English Standard Version
Psalms 79:2
2They have given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the heavens for food, the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the earth.
Psalms 79:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)They have left the dead bodies of your servants as food for the birds of the sky, the flesh of your own people for the animals of the wild.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The dead bodies of Your servants They have given as food for the birds of the heavens, The flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth.
- New Living Translation (NLT)They have left the bodies of your servants as food for the birds of heaven. The flesh of your godly ones has become food for the wild animals.
Context of Psalms 79:2
1O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins. They have given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the heavens for food, the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the earth. 3They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them. 4We have become a taunt to our neighbors, mocked and derided by those around us.
Read all of Psalms 79Psalms 79:2 word by word
נָֽתְנ֡וּ אֶת־נִבְלַ֬ת עֲבָדֶ֗יךָ מַ֭אֲכָל לְע֣וֹף הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם בְּשַׂ֥ר חֲ֝סִידֶ֗יךָ לְחַיְתוֹ־אָֽרֶץ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- The dead bodiesנְבֵלָהnebêlâh · carcassH5038
- of thy servantsעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
- have they givenנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- meatמַאֲכָלma'ăkâl · foodH3978
- unto the fowlsעוֹף‛ôph · birdH5775
- of the heavenשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064
- the fleshבָּשָׂרbâώâr · fleshH1320
- of thy saintsחָסִידchâsîyd · piousH2623
- unto the beastsחַיָּהchay · living thingH2416
- of the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
Cross-references for Psalms 79:2
- Jeremiah 7:33And the dead bodies of this people will be food for the birds of the air, and for the beasts of the earth, and none will frighten them away.
- Jeremiah 15:3I will appoint over them four kinds of destroyers, declares the Lord: the sword to kill, the dogs to tear, and the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth to devour and destroy.
- Jeremiah 16:4They shall die of deadly diseases. They shall not be lamented, nor shall they be buried. They shall be as dung on the surface of the ground. They shall perish by the sword and by famine, and their dead bodies shall be food for the birds of the air and for the beasts of the earth.
- Jeremiah 34:20And I will give them into the hand of their enemies and into the hand of those who seek their lives. Their dead bodies shall be food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth.
Commentaries on Psalms 79:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2The dead bodies of thy servants - It appears that in the destruction of Jerusalem the Chaldeans did not bury the bodies of the slain, but left them to be devoured by birds and beasts of prey. This was the grossest inhumanity.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2The dead bodies of thy servants - They have slain them, and left them unburied. See 2 Chronicles 36:17. This is a description of widespread carnage and slaughter, such as we know occurred at the time when Jerusalem was taken by the Chaldeans. At such a time, it is not probable that the Chaldeans would pause to bury the slain, nor is it probable that they would give opportunity to the captive Hebrews to remain to bury them. That would occur, therefore…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-4The poet laments the defilement of the temple and the success of the enemy.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2-32-3. (Compare Jr 15:3; 16:4).Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 79:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 79
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries