Psalms 79:11

11 (78-11) Let the sighing of the prisoners come in before thee. According to the greatness of thy arm, take possession of the children of them that have been put 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 (78-9) Help us, O God, our saviour: and for the glory of thy name, O Lord, deliver us: and forgive us our sins for thy name’s sake:

10 (78-10) Lest they should say among the Gentiles: Where is their God? And let him be made known among the nations before our eyes, By the revenging the blood of thy servants, which hath been shed:

11 (78-11) Let the sighing of the prisoners come in before thee. According to the greatness of thy arm, take possession of the children of them that have been put to death.

12 (78-12) And render to our neighbours sevenfold in their bosom: the reproach wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.

13 (78-13) But we thy people, and the sheep of thy pasture, will give thanks to thee for ever. We will shew forth thy praise, unto generation and generation.