Psalms 79:3
Psalms 79:3 in Multiple Translations
They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury the dead.
Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.
Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; And there was none to bury them.
Their blood has been flowing like water round about Jerusalem; there was no one to put them in their last resting-place.
They have poured out the blood of Jerusalem's people like water all through the city; no one remains to bury the dead.
Their blood haue they shead like waters rounde about Ierusalem, and there was none to burie them.
They have shed their blood As water round about Jerusalem, And there is none burying.
They have shed their blood like water around Jerusalem. There was no one to bury them.
Their blood have they shed like water around Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them .
Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasses. Stir up thy might, and come to save us.
When they killed your people, your people’s blood flowed like water through the streets of Jerusalem, and there was almost no one [HYP] left to bury their corpses.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 79:3
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 79:3 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
שָׁפְכ֬וּ
דָמָ֨/ם
כַּ/מַּ֗יִם
סְֽבִ֘יב֤וֹת
יְֽרוּשָׁלִָ֗ם
וְ/אֵ֣ין
קוֹבֵֽר
שָׁפְכ֬וּ
shâphak
H8210
to pour
V-Qal-Perf-3cp
דָמָ֨/ם
dâm
H1818
blood
N-ms | Suff
כַּ/מַּ֗יִם
mayim
H4325
Water (Gate)
Prep | N-mp
סְֽבִ֘יב֤וֹת
çâbîyb
H5439
around
N-cp
יְֽרוּשָׁלִָ֗ם
Yᵉrûwshâlaim
H3389
Jerusalem
N-proper
וְ/אֵ֣ין
ʼayin
H369
nothing
Conj | Part
קוֹבֵֽר
qâbar
H6912
to bury
V-Qal
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 79:3
שָׁפְכ֬וּ
shâphak
H8210
"to pour"
V-Qal-Perf-3cp
To pour or spill something out, like blood or a liquid. In the Bible, it can mean to shed blood or to pour out one's heart in prayer or complaint. For example, in Psalm 42:4, the writer pours out his soul to God.
Definition: : pour 1) to pour, pour out, spill 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to pour, pour out 1a2) to shed (blood) 1a3) to pour out (anger or heart) (fig) 1b) (Niphal) to be poured out, be shed 1c) (Pual) to be poured out, be shed 1d) (Hithpael) 1d1) to be poured out 1d2) to pour out oneself
Usage: Occurs in 111 OT verses. KJV: cast (up), gush out, pour (out), shed(-der, out), slip. See also: Genesis 9:6; Jeremiah 6:6; Psalms 22:15.
דָמָ֨/ם
dâm
H1818
"blood"
N-ms | Suff
Blood refers to the liquid that flows through the body, essential for life. In the Bible, blood is often used to symbolize life, guilt, or sacrifice, as seen in the story of Jesus' crucifixion.
Definition: 1) blood 1a) of wine (fig.)
Usage: Occurs in 295 OT verses. KJV: blood(-y, -guiltiness, (-thirsty), [phrase] innocent. See also: Genesis 4:10; Numbers 19:5; Psalms 5:7.
כַּ/מַּ֗יִם
mayim
H4325
"Water (Gate)"
Prep | N-mp
This word means water, referring to a liquid or a source of refreshment. It appears in the Bible as a literal and figurative term, including references to wasting or urine. The word is used in various contexts, such as in Genesis and Leviticus.
Definition: This name means water, refreshment
Usage: Occurs in 525 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)). See also: Genesis 1:2; Leviticus 14:9; Joshua 18:15.
סְֽבִ֘יב֤וֹת
çâbîyb
H5439
"around"
N-cp
This word describes something that surrounds or encompasses, like a circle or neighborhood, and can also mean around or about, as in on every side. It is used to describe physical locations and proximity. The KJV translates it as about or circuit.
Definition: : around/border subst 1) places round about, circuit, round about adv 2) in a circuit, a circuit, round about prep 3) in the circuit, from every side
Usage: Occurs in 282 OT verses. KJV: (place, round) about, circuit, compass, on every side. See also: Genesis 23:17; 1 Kings 7:24; Psalms 3:7.
יְֽרוּשָׁלִָ֗ם
Yᵉrûwshâlaim
H3389
"Jerusalem"
N-proper
Jerusalem is the capital city of Palestine, also known as the city of peace. It was the chief city of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split.
Definition: § Jerusalem = "teaching of peace" the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split
Usage: Occurs in 600 OT verses. KJV: Jerusalem. See also: Joshua 10:1; 2 Kings 22:14; 2 Chronicles 24:6.
וְ/אֵ֣ין
ʼayin
H369
"nothing"
Conj | Part
This word means nothing or not, often used to indicate the absence of something, as in Genesis 1:2 where the earth was without form. It emphasizes the idea of something lacking or non-existent.
