Psalms 79:11
Psalms 79:11 in Multiple Translations
May the groans of the captives reach You; by the strength of Your arm preserve those condemned to death.
Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;
Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee: According to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to death;
Let the cry of the prisoner come before you; with your strong arm make free the children of death;
Listen to the groans of the prisoners; with your great power save those condemned to die.
Let the sighing of the prisoners come before thee: according to thy mightie arme preserue the children of death,
Let the groaning of the prisoner come in before Thee, According to the greatness of Thine arm, Leave Thou the sons of death.
Let the sighing of the prisoner come before you. According to the greatness of your power, preserve those who are sentenced to death.
Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;
The shadow of it covered the hills: and the branches thereof the cedars of God.
Listen to your people groaning while they are in prison, and by your great power free those whom our enemies say that they will certainly execute.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 79:11
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 79:11 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
תָּ֤ב֣וֹא
לְ/פָנֶי/ךָ֮
אֶנְקַ֪ת
אָ֫סִ֥יר
כְּ/גֹ֥דֶל
זְרוֹעֲ/ךָ֑
ה֝וֹתֵ֗ר
בְּנֵ֣י
תְמוּתָֽה
תָּ֤ב֣וֹא
bôwʼ
H935
Lebo
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs
לְ/פָנֶי/ךָ֮
pânîym
H6440
face
Prep | N-cp | Suff
אֶנְקַ֪ת
ʼănâqâh
H603
groaning
N-fs
אָ֫סִ֥יר
ʼaççîyr
H616
prisoner
N-ms
כְּ/גֹ֥דֶל
gôdel
H1433
greatness
Prep | N-ms
זְרוֹעֲ/ךָ֑
zᵉrôwaʻ
H2220
arm
N-cs | Suff
ה֝וֹתֵ֗ר
yâthar
H3498
to remain
V-Hiphil-Impv-2ms
בְּנֵ֣י
bên
H1121
son
N-mp
תְמוּתָֽה
tᵉmûwthâh
H8546
death
N-fs
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 79:11
תָּ֤ב֣וֹא
bôwʼ
H935
"Lebo"
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs
This verb means to go or come, and is used in many contexts, such as entering a place or approaching someone, as seen in the book of Genesis. It can also mean to abide or apply, and is translated in various ways in the KJV Bible. This term is related to the name Lebo Hamath.
Definition: A shortened name of Lebo Hamath complined withcha.mat (חֲמָת "Hamath" H2574) This name means to go in, enter
Usage: Occurs in 2307 OT verses. KJV: abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. See also: Genesis 2:19; Genesis 32:7; Exodus 1:19.
לְ/פָנֶי/ךָ֮
pânîym
H6440
"face"
Prep | N-cp | Suff
This word means face or presence, like being in front of someone or something. It's used in many contexts, like in Genesis, Exodus, and Psalms, to describe interactions and relationships.
Definition: : face 1) face 1a) face, faces 1b) presence, person 1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim) 1d) face (of animals) 1e) face, surface (of ground) 1f) as adv of loc/temp 1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before 1g) with prep 1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of
Usage: Occurs in 1891 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 43:31; Exodus 30:16.
אֶנְקַ֪ת
ʼănâqâh
H603
"groaning"
N-fs
This word describes a loud, intense cry of pain or sadness, like groaning in distress. In the Bible, it is used to express deep emotional suffering. The KJV translates it as 'crying out' or 'groaning'.
Definition: crying, groaning, lamentation
Usage: Occurs in 4 OT verses. KJV: crying out, groaning, sighing. See also: Psalms 12:6; Psalms 102:21; Psalms 79:11.
אָ֫סִ֥יר
ʼaççîyr
H616
"prisoner"
N-ms
A prisoner is someone who is bound or captive, as seen in the story of Joseph in Genesis 39:20. The word describes a person held against their will.
Definition: 1) prisoners (collective) 2) (CLBL) prisoner, captive
Usage: Occurs in 4 OT verses. KJV: prisoner. See also: Psalms 79:11; Isaiah 24:22; Isaiah 10:4.
כְּ/גֹ֥דֶל
gôdel
H1433
"greatness"
Prep | N-ms
This word refers to greatness or magnitude, and can also describe something as magnificent or proud. However, it can also have a negative meaning, describing pride or insolence. It is used in the Bible to describe powerful things.
Definition: 1) greatness 1a) greatness, magnitude 1b) magnificence 1c) pride, insolence (bad sense)
Usage: Occurs in 13 OT verses. KJV: greatness, stout(-ness). See also: Numbers 14:19; Psalms 79:11; Psalms 150:2.
