Psalms 79:2

Authorized King James Version

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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.

Original Language Analysis

נָֽתְנ֡וּ have they given H5414
נָֽתְנ֡וּ have they given
Strong's: H5414
Word #: 1 of 11
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 2 of 11
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
נִבְלַ֬ת The dead bodies H5038
נִבְלַ֬ת The dead bodies
Strong's: H5038
Word #: 3 of 11
a flabby thing, i.e., a carcase or carrion (human or bestial, often collectively); figuratively, an idol
עֲבָדֶ֗יךָ of thy servants H5650
עֲבָדֶ֗יךָ of thy servants
Strong's: H5650
Word #: 4 of 11
a servant
מַ֭אֲכָל to be meat H3978
מַ֭אֲכָל to be meat
Strong's: H3978
Word #: 5 of 11
an eatable (including provender, flesh and fruit)
לְע֣וֹף unto the fowls H5775
לְע֣וֹף unto the fowls
Strong's: H5775
Word #: 6 of 11
a bird (as covered with feathers, or rather as covering with wings), often collectively
הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם of the heaven H8064
הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם of the heaven
Strong's: H8064
Word #: 7 of 11
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 the flesh H1320
בְּשַׂ֥ר the flesh
Strong's: H1320
Word #: 8 of 11
flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of a man
חֲ֝סִידֶ֗יךָ of thy saints H2623
חֲ֝סִידֶ֗יךָ of thy saints
Strong's: H2623
Word #: 9 of 11
properly, kind, i.e., (religiously) pious (a saint)
לְחַיְתוֹ unto the beasts H2416
לְחַיְתוֹ unto the beasts
Strong's: H2416
Word #: 10 of 11
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
אָֽרֶץ׃ of the earth H776
אָֽרֶץ׃ of the earth
Strong's: H776
Word #: 11 of 11
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

Analysis & Commentary

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. This horrifying image depicts covenant violation of the most extreme kind. The Hebrew nevelah (נְבֵלָה) for "dead bodies" specifically refers to corpses denied proper burial—an unspeakable disgrace in ancient Near Eastern culture. The psalmist laments that God's avadim (עֲבָדֶיךָ, servants) and chasidim (חֲסִידֶיךָ, faithful ones/saints) have been left as carrion.

Denial of burial violated the most basic human dignity. Deuteronomy 21:22-23 mandated same-day burial even for executed criminals. Leaving bodies exposed to scavengers was reserved for the most contemptible enemies (1 Kings 14:11; Jeremiah 7:33). Yet here, God's covenant people—those who served Him faithfully—suffer this ultimate indignity. The parallel structure emphasizes the horror: "fowls of the heaven" and "beasts of the earth" together consume those who belonged to the God of heaven and earth.

This verse echoes Jeremiah's prophecy of Jerusalem's destruction (Jeremiah 7:33, 16:4, 19:7), suggesting the psalm reflects the Babylonian conquest of 586 BC. The theological crisis is acute: if God's faithful servants suffer such desecration, where is His covenant faithfulness? The lament doesn't question God's existence but demands explanation for apparent abandonment of those who bore His name.

Historical Context

This psalm likely commemorates the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC, when Nebuchadnezzar's armies breached the walls, burned the temple, and slaughtered thousands. Archaeological evidence from this period reveals burn layers in Jerusalem and mass burial sites. The siege and its aftermath were catastrophic—starvation, mass executions, deportation, and temple desecration. Bodies would have been left unburied during the chaos, precisely fulfilling the covenant curses of Deuteronomy 28:26.

Questions for Reflection