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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Psalm 79:2 They have given the corpses of Your servants as food to the birds of the air, the flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/psalms/79-2.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/16/19_Psa_079_002.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Psalm 79:2 - A Prayer for Deliverance" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="They have given the corpses of Your servants as food to the birds of the air, the flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/psalms/79-2.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/psalms/79-2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/psalms/">Psalms</a> > <a href="/psalms/79.htm">Chapter 79</a> > Verse 2</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad2.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/psalms/79-1.htm" title="Psalm 79:1">◄</a> Psalm 79:2 <a href="/psalms/79-3.htm" title="Psalm 79:3">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/psalms/79.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/psalms/79.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/psalms/79.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/psalms/79.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/psalms/79.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />They have given the corpses of Your servants as food to the birds of the air, the flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/psalms/79.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />The dead bodies of thy servants have they given <i>to be</i> meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/psalms/79.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />The dead bodies of Your servants They have given <i>as</i> food for the birds of the heavens, The flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/psalms/79.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />They have given the dead bodies of Your servants to the birds of the sky as food, The flesh of Your godly ones to the animals of the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/psalms/79.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />They have given the dead bodies of Your servants for food to the birds of the heavens, The flesh of Your godly ones to the beasts of the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/psalms/79.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />They have given the dead bodies of Thy servants for food to the birds of the heavens, The flesh of Thy godly ones to the beasts of the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/psalms/79.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />They have given the dead bodies of Your slaves for food to the birds of the heavens, The flesh of Your holy ones to the beasts of the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/psalms/79.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />They have given the dead bodies of Your servants as food to the birds of the heavens, The flesh of Your godly ones to the beasts of the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/psalms/79.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />They gave the corpses of your servants to the birds of the sky for food, the flesh of your faithful ones to the beasts of the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/psalms/79.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />They gave the corpses of Your servants to the birds of the sky for food, the flesh of Your godly ones to the beasts of the earth. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/psalms/79.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be food unto the birds of the heavens, The flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/psalms/79.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />They have fed the bodies of your servants to flesh-eating birds; your loyal people are food for savage animals. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/psalms/79.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/psalms/79.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />They have given the dead bodies of your servants to the birds for food. They have given the flesh of your godly ones to the animals.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/psalms/79.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />They left the bodies of your people for the vultures, the bodies of your servants for wild animals to eat. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/psalms/79.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />to give the corpses of your servants as food for the birds of the skies and the flesh of your godly ones to the beasts of the earth;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/psalms/79.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />They have given the corpses of Your servants as food to the birds of the air, the flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/psalms/79.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />They have given the corpses of your servants to the birds of the sky; the flesh of your loyal followers to the beasts of the earth. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/psalms/79.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />They have given the dead bodies of your servants to be food for the birds of the sky, the flesh of your faithful to the animals of the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/psalms/79.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be food to the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints, to the beasts of the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/psalms/79.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />They have given the dead bodies of your servants to be food for the birds of the sky, the flesh of your saints to the animals of the earth. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/psalms/79.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />They gave the dead bodies of Your servants "" [As] food for the birds of the heavens, "" The flesh of Your saints "" For the wild beast of the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/psalms/79.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> They gave the dead bodies of Thy servants Food for the fowls of the heavens, The flesh of Thy saints For the wild beast of the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/psalms/79.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />They gave the corpses of thy servants food to the birds of the heavens, the flesh of thy godly ones to the beasts of the earth.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/psalms/79.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />They have given the dead bodies of thy servants to be meat for the fowls of the air: the flesh of thy saints for the beasts of the earth. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/psalms/79.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 78:2>They have placed the dead bodies of your servants as food for the birds of the sky, the flesh of your saints for the beasts of the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/psalms/79.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />They have left the corpses of your servants as food for the birds of the sky, the flesh of those devoted to you for the beasts of the earth. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/psalms/79.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />They have given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the air for food, the flesh of your faithful to the wild animals of the earth.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/psalms/79.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat to the fowls of the heavens, the flesh of thy saints to the beasts of the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/psalms/79.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />They gave the corpses of your Servants as food for birds of the sky and the flesh of your righteous ones to the animals of the Earth.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/psalms/79.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />They have given the dead bodies of Thy servants to be food unto the fowls of the heaven, The flesh of Thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/psalms/79.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />They have given the dead bodies of thy servants <i>to be</i> food for the birds of the sky, the flesh of thy holy ones for the wild beasts of the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/psalms/79-2.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nFaD2oDhKPc?start=9961" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/psalms/79.htm">A Prayer for Deliverance</a></span><br><span class="reftext">1</span>A Psalm of Asaph. The nations, O God, have invaded Your inheritance; they have defiled Your holy temple and reduced Jerusalem to rubble. <span class="reftext">2</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/5414.htm" title="5414: nā·ṯə·nū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- To give, put, set. A primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application.">They have given</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5038.htm" title="5038: niḇ·laṯ (N-fsc) -- A carcass, corpse. From nabel; a flabby thing, i.e. A carcase or carrion; figuratively, an idol.">the corpses</a> <a href="/hebrew/5650.htm" title="5650: ‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā (N-mpc:: 2ms) -- Slave, servant. From abad; a servant.">of Your servants</a> <a href="/hebrew/3978.htm" title="3978: ma·’ă·ḵāl (N-ms) -- Food. From 'akal; an eatable.">as food</a> <a href="/hebrew/5775.htm" title="5775: lə·‘ō·wp̄ (Prep-l:: N-msc) -- Flying creatures. From uwph; a bird, often collectively.">to the birds</a> <a href="/hebrew/8064.htm" title="8064: haš·šā·mā·yim (Art:: N-mp) -- Heaven, sky. Dual of an unused singular shameh; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky.">of the air,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1320.htm" title="1320: bə·śar (N-msc) -- Flesh. From basar; flesh; by extension, body, person; also The pudenda of a man.">the flesh</a> <a href="/hebrew/2623.htm" title="2623: ḥă·sî·ḏe·ḵā (N-mpc:: 2ms) -- Kind, pious. From chacad; properly, kind, i.e. pious.">of Your saints</a> <a href="/hebrew/2416.htm" title="2416: lə·ḥay·ṯōw- (Prep-l:: N-fsc:: 3ms) -- Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life. From chayah; alive; hence, raw; fresh, strong; also life, whether literally or figuratively.">to the beasts</a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: ’ā·reṣ (N-fs) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">of the earth.</a> </span><span class="reftext">3</span>They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury the dead.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/7-33.htm">Jeremiah 7:33</a></span><br />The corpses of this people will become food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and there will be no one to scare them away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/16-4.htm">Jeremiah 16:4</a></span><br />“They will die from deadly diseases. They will not be mourned or buried, but will lie like dung on the ground. They will be finished off by sword and famine, and their corpses will become food for the birds of the air and beasts of the earth.