Psalm 79 13

Psalm 79:13 kjv

So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.

Psalm 79:13 nkjv

So we, Your people and sheep of Your pasture, Will give You thanks forever; We will show forth Your praise to all generations.

Psalm 79:13 niv

Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever; from generation to generation we will proclaim your praise.

Psalm 79:13 esv

But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.

Psalm 79:13 nlt

Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will thank you forever and ever,
praising your greatness from generation to generation.

Psalm 79 verses

Psalm 79 13 Meaning

Psalm 79:13 is a powerful concluding vow within a communal lament. Following desperate pleas for God's intervention and restoration amidst the desolation of Jerusalem, this verse shifts from petition to profound assurance and commitment. It signifies that the remnant of Israel, recognizing their intimate relationship as God's chosen "people" and His vulnerable, cared-for "sheep," will forever offer Him public praise and thanksgiving. This act of praise will not only be perpetual in time ("forever") but also actively transmitted and declared through successive generations ("from generation to generation"), ensuring the lasting remembrance of God's deliverance and faithful character. It expresses a deep faith that God will indeed act for His Name's sake, and upon His intervention, their praise will become a continuous and intergenerational testimony.

Psalm 79 13 Context

Psalm 79 is a lament of national catastrophe, following closely after Psalm 74, which shares similar themes of distress over Jerusalem's destruction. The historical context most likely points to the Babylonian invasion and the subsequent destruction of Jerusalem and the First Temple in 586 BC, or a similar later devastating event. The psalm begins by describing the shocking defilement of God's holy city and temple, the slaughter of the people, and their corpses left unburied. This disaster leads to utter humiliation as surrounding nations scoff and question God's power, saying, "Where is their God?" (v. 10). The body of the psalm is a fervent plea for God's vengeance against the perpetrators and a desperate prayer for mercy and forgiveness, recognizing the people's culpability (v. 8) and appealing to God's honor and the glory of His name. Verse 13 transitions from this intense plea to a hopeful declaration, a confident vow of enduring worship and thanksgiving when God restores them, anchoring future praise in the assurance of God's covenant faithfulness, despite their present devastation. It demonstrates a resilient faith that transcends immediate suffering.

Psalm 79 13 Word analysis

• Then we (וַאֲנַחְנוּ - va'anakhnu): The Hebrew wa- (and/then) marks a significant transition, signaling a consequence or resulting action. The emphatic "we" stresses the collective and resolute commitment of the entire community, implying that their praise is contingent upon God's restorative act. It highlights their restored agency to praise.
• your people (עַמְּךָ - am-m'kha): Am signifies a covenantal nation or people group. The possessive suffix "your" underscores their unique, exclusive relationship with God. Despite the current devastation, their identity as "God's people" remains foundational, a basis for appealing to His faithfulness.
• the sheep of your pasture (וְצֹאן מַרְעִיתֶךָ - v'tso'n mar'itekha): This dual imagery portrays a relationship of intimate care, dependence, and vulnerability. Tso'n (sheep/flock) are wholly dependent on their mar'it (pasture/grazing land) provided by the shepherd. This emphasizes God's role as their Provider, Protector, and Sustainer, appealing to His compassion and responsibility for His vulnerable flock. It contrasts the current scattering with God's ultimate care.
• will praise you (נוֹדֶה לְּךָ - nodheh l'kha): Nodheh comes from the verb yadah, meaning "to confess," "to give thanks," or "to praise" with extended hands. It denotes an active, public acknowledgement and declaration of God's character and mighty deeds. It is not merely a feeling but a pronounced act of worship, stemming from deep gratitude for salvation.
• forever (לְעוֹלָם - l'olam): This term denotes eternity, perpetuity, or unending duration. It expresses the boundless and enduring nature of their praise, extending beyond the present crisis into all future time, emphasizing a permanent commitment to God.
• from generation to generation (לְדֹר וָדֹר - l'dor vador): This idiomatic phrase emphasizes the continuity and transmission of this praise across all successive generations. It highlights the psalmist's vision that God's acts of deliverance will form a foundational testimony to be taught and celebrated by descendants, ensuring the remembrance of His faithfulness and preventing His deeds from being forgotten.
• we will proclaim your praise (נְסַפֵּר תְּהִלָּתֶֽךָ - nesapper t'hillatekha): Nesapper derives from sapar, meaning "to count," "to recount," "to narrate," or "to declare in detail." This isn't passive praise, but an active, storytelling proclamation. T'hillatekha refers to God's specific acts worthy of praise, or praise as a song. The phrase together signifies actively telling the narrative of God's redemptive works, particularly His answer to their lament, to an enduring audience.

Psalm 79 13 Bonus section

• The shift from lament and petition to a resolute vow of praise in this final verse follows a common structural pattern in lament psalms, demonstrating the dynamic nature of faith where despair can transform into confident hope.
• This verse contains both "praise" (yadah) and "proclaim your praise" (sapar t'hillatekha), highlighting both internal gratitude and external, active witness. This combination points to a holistic worship experience.
• The language of God's "people" and "sheep" provides an ethical basis for God's intervention, implying that their suffering (and their enemies' scorn) impugns His reputation among the nations, which He must redeem by rescuing His own.

Psalm 79 13 Commentary

Psalm 79:13 encapsulates the profound hope and covenant loyalty that persevere even in the darkest hours of national disaster. It is the communal response of a people who have just lamented their desecrated sanctuary and fallen brethren. Despite witnessing God's apparent withdrawal and the triumph of their enemies, the psalmist expresses an unyielding conviction that God, their divine Shepherd, will ultimately act for His name's glory. The dual imagery of "your people" and "the sheep of your pasture" underscores a theological plea for God to remember His covenant relationship and His protective role. The promised praise—to "praise you forever" and "from generation to generation we will proclaim your praise"—is not a passive acknowledgement but a determined, active, and public testimony. It serves as a confident vow that upon divine vindication, the narrative of God's faithfulness will not only endure for all time but also be diligently passed down to future generations, ensuring a continuous heritage of worship and grateful recounting of His salvific deeds. This verse therefore transitions the lament into an act of enduring faith, prefiguring the ultimate worship due to God by His redeemed flock through Christ across all ages.