Psalms 79:2

Authorized King James Version

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.

Word-by-Word Analysis

נָֽתְנ֡וּ

H5414

have they given

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

אֶת

H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

נִבְלַ֬ת

H5038

The dead bodies

a flabby thing, i.e., a carcase or carrion (human or bestial, often collectively); figuratively, an idol

עֲבָדֶ֗יךָ

H5650

of thy servants

a servant

מַ֭אֲכָל

H3978

to be meat

an eatable (including provender, flesh and fruit)

לְע֣וֹף

H5775

unto the fowls

a bird (as covered with feathers, or rather as covering with wings), often collectively

הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם

H8064

of the heaven

the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r

בְּשַׂ֥ר

H1320

the flesh

flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of a man

חֲ֝סִידֶ֗יךָ

H2623

of thy saints

properly, kind, i.e., (religiously) pious (a saint)

#10

לְחַיְתוֹ

H2416

unto the beasts

alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin

#11

אָֽרֶץ׃

H776

of the earth

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

Analysis

This verse develops the worship and praise theme central to Psalms. The concept of divine revelation reflects the proper human response to God's character and works. The literary structure and word choice here contribute to worship literature expressing the full range of human experience before God, advancing the author's theological argument. The original language emphasizes careful word choice that would have carried specific theological weight for the original audience, providing deeper understanding of the author's theological intention.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the Israelite monarchy with its court politics and military conflicts. The author writes to address worshipers in the temple and those seeking God in times of distress, making the emphasis on worship and praise particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

How does the worship and praise theme in this verse connect to the overarching narrative of Scripture, and what does this reveal about God's character and purposes?
What practical applications emerge from understanding worship and praise as presented in this verse, particularly in light of contemporary challenges facing the church and individual believers?
In what ways does understanding divine revelation in its original context challenge or deepen contemporary Christian thinking about worship and praise?