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/19-7.htm">Jeremiah 19:7</a></span><br />And in this place I will ruin the plans of Judah and Jerusalem. I will make them fall by the sword before their enemies, by the hands of those who seek their lives, and I will give their carcasses as food to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/34-20.htm">Jeremiah 34:20</a></span><br />I will deliver into the hands of their enemies who seek their lives. Their corpses will become food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/lamentations/2-21.htm">Lamentations 2:21</a></span><br />Both young and old lie together in the dust of the streets. My young men and maidens have fallen by the sword. You have slain them in the day of Your anger; You have slaughtered them without compassion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/lamentations/4-14.htm">Lamentations 4:14</a></span><br />They wandered blind in the streets, defiled by this blood, so that no one dared to touch their garments.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/39-17.htm">Ezekiel 39:17-20</a></span><br />And as for you, son of man, this is what the Lord GOD says: Call out to every kind of bird and to every beast of the field: ‘Assemble and come together from all around to the sacrificial feast that I am preparing for you, a great feast on the mountains of Israel. There you will eat flesh and drink blood. / You will eat the flesh of the mighty and drink the blood of the princes of the earth as though they were rams, lambs, goats, and bulls—all the fattened animals of Bashan. / At the sacrifice I am preparing, you will eat fat until you are gorged and drink blood until you are drunk. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/17-44.htm">1 Samuel 17:44</a></span><br />“Come here,” he called to David, “and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/14-11.htm">1 Kings 14:11</a></span><br />Anyone belonging to Jeroboam who dies in the city will be eaten by dogs, and anyone who dies in the field will be eaten by the birds of the air.’ For the LORD has spoken.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/16-4.htm">1 Kings 16:4</a></span><br />Anyone belonging to Baasha who dies in the city will be eaten by dogs, and anyone who dies in the field will be eaten by the birds of the air.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/21-24.htm">1 Kings 21:24</a></span><br />Anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city will be eaten by dogs, and anyone who dies in the field will be eaten by the birds of the air.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/19-17.htm">Revelation 19:17-18</a></span><br />Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out in a loud voice to all the birds flying overhead, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, / so that you may eat the flesh of kings and commanders and mighty men, of horses and riders, of everyone slave and free, small and great.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/24-28.htm">Matthew 24:28</a></span><br />Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/17-37.htm">Luke 17:37</a></span><br />“Where, Lord?” they asked. Jesus answered, “Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-42.htm">Acts 7:42-43</a></span><br />But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: ‘Did you bring Me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? / You have taken along the tabernacle of Molech and the star of your god Rephan, the idols you made to worship. Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.’</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">The dead bodies of your servants have they given to be meat to the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of your saints to the beasts of the earth.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/7-33.htm">Jeremiah 7:33</a></b></br> And the carcases of this people shall be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth; and none shall fray <i>them</i> away.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/15-3.htm">Jeremiah 15:3</a></b></br> And I will appoint over them four kinds, saith the LORD: the sword to slay, and the dogs to tear, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and destroy.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/16-4.htm">Jeremiah 16:4</a></b></br> They shall die of grievous deaths; they shall not be lamented; neither shall they be buried; <i>but</i> they shall be as dung upon the face of the earth: and they shall be consumed by the sword, and by famine; and their carcases shall be meat for the fowls of heaven, and for the beasts of the earth.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/psalms/50-11.htm">Air</a> <a href="/psalms/66-15.htm">Animals</a> <a href="/psalms/74-19.htm">Beast</a> <a href="/psalms/78-48.htm">Beasts</a> <a href="/psalms/78-27.htm">Birds</a> <a href="/psalms/73-4.htm">Bodies</a> <a href="/psalms/76-6.htm">Dead</a> <a href="/psalms/78-69.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/psalms/78-45.htm">Flesh</a> <a href="/psalms/78-72.htm">Food</a> <a href="/psalms/78-27.htm">Fowl</a> <a href="/psalms/78-27.htm">Fowls</a> <a href="/psalms/52-9.htm">Godly</a> <a href="/psalms/78-69.htm">Heaven</a> <a href="/psalms/78-69.htm">Heavens</a> <a href="/psalms/78-30.htm">Meat</a> <a href="/psalms/78-71.htm">Ones</a> <a href="/psalms/52-9.htm">Saints</a> <a href="/psalms/72-11.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/psalms/78-26.htm">Sky</a> <a href="/psalms/74-19.htm">Wild</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/psalms/104-12.htm">Air</a> <a href="/psalms/80-13.htm">Animals</a> <a href="/psalms/80-13.htm">Beast</a> <a href="/psalms/80-13.htm">Beasts</a> <a href="/psalms/84-3.htm">Birds</a> <a href="/psalms/83-10.htm">Bodies</a> <a href="/psalms/79-3.htm">Dead</a> <a href="/psalms/82-5.