Definition: 1) nothing, not, nought n 1a) nothing, nought neg 1b) not 1c) to have not (of possession) adv 1d) without w/prep 1e) for lack of
Usage: Occurs in 686 OT verses. KJV: else, except, fail, (father-) less, be gone, in(-curable), neither, never, no (where), none, nor, (any, thing), not, nothing, to nought, past, un(-searchable), well-nigh, without. Compare H370 (אַיִן). See also: Genesis 2:5; Deuteronomy 14:27; 1 Kings 15:22.
קוֹבֵֽר
qâbar
H6912
"to bury"
V-Qal
To bury means to inter or lay someone to rest, often in a grave or tomb. This word is used throughout the Bible to describe the act of burying the dead, and is translated as bury in the KJV.
Definition: 1) to bury 1a) (Qal) to bury 1b) (Niphal) to be buried 1c) (Piel) to bury, bury (in masses) 1d) (Pual) to be buried
Usage: Occurs in 122 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] in any wise, bury(-ier). See also: Genesis 15:15; 1 Kings 14:31; Psalms 79:3.
Study Notes — Psalms 79:3
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 79:3 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 79:3
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 79:3
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 79:3
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 79:3
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 79:3
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 79:3
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 79:3
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 79:3
- Sermons on Psalms 79:3
Context — A Prayer for Deliverance
1The nations, O God, have invaded Your inheritance; they have defiled Your holy temple and reduced Jerusalem to rubble.
2They have given the corpses of Your servants as food to the birds of the air, the flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth.
3They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury the dead.
4We have become a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and derision to those around us. 5How long, O LORD? Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy burn like fire?Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah 16:4 | “They will die from deadly diseases. They will not be mourned or buried, but will lie like dung on the ground. They will be finished off by sword and famine, and their corpses will become food for the birds of the air and beasts of the earth.” |
| 2 | Jeremiah 14:16 | And the people to whom they prophesy will be thrown into the streets of Jerusalem because of famine and sword. There will be no one to bury them or their wives, their sons or their daughters. I will pour out their own evil upon them. |
| 3 | Revelation 11:9 | For three and a half days all peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will view their bodies and will not permit them to be laid in a tomb. |
| 4 | Revelation 17:6 | I could see that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and witnesses for Jesus. And I was utterly amazed at the sight of her. |
| 5 | Jeremiah 25:33 | Those slain by the LORD on that day will be spread from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be mourned, gathered, or buried. They will be like dung lying on the ground. |
| 6 | Jeremiah 15:3 | I will appoint over them four kinds of destroyers, declares the LORD: the sword to kill, the dogs to drag away, and the birds of the air and beasts of the earth to devour and destroy. |
| 7 | Revelation 18:24 | And there was found in her the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who had been slain on the earth. |
| 8 | Jeremiah 8:1–2 | “At that time,” declares the LORD, “the bones of the kings of Judah, the bones of the officials, the bones of the priests, the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the people of Jerusalem will be removed from their graves. They will be exposed to the sun and moon, and to all the host of heaven which they have loved, served, followed, consulted, and worshiped. Their bones will not be gathered up or buried, but will become like dung lying on the ground. |
| 9 | Revelation 16:6 | For they have spilled the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink, as they deserve.” |
| 10 | Romans 8:36 | As it is written: “For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” |
Psalms 79:3 Summary
This verse, Psalms 79:3, describes a horrific scene where God's people have been brutally killed and their bodies left unburied around Jerusalem. It shows how serious the consequences can be when we turn away from God, as seen in the surrounding verses like Psalms 79:1-2. The image of blood poured out like water is a powerful reminder of the value of human life, as taught in Genesis 9:6, and the need for us to respect and protect it. By reflecting on this verse, we can deepen our understanding of God's justice and mercy, and our responsibility to live according to His will, as guided by scriptures like Matthew 22:37-40.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the image of blood being poured out like water in Psalms 79:3?
The image of blood being poured out like water in Psalms 79:3 signifies the brutal and senseless slaughter of God's people, as seen in other passages like Ezekiel 16:38 and Isaiah 59:7, highlighting the severity of the violence and the disregard for human life.
Why is there no one to bury the dead in Psalms 79:3?
The lack of burial for the dead in Psalms 79:3 indicates the complete destruction and chaos that has befallen Jerusalem, leaving no one to perform even the basic rites of burial, much like the desolation described in Jeremiah 14:16 and Lamentations 5:11-12.
How does this verse relate to the concept of God's judgment and mercy?
Psalms 79:3 shows the consequences of God's judgment on His people due to their sins, as seen in verses like Psalms 79:1-2, but also sets the stage for a cry for mercy and restoration, as expressed in Psalms 79:4-5, reflecting the balance between God's justice and mercy found in passages like Romans 11:22.