זְרוֹעֲ/ךָ֑
zᵉrôwaʻ
H2220
"arm"
N-cs | Suff
The Hebrew word for arm refers to the arm as stretched out, symbolizing strength, force, or power, as seen in the KJV translations of arm, mighty, and strength.
Definition: 1) arm, forearm, shoulder, strength 1a) arm 1b) arm (as symbol of strength) 1c) forces (political and military) 1d) shoulder (of animal sacrificed)
Usage: Occurs in 84 OT verses. KJV: arm, [phrase] help, mighty, power, shoulder, strength. See also: Genesis 49:24; Proverbs 31:17; Psalms 10:15.
ה֝וֹתֵ֗ר
yâthar
H3498
"to remain"
V-Hiphil-Impv-2ms
The Hebrew word 'yâthar' means to remain or be left, and can also mean to excel or have more than enough, often translated as 'remain' or 'preserve'.
Definition: 1) to be left over, remain, remain over, leave 1a) (Qal) remainder (participle) 1b) (Niphal) to be left over, remain over, be left behind 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to leave over, leave 1c2) to save over, preserve alive 1c3) to excel, show pre-eminence 1c4) to show excess, have more than enough, have an excess
Usage: Occurs in 101 OT verses. KJV: excel, leave (a remnant), left behind, too much, make plenteous, preserve, (be, let) remain(-der, -ing, -nant), reserve, residue, rest. See also: Genesis 30:36; 2 Samuel 9:1; Psalms 79:11.
בְּנֵ֣י
bên
H1121
"son"
N-mp
In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.
Definition: : child/son
Usage: Occurs in 3653 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. See also: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 23:3; Genesis 34:18.
תְמוּתָֽה
tᵉmûwthâh
H8546
"death"
N-fs
This word simply means death, like the death of a person, as seen in many Bible stories. It can also mean execution as a punishment, as in the laws of Deuteronomy. The Bible often talks about death as a consequence of sin.
Definition: death
Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: death, die. See also: Psalms 79:11; Psalms 102:21.
Study Notes — Psalms 79:11
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 79:11 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 79:11
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 79:11
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 79:11
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 79:11
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 79:11
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 79:11
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 79:11
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 79:11
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 79:11
- Sermons on Psalms 79:11
Context — A Prayer for Deliverance
9Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; deliver us and atone for our sins, for the sake of Your name.
10Why should the nations ask, “Where is their God?” Before our eyes, make known among the nations Your vengeance for the bloodshed of Your servants.
11May the groans of the captives reach You; by the strength of Your arm preserve those condemned to death.
12Pay back into the laps of our neighbors sevenfold the reproach they hurled at You, O Lord. 13Then we Your people, the sheep of Your pasture, will thank You forever; from generation to generation we will declare Your praise.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 102:20 | to hear a prisoner’s groaning, to release those condemned to death, |
| 2 | Psalms 146:6–7 | the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He remains faithful forever. He executes justice for the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free, |
| 3 | Isaiah 33:2 | O LORD, be gracious to us! We wait for You. Be our strength every morning and our salvation in time of trouble. |
| 4 | Isaiah 42:7 | to open the eyes of the blind, to bring prisoners out of the dungeon and those sitting in darkness out from the prison house. |
| 5 | Psalms 12:5 | “For the cause of the oppressed and for the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD. “I will bring safety to him who yearns.” |
| 6 | Exodus 2:23–24 | After a long time, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned and cried out under their burden of slavery, and their cry for deliverance from bondage ascended to God. So God heard their groaning, and He remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. |
| 7 | Psalms 69:33 | For the LORD listens to the needy and does not despise His captive people. |
| 8 | Ephesians 3:20 | Now to Him who is able to do so much more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, |
| 9 | Matthew 6:13 | And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ’ |
| 10 | Numbers 14:17–19 | So now I pray, may the power of my Lord be magnified, just as You have declared: ‘The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion, forgiving iniquity and transgression. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers upon their children to the third and fourth generation.’ Pardon, I pray, the iniquity of this people, in keeping with the greatness of Your loving devotion, just as You have forgiven them ever since they left Egypt.” |
Psalms 79:11 Summary
This verse is a prayer that God would hear the cries of those who are suffering and oppressed, and that He would use His great power to protect and deliver them. The psalmist is asking God to be like a strong arm that shields and defends His people, keeping them safe from harm. This is a reminder that God is a God of justice and mercy, who hears the cries of the oppressed and acts to deliver them, as seen in Psalms 103:6 and Micah 6:8. We can trust that God is able to hear our own cries and deliver us from our struggles, and we can pray with confidence that He will use His power to protect and preserve us.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for the 'groans of the captives' to reach God?
This phrase refers to the deep cries of those who are suffering and oppressed, and the Bible teaches that God hears and responds to such cries, as seen in Exodus 2:23-25 and Psalms 38:9.
Who are the 'captives' mentioned in this verse?
The captives are likely those who are being held prisoner or oppressed by their enemies, and the psalmist is asking God to hear their cries and deliver them, much like God delivered the Israelites from bondage in Egypt, as recorded in Exodus 14:13-31.
What does it mean to be 'preserved by the strength of God's arm'?
This phrase is a metaphor for God's power and protection, and it means that God is able to keep His people safe from harm, just as a strong arm can shield and defend, as seen in Deuteronomy 33:27 and Psalms 28:7.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the psalm?
This verse is part of a larger prayer for God to deliver His people from their enemies and to vindicate His name, as seen in Psalms 79:9-13, and it reflects the psalmist's trust in God's power and mercy, as expressed in Psalms 79:9.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I can 'groan' to God in my own times of suffering or oppression, and how can I trust that He hears me?
- How can I be an instrument of God's deliverance and preservation for those around me who are suffering or oppressed?
- What does it mean for me to trust in the 'strength of God's arm' in my own life, and how can I practically apply this trust in times of difficulty?
- How can I balance my desire for God to 'pay back' those who have wronged me with the command to 'love my enemies' and 'pray for those who persecute me', as seen in Matthew 5:44 and Luke 6:27-28?
Gill's Exposition on 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
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 79:11
Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die; Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee - literally,
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 79:11
Of the prisoner; of thy poor people now in prison, or, at least, in captivity. Those that are appointed to die, Heb. the children of death, i.e. which were either designed to death, or in manifest danger of it, as being wholly in the power of their cruel and barbarous enemies.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 79:11
Psalms 79:11 Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;Ver. 11. Let the sighing of the prisoner, &c.] It was lately in many places of this land a like difficult thing to find a wicked man in the enemy’ s prisons or a godly man out of them. The sighs of such were shrill in God’ s ears. Preserve thou those that are appointed to die] Heb. The children of death, those that being destined to destruction, seem to be as much in death’ s power as children are in their parents’ . The Arabic rendereth it, Redime filios occisorum, Redeem the children of those who are slain, lest the name of their parents be blotted out.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 79:11
(11) Appointed to die.—See margin. This expression, as well as the “sighing of the prisoners,” occurs, Psalms 102:20, of the sufferers in the Captivity.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 79:11
Verse 11. The sighing of the prisoner] The poor captive Israelites in Babylon, who sigh and cry because of their bondage. Those that are appointed to die] בני תמותה beney themuthah, "sons of death." Either those who were condemned to death because of their crimes, or condemned to be destroyed by their oppressors. Both these senses apply to the Israelites: they were sons of death, i.e., worthy of death because of their sins against God; they were condemned to death or utter destruction, by their Babylonish enemies.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 79:11
11. The same phrases recur in Psalms 102:20. thy power] Lit. thine arm, a word which recalls the memories of a glorious past (Exodus 15:16; Psalms 44:3). those that are appointed to die] Lit., the sons of death. It is not necessary to understand these expressions literally of prisoners sentenced to execution: more probably they denote the prison and the living death of exile (Isaiah 42:7; Isaiah 49:9; Isaiah 61:1).
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 79:11
Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee - The sighing of him who is bound.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 79:11
11. Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee—The psalmist had urged the honour and attributes of God, the covenant relation of his people, the equity of the case as between Israel and his
Sermons on Psalms 79:11
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Promised Faithfulness by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith discusses Psalm 101, which describes the perfect king and kingdom that will come from David. He emphasizes the importance of singing about mercy |
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When God Stops the Plundering by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the reasons why God rises up to deliver His people. The first reason is that God waits for us to forsake our confidence in our own power and |
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Returning to God in Enemy Territory by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the preacher invites the congregation to come forward and receive freedom and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. He emphasizes that anyone who wants to be free from |
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Rev. 3:8. the Church's Little Strength, and the Lord's Great Love by Horatius Bonar | Horatius Bonar emphasizes the tender love and gracious character of Christ as depicted in Revelation 3:8, where He acknowledges the Church's little strength while offering an open |
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The Blind Child by D.L. Moody | D.L. Moody shares a poignant story of a mother whose child is declared blind, illustrating the deep sorrow and anguish that accompanies such a loss. He emphasizes that while physic |
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Spiritual Depression by Carter Conlon | This sermon addresses spiritual depression among the godly, emphasizing the challenges faced in a society marked by godlessness and the need to trust in God's promises. It draws pa |
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Psalm 12 by Henry Law | Henry Law preaches about the comfort found in the company of holy men, the power of prayer to bring God's presence and joy, the insincerity of ungodly conversation, the blinding po |