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/psalms/84-2.htm">Flesh</a> <a href="/psalms/80-5.htm">Food</a> <a href="/psalms/104-12.htm">Fowl</a> <a href="/psalms/104-12.htm">Fowls</a> <a href="/psalms/85-8.htm">Godly</a> <a href="/psalms/80-14.htm">Heaven</a> <a href="/psalms/85-11.htm">Heavens</a> <a href="/psalms/79-7.htm">Meat</a> <a href="/psalms/83-3.htm">Ones</a> <a href="/psalms/85-8.htm">Saints</a> <a href="/psalms/79-10.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/psalms/85-11.htm">Sky</a> <a href="/psalms/80-13.htm">Wild</a><div class="vheading2">Psalm 79</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/79-1.htm">The psalmist complains of the desolation of Jerusalem</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/79-8.htm">He prays for deliverance</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/79-13.htm">and promises thankfulness</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/79.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/psalms/79.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>They have given the corpses of Your servants as food to the birds of the air</b><br>This phrase reflects the aftermath of a devastating attack, likely by the Babylonians, on Jerusalem. The desecration of the dead was a profound dishonor in ancient Israelite culture, as proper burial was a sign of respect and dignity. The imagery of corpses left unburied for scavenging birds is reminiscent of covenant curses found in <a href="/deuteronomy/28-26.htm">Deuteronomy 28:26</a>, where disobedience to God would result in such calamities. This serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of turning away from God. The "servants" here are the faithful Israelites who suffered during the invasion, highlighting the communal aspect of suffering and judgment.<p><b>the flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth</b><br>The term "saints" refers to those set apart for God, emphasizing their covenant relationship with Him. The desecration of their bodies by wild animals further underscores the severity of the judgment and the depth of the nation's fall from grace. This imagery is echoed in prophetic literature, such as <a href="/jeremiah/7-33.htm">Jeremiah 7:33</a>, where the unburied dead are left as food for beasts, symbolizing divine judgment. Theologically, this can be seen as a type of Christ, who, though innocent, suffered and was humiliated, yet ultimately triumphed over death. The phrase also serves as a call to repentance and a reminder of the hope for restoration and resurrection, as seen in <a href="/ezekiel/37.htm">Ezekiel 37</a>'s vision of dry bones coming to life.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_psalmist.htm">The Psalmist (Asaph)</a></b><br>The author of <a href="/bsb/psalms/79.htm">Psalm 79</a>, traditionally attributed to Asaph, a prominent Levite singer and seer in David's court. He is expressing lament over the destruction of Jerusalem.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a></b><br>The city that has been invaded and desecrated, leading to the tragic events described in the Psalm.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_servants_of_god.htm">The Servants of God</a></b><br>Refers to the faithful followers of God who have suffered and died during the invasion.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/b/birds_of_the_air_and_beasts_of_the_earth.htm">Birds of the Air and Beasts of the Earth</a></b><br>Symbolic of the desecration and dishonor faced by the people of God, as their bodies are left unburied.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/i/invading_nations.htm">Invading Nations</a></b><br>The foreign powers responsible for the destruction and desecration of Jerusalem and its people.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_disobedience.htm">The Consequences of Disobedience</a></b><br>The devastation described in <a href="/psalms/79-2.htm">Psalm 79:2</a> serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of turning away from God. It calls believers to reflect on their own lives and ensure they are walking in obedience to God's commands.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_reality_of_suffering.htm">The Reality of Suffering</a></b><br>This verse acknowledges the harsh realities of suffering and persecution that God's people may face. It encourages believers to find solace in God's ultimate justice and sovereignty, even amidst trials.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_call_to_lament.htm">The Call to Lament</a></b><br>The lament in <a href="/psalms/79-2.htm">Psalm 79:2</a> teaches the importance of bringing our grief and sorrow before God. It is a model for how to express deep anguish while still trusting in God's faithfulness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_hope_of_restoration.htm">The Hope of Restoration</a></b><br>While the verse depicts a scene of despair, it is part of a larger account that includes hope for restoration and redemption. Believers are reminded that God is a God of restoration and will ultimately vindicate His people.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_community.htm">The Importance of Community</a></b><br>The communal nature of the lament highlights the importance of standing together in times of crisis. It encourages believers to support one another and seek God collectively in prayer and worship.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_psalm_79.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 79</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_blame_invaders,_not_israel,_in_psalm_79.htm">Why does Psalm 79 place sole blame on invading nations without acknowledging Israel's own possible role in its downfall?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/evidence_for_psalm_79_1-3_desecration.htm">Is there archaeological evidence confirming the large-scale desecration described in Psalm 79:1–3? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_did_asaph_write_psalm_79_posthumously.htm">If Psalm 79 is attributed to Asaph (Psalm 79:1), how could he have written it about events that occurred centuries after his lifetime? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_psalm_123_2_contradict_egalitarianism.htm">Does Psalm 123:2, likening believers to servants at a master's hand, suggest a power dynamic that contradicts more egalitarian biblical passages?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/psalms/79.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(2) In addition to references in Margin see <a href="/deuteronomy/28-26.htm" title="And your carcass shall be meat to all fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the earth, and no man shall fray them away.">Deuteronomy 28:26</a>.<p><span class= "bld">Saints.</span>--Heb., <span class= "ital">chasidim. </span>(See Note, <a href="/psalms/16-10.htm" title="For you will not leave my soul in hell; neither will you suffer your Holy One to see corruption.">Psalm 16:10</a>.) Here with definite allusion to the <span class= "ital">Assd?ans </span>of 1 Maccabees 7.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/psalms/79.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 2.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to Be meat unto the fowls of the heaven.</span> A common incident of warfare (see the Assyrian sculptures, <span class="accented">passim</span>)<span class="accented">. <span class="cmt_word"></span>The flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth;</span> or, <span class="accented">of the land.</span> Hyaenas and jackals would dispute the flesh of the slain with vultures and crows. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/psalms/79-2.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">They have given</span><br /><span class="heb">נָֽתְנ֡וּ</span> <span class="translit">(nā·ṯə·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5414.htm">Strong's 5414: </a> </span><span class="str2">To give, put, set</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the corpses</span><br /><span class="heb">נִבְלַ֬ת</span> <span class="translit">(niḇ·laṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5038.htm">Strong's 5038: </a> </span><span class="str2">A flabby thing, a carcase, carrion, an idol</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Your servants</span><br /><span class="heb">עֲבָדֶ֗יךָ</span> <span class="translit">(‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5650.htm">Strong's 5650: </a> </span><span class="str2">Slave, servant</span><br /><br /><span class="word">as food</span><br /><span class="heb">מַ֭אֲכָל</span> <span class="translit">(ma·’ă·ḵāl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3978.htm">Strong's 3978: </a> </span><span class="str2">An eatable</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to the birds</span><br /><span class="heb">לְע֣וֹף</span> <span class="translit">(lə·‘ō·wp̄)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5775.htm">Strong's 5775: </a> </span><span class="str2">Flying creatures</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the air,</span><br /><span class="heb">הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם</span> <span class="translit">(haš·šā·mā·yim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8064.htm">Strong's 8064: </a> </span><span class="str2">Heaven, sky</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the flesh</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּשַׂ֥ר</span> <span class="translit">(bə·śar)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1320.htm">Strong's 1320: </a> </span><span class="str2">Flesh, body, person, the pudenda of a, man</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Your saints</span><br /><span class="heb">חֲ֝סִידֶ֗יךָ</span> <span class="translit">(ḥă·sî·ḏe·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2623.htm">Strong's 2623: </a> </span><span class="str2">Kind, pious</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to the beasts</span><br /><span class="heb">לְחַיְתוֹ־</span> <span class="translit">(lə·ḥay·ṯōw-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2416.htm">Strong's 2416: </a> </span><span class="str2">Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the earth.</span><br /><span class="heb">אָֽרֶץ׃</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·reṣ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> </span><span class="str2">Earth, land</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/psalms/79-2.htm">Psalm 79:2 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/psalms/79-2.htm">Psalm 79:2 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/psalms/79-2.htm">Psalm 79:2 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/psalms/79-2.htm">Psalm 79:2 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/psalms/79-2.htm">Psalm 79:2 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/psalms/79-2.htm">Psalm 79:2 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/psalms/79-2.htm">Psalm 79:2 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/psalms/79-2.htm">Psalm 79:2 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/psalms/79-2.htm">Psalm 79:2 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/psalms/79-2.htm">Psalm 79:2 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/psalms/79-2.htm">OT Poetry: Psalm 79:2 They have given the dead bodies (Psalm Ps Psa.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/psalms/79-1.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Psalm 79:1"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Psalm 79:1" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/psalms/79-3.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Psalm 79:3"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Psalm 79:3" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>