Psalms 79:11

Authorized King James Version

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

Original Language Analysis

תָּ֤ב֣וֹא come H935
תָּ֤ב֣וֹא come
Strong's: H935
Word #: 1 of 9
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
לְפָנֶיךָ֮ before H6440
לְפָנֶיךָ֮ before
Strong's: H6440
Word #: 2 of 9
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
אֶנְקַ֪ת Let the sighing H603
אֶנְקַ֪ת Let the sighing
Strong's: H603
Word #: 3 of 9
shrieking
אָ֫סִ֥יר of the prisoner H615
אָ֫סִ֥יר of the prisoner
Strong's: H615
Word #: 4 of 9
bound, i.e., a captive
כְּגֹ֥דֶל thee according to the greatness H1433
כְּגֹ֥דֶל thee according to the greatness
Strong's: H1433
Word #: 5 of 9
magnitude (literally or figuratively)
זְרוֹעֲךָ֑ of thy power H2220
זְרוֹעֲךָ֑ of thy power
Strong's: H2220
Word #: 6 of 9
the arm (as stretched out), or (of animals) the foreleg; figuratively, force
ה֝וֹתֵ֗ר preserve H3498
ה֝וֹתֵ֗ר preserve
Strong's: H3498
Word #: 7 of 9
to jut over or exceed; by implication, to excel; (intransitively) to remain or be left; causatively to leave, cause to abound, preserve
בְּנֵ֣י thou those that are appointed H1121
בְּנֵ֣י thou those that are appointed
Strong's: H1121
Word #: 8 of 9
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
תְמוּתָֽה׃ to die H8546
תְמוּתָֽה׃ to die
Strong's: H8546
Word #: 9 of 9
execution (as a doom)

Analysis & Commentary

Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die; This verse shifts imagery from slaughtered dead to living prisoners awaiting execution. "Sighing" (en'qat, אֶנְקַת) derives from anaq (אָנַק), meaning groaning, sighing—the involuntary sounds of anguish too deep for words. This echoes Romans 8:26's Spirit-interpreted groans. "The prisoner" (asir, אָסִיר) refers to captives—likely exiles in Babylon or survivors facing execution.

"Come before thee" (tavo lefanekha, תָּבוֹא לְפָנֶיךָ) requests that these inarticulate groans reach God's throne as acceptable prayer. The phrase assumes God hears and cares, even when His people can't formulate coherent petitions. This reflects Hebrew anthropology: God perceives heart-cries that transcend verbal expression. The prisoners' wordless groans become liturgy ascending to heaven.

"According to the greatness of thy power" (kegodel zero'akha, כְּגֹדֶל זְרוֹעֲךָ) appeals to God's zero'a (זְרוֹעַ, arm)—symbol of divine might demonstrated in exodus (Exodus 6:6, 15:16). "Preserve those appointed to die" (hoter beney temutah, הוֹתֵר בְּנֵי תְמוּתָה) literally means "leave remaining the children of death"—those already sentenced to execution. The request is for miraculous intervention: reverse irreversible sentences, rescue those beyond human help. Only divine power can save the condemned.

Historical Context

The phrase "appointed to die" reflects the precarious existence of exiles under foreign rule. Babylonian kings held power of life and death over captive populations. Daniel 2:12-13 illustrates such arbitrary death sentences. The appeal to God's "arm" recalls exodus deliverance, drawing parallel between Egyptian bondage and Babylonian exile. Just as God's power freed Israel from Pharaoh, it can free them from Nebuchadnezzar. This typological thinking shaped Israel's hope for new exodus.

Questions for Reflection