The Meaning of Psalms 79:11 Explained

Psalms 79:11

KJV: Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;

YLT: Let the groaning of the prisoner come in before Thee, According to the greatness of Thine arm, Leave Thou the sons of death.

Darby: Let the groaning of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thine arm, preserve those that are appointed to die;

ASV: Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee: According to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to death;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Let the sighing  of the prisoner  come  before  thee; according to the greatness  of thy power  preserve  thou those that are appointed  to die; 

What does Psalms 79:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 79:1-13 - "help Us, O God Of Our Salvation"
It was the period of the Chaldean invasion. This cry of horror went forth from the heart of the Chosen People, who had looked upon the sacred shrine as inviolable. They could not believe that the tide of invasion could break in upon Jerusalem, or that the Holy City should be defiled by the profane feet of the heathen. This psalm should be compared with the book of Lamentations. We there find the same horror, the same anguish, the same sense of surprise, the same hatred of the foe, the same cry to God.
Does it seem as if God were angry with you? Have the heathen forced their way into the inner shrine and city of your heart? Are you brought very low and near unto death? Then begin to inquire whether some sin may not have alienated God from you. Confess it and put it away. Turn to God with a free and glad faith. Ask that His mercies may prevent (literally, "go before") and His help succor you, for His Name's sake. The sighing of the captive and the greatness of God power, Psalms 79:11, are in close affinity; and when you are delivered, remember your vows, and show forth His praise to all within your reach. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 79

1  The psalmist complains of the desolation of Jerusalem
8  He prays for deliverance
13  and promises thankfulness

What do the individual words in Psalms 79:11 mean?

Let come before You the groaning of the prisoner According to the greatness of Your power Preserve sons those who are [appointed] to die
תָּ֤ב֣וֹא לְפָנֶיךָ֮ אֶנְקַ֪ת אָ֫סִ֥יר כְּגֹ֥דֶל זְרוֹעֲךָ֑ ה֝וֹתֵ֗ר בְּנֵ֣י תְמוּתָֽה

תָּ֤ב֣וֹא  Let  come 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
לְפָנֶיךָ֮  before  You 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
אֶנְקַ֪ת  the  groaning 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֲנָקָה  
Sense: crying, groaning, lamentation.
אָ֫סִ֥יר  of  the  prisoner 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַסִּיר  
Sense: prisoners (collective).
כְּגֹ֥דֶל  According  to  the  greatness 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: גֹּדֶל  
Sense: greatness.
זְרוֹעֲךָ֑  of  Your  power 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: זְרֹועַ  
Sense: arm, forearm, shoulder, strength.
ה֝וֹתֵ֗ר  Preserve 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: יָתַר  
Sense: to be left over, remain, remain over, leave.
בְּנֵ֣י  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
תְמוּתָֽה  those  who  are  [appointed]  to  die 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: תְּמוּתָה  
Sense: death.