Psalms 79:11

11 Let the groaning of the captives come before you; by your great strength save those condemned to death.

Psalms 79:11 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 79:11

Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee
Such as were so in a literal or spiritual sense; and the sighs and groans of such are not hid from the Lord; they come up into his ears as did the sighing and groaning of the children of Israel when in Egypt, ( Exodus 2:23 Exodus 2:24 ) ,

according to the greatness of thy power, preserve thou those that are
appointed to die;
not by the Lord, as all men are, but by men; who are under a sentence of condemnation, who are ready to die, being appointed to destruction, ( Proverbs 31:6 Proverbs 31:8 ) , or are in danger of death, as Jarchi observes; the phrase is used in Talmudic writings; whose lives are exposed to danger, who are killed all the day long, and are accounted as sheep for the slaughter, ( Psalms 44:22 ) , these it is desired the Lord would keep from dying, or cause them to remain in life; or not suffer their lives to be taken away from them, which he was able to do through "the greatness of his power"; though these words according to the accents belong to the preceding clause. The Targum, and so Jarchi, and other Jewish writers, render the words, "loose thou those" mention being made before of prisoners, or of persons bound.

Psalms 79:11 In-Context

9 Help us, God of our salvation, for the sake of the glory of your name. Deliver us, forgive our sins, for your name's sake.

10 Why should the nations ask, "Where is their God?" Let the vengeance taken on your servants' shed blood be known among the nations before our eyes.

11 Let the groaning of the captives come before you; by your great strength save those condemned to death.

12 Repay our neighbors sevenfold where they can feel it for the insults they inflicted on you, Adonai.

13 Then we, your people and the flock in your pasture, will give you thanks forever. From generation to generation we will proclaim your praise.