What does this verse teach us about the importance of respecting human life?
The horrific scene described in Psalms 79:3 emphasizes the value God places on human life, as taught in Genesis 9:6 and Exodus 20:13, and serves as a reminder of our responsibility to respect and protect life, as commanded in various scriptures like Matthew 22:39.
Reflection Questions
- How does the description of blood being poured out like water around Jerusalem affect my understanding of the severity of sin and its consequences?
- In what ways can I apply the lesson of respecting human life, as implied in Psalms 79:3, to my interactions with others and my stance on social issues?
- What role does faith and trust in God play in the midst of such devastation and chaos, as described in this verse and surrounding passages?
- How does the lack of burial for the dead in this verse reflect the spiritual desolation that can result from turning away from God, and what does this teach me about the importance of spiritual nurturing and community?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 79:3
Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem,.... Without any concern of mind, or remorse of conscience; without any fear of God or man; as if it had been so much water only; and this
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 79:3
The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 79:3
Like water; plentifully and contemptuously, valuing it no more than common water. None to bury them, because their friends, who should have done it, were either slain or fled, or were not permitted, or durst not undertake, to perform that office to them.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 79:3
Psalms 79:3 Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and [there was] none to bury [them].Ver. 3. Their blood have they shed like water] Contemptim vel abiecte. They made no more reckoning of it than of ditch water; and were ready to say, as Hannibal did when he saw a ditch full of men’ s blood, O formosum spectaculum! O beautiful sight! And there was none to bury them] Either none to bury them at all, which the Jews accounted worse than death, Ecclesiastes 6:3, and the Romans extreme cruelty, Immanitatis est Scythicae non sepelire mortuos (Sen. ad Martiam); or none to bury them cum ritibus, with the accustomed rites and ceremonies, as Jacob was buried, Genesis 50:1-13, but not Jeconiah, Jeremiah 22:18.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 79:3
(3) Their blood.—In 1Ma 7:17, we read “The flesh of thy saints and their blood have they shed round about Jerusalem, and there was none to bury them,” introduced by “according to the word which he wrote.” This is evidently a free quotation from this psalm, and seems to imply a reference to a contemporary. None to bury.—For this aggravation of the evil comp. Jeremiah 14:16; Jeremiah 22:18-19.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 79:3
Verse 3. There was none to bury them.] The Chaldeans would not; and the Jews who were not slain were carried into captivity.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 79:3
3. like water] Freely, and as though it were of little worth. Contrast Psalms 116:15. none to bury them] Cp. Jeremiah 14:16. This passage is quoted freely in 1Ma 7:17 with reference to the murder of certain Assideans by the high priest Alcimus, “He took of them threescore men and slew them in one day, according to the words which one wrote, The flesh of thy saints and their blood did they shed round about Jerusalem, and they had none to bury them.” Clearly the meaning cannot be that the Psalm was written with reference to that event, for by that time (b.c. 162) the situation of affairs was wholly different from that described in the Psalm. Judas had won many victories, and the Temple had been re-dedicated. Moreover the Psalm implies a much more extensive slaughter of Israelites, and that by heathen, not by a treacherous Israelite. There is probably another reminiscence of Psa 79:3 in 1Ma 1:37, “They shed innocent blood on every side of the sanctuary, and defiled it.”
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 79:3
Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem - They have poured it out in such quantities that it seems to flow like water - not an uncommon occurrence in war.
Sermons on Psalms 79:3
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Exposition on Psalm 80 by St. Augustine | St. Augustine preaches on the Psalms, focusing on the Advent of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and the symbolism of the vineyard representing Christ and the Church. He delves in |
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When God Weeps by Edgar Reich | In this sermon, the preacher describes a scene of desperation and famine, comparing it to the current situation in Texas. The people are suffering from thirst and hunger, with parc |
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Communism, Islam, Sept 11, Soverenty of God - Part3 by Josef Tson | In this sermon, the speaker shares their personal journey of studying linguistics and literature before being called to study theology in Oxford University. They express their real |
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Things God Wants Us to Know - Part 1 by Brother Andrew | In this sermon, Brother Andrew shares four things that God wants us to know. He emphasizes the importance of prayer and the impact it can have, as demonstrated by the story of a ma |
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Are You One of the Chosen Ones? by Paris Reidhead | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of understanding the influence of ideas and philosophy in shaping our society. He points out that in today's generation, ther |
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Epistle 34 by George Fox | George Fox emphasizes the importance of staying true to the light of Christ within each individual, warning against speaking presumptuously about God out of fear or pride. He urges |
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The Incredible Signs That Follow Those Who Believe by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the four judgments that God will bring upon his people. These judgments include the sword to slay, the dogs to tear, the fowls of the heaven, |