The Meaning of Psalms 79:9 Explained

Psalms 79:9

KJV: Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake.

YLT: Help us, O God of our salvation, Because of the honour of Thy name, And deliver us, and cover over our sins, For Thy name's sake.

Darby: Help us, O God of our salvation, because of the glory of thy name; and deliver us, and forgive our sins, for thy name's sake.

ASV: Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name; And deliver us, and forgive our sins, for thy name's sake.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Help  us, O God  of our salvation,  for  the glory  of thy name:  and deliver  us, and purge away  our sins,  for thy name's  sake. 

What does Psalms 79:9 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 79:9 mean?

Help us God of our salvation for - the glory of Your name and deliver us and provide atonement our sins for sake of Your name
עָזְרֵ֤נוּ ׀ אֱלֹ֘הֵ֤י יִשְׁעֵ֗נוּ עַל־ דְּבַ֥ר כְּבֽוֹד־ שְׁמֶ֑ךָ וְהַצִּילֵ֥נוּ וְכַפֵּ֥ר חַ֝טֹּאתֵ֗ינוּ לְמַ֣עַן שְׁמֶֽךָ

עָזְרֵ֤נוּ ׀  Help  us 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular, first person common plural
Root: עָזַר  
Sense: to help, succour, support.
אֱלֹ֘הֵ֤י  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
יִשְׁעֵ֗נוּ  of  our  salvation 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common plural
Root: יֵשַׁע  
Sense: deliverance, salvation, rescue, safety, welfare.
דְּבַ֥ר  - 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
כְּבֽוֹד־  the  glory 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כָּבֹוד  
Sense: glory, honour, glorious, abundance.
שְׁמֶ֑ךָ  of  Your  name 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
וְהַצִּילֵ֥נוּ  and  deliver  us 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine singular, first person common plural
Root: נָצַל  
Sense: to snatch away, deliver, rescue, save, strip, plunder.
וְכַפֵּ֥ר  and  provide  atonement 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: כָּפַר 
Sense: to cover, purge, make an atonement, make reconciliation, cover over with pitch.
חַ֝טֹּאתֵ֗ינוּ  our  sins 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: חַטָּאָה 
Sense: sin, sinful.
לְמַ֣עַן  for  sake 
Parse: Preposition
Root: לְמַעַן 
Sense: purpose, intent prep.
שְׁמֶֽךָ  of  Your  name 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.