Psalm 79 6

Psalm 79 6 Cross References

h2Cross References

h2ContextPsalm 79 is a lament of the community (a communal psalm of lament) likely composed following a devastating national calamity, most prominently the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and its temple in 586 BC. The city has been defiled, the temple plundered and destroyed, the people slaughtered, and the survivors are in deep distress, facing shame and reproach from surrounding nations. The psalm articulates the suffering and despair of the people, their sense of God’s hiddenness, and the blasphemy committed against His name by the pagan invaders. Verse 6 forms part of a series of petitions for divine vengeance and restoration, appealing to God’s honor and covenant faithfulness, as His glory has been brought into disrepute among the very nations mentioned. It serves as a call for God to arise and demonstrate His sovereignty in judgment against those who mock Him and oppress His chosen people.

h2Word analysis

• Pour out (שְׁפֹךְ, shefokh): This is a strong imperative verb, demanding an immediate and decisive action. It suggests a copious and unreserved flow, like liquid from a vessel, implying a complete and powerful discharge. The act of "pouring out" is often used in scripture to describe divine wrath, emphasizing its intensity and unstoppable nature.
• Your wrath (חֲמָתְךָ, chamatkha): Refers to God's holy, righteous anger. It is not an irrational or uncontrolled emotion but a settled, just indignation against sin, rebellion, and injustice. It highlights God's unwavering opposition to evil and His commitment to righteousness, particularly when His holy name is profaned.
• on the nations (אֶל-גּוֹיִם, el-goyim): Refers to the Gentile peoples, distinct from Israel. In the context of the Old Testament, these "nations" often represent those outside the covenant community, frequently depicted as antagonistic to God's purposes and His people. This particularly points to the oppressing pagan empires.
• that do not know You (אֲשֶׁר לֹא יְדָעוּךָ, asher lo yeda'ukha): This phrase implies more than a mere lack of intellectual awareness. In biblical thought, "knowing" God signifies an intimate, relational, covenantal knowledge, involving acknowledging His authority, trusting His character, and obeying His commands. Therefore, "do not know You" signifies a culpable rejection, an active refusal to recognize His sovereignty and supremacy, despite the universal revelation available. Their ignorance is active spiritual rebellion.
• and on the kingdoms (וְעַל מַמְלָכוֹת, ve'al mamlakhot): This phrase parallels "the nations" but emphasizes their organized, governmental, or political structures. It broadens the scope from peoples in general to established state powers, highlighting that both the populace and their rulers are deserving of God's judgment. It implies a systematic opposition to God's rule.
• that do not call on Your name (אֲשֶׁר בְּשִׁמְךָ לֹא קָרָאוּ, asher b'shimkha lo kara'u): To "call on the name of the Lord" is a fundamental act of worship, prayer, reliance, and acknowledgment of His deity and authority. It is an expression of submission and faith. Therefore, not calling on His name denotes idolatry, self-reliance, defiant independence from God, and active refusal to honor or seek Him. It encapsulates their spiritual estrangement and hostility.

Words-Group analysis

• "nations that do not know You" versus "kingdoms that do not call on Your name": These two phrases stand in parallel, providing a complementary description of the targeted groups and the nature of their offense. "Not knowing You" speaks to their internal disposition and relationship (or lack thereof) with God – a failure to comprehend and honor His true nature. "Not calling on Your name" speaks to their external practice – a failure to worship, invoke, or acknowledge Him. Together, they depict a people and their rulers marked by culpable ignorance and active spiritual rebellion, living in defiance of the one true God, often substituting Him with false idols or their own might. This demonstrates a deep-seated rejection of divine authority, prompting the call for righteous judgment.

h2CommentaryPsalm 79:6 encapsulates the desperate cry of a shattered people, pleading with God to act on His own behalf. The request for God to "pour out His wrath" is rooted in the belief that God is just and that injustice cannot stand forever. This is not a malicious human vendetta but a call for God to vindicate His holiness and reputation which have been profaned by the gentile invaders. The nations targeted are defined by their culpable spiritual state: they neither truly know God experientially and relationally nor do they acknowledge Him through worship or invocation. Their actions against Israel, therefore, are ultimately a defiance against God Himself. The psalmist implores God to display His sovereign power over these hostile political entities and their peoples, for the very purpose of establishing His unique identity as the Supreme God. The ultimate outcome sought is not merely vengeance, but that the nations would "know" (come to recognize through judgment) that Yahweh alone is Lord.

h2Bonus sectionThe nature of God's "wrath" in scripture, as prayed for here, is intrinsically linked to His holiness and justice, not human caprice. It is a necessary aspect of His character when faced with rebellion and sustained evil. This imprecatory prayer serves as a profound expression of trust that God is ultimately in control and will right every wrong. While the New Testament emphasizes love for enemies and forgiveness, it does not nullify the concept of divine judgment. Rather, it focuses on God’s offer of salvation before judgment, highlighting that those who persistently "do not know" Him or "call on His name" ultimately face eternal separation, as warned in texts like 2 Thessalonians 1:8. Thus, Psalm 79:6 carries an eschatological weight, echoing future divine reckoning for all who reject God's revelation and authority.