utterly stripped of dignity and hope, highlighting their complete dependence on God. It’s a powerful acknowledgment that even silent despair is heard by the Almighty.

The second part of the verse then moves from divine attention to divine action, appealing to the "greatness of Your power" as the only possible means to "preserve those who are appointed to die." The phrase "sons of death" ("appointed to die") underscores the utter hopelessness of their human condition; they are already counted among the dead, perhaps awaiting execution or simply perishing from starvation and mistreatment. In such a terminal state, human power is utterly futile. The psalmist does not ask for justice based on their merit but on God's inherent omnipotence and faithfulness to His covenant people. It is a bold prayer for God to exert His ultimate sovereignty over life and death, not merely for rescue but to uphold His own glorious name and demonstrate His unparalleled might against overwhelming odds. This verse serves as a profound expression of faith, recognizing that God's power is limitless and fully capable of reversing even the most dire and fatal circumstances.