Psalms 79:4

We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.

We are become a reproach {H2781} to our neighbours {H7934}, a scorn {H3933} and derision {H7047} to them that are round about {H5439} us.

We suffer the taunts of our neighbors, we are mocked and scorned by those around us.

We have become a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and derision to those around us.

We are become a reproach to our neighbors, A scoffing and derision to them that are round about us.

Psalm 79:4 is a poignant cry from the heart of a people experiencing profound national humiliation. It describes the devastating aftermath of invasion and destruction, where the once-proud nation of Israel has become an object of ridicule to its surrounding neighbors.

Context

The historical context for Psalm 79:4 is the devastating destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple, likely referring to the Babylonian invasion and exile in 586 BC. The psalmist, representing the collective voice of Israel, laments the profound humiliation experienced by God's chosen people. Their holy city lay in ruins, and they had become a spectacle of misery and weakness to surrounding nations, who often viewed such defeat as evidence of their deity's impotence. This verse vividly portrays the shame of a nation whose identity was deeply intertwined with God's presence among them, now exposed to the scorn of their adversaries.

Key Themes

  • National Humiliation: The verse vividly portrays the disgrace and shame of Israel, brought low in the eyes of other nations. Their defeat was not merely a military loss but a deep wound to their national pride and religious identity.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: While not explicitly stated in this verse, the broader context of the Old Testament often links such national suffering to Israel's unfaithfulness to God's covenant. This state of being a 'reproach' was a direct consequence of Israel's disobedience, as forewarned in the Mosaic covenant (Deuteronomy 28:37).
  • God's Honor at Stake: The psalm highlights the profound humiliation of God's people, not just for their own sake, but because it reflected poorly on the God they claimed to serve. Their suffering became a point of mockery, challenging the perception of God's power and faithfulness among pagan nations (compare Ezekiel 36:20).
  • Lament and Appeal: As part of a communal lament, this verse sets the stage for the psalm's desperate appeal to God for intervention and restoration.

Linguistic Insights

The terms used in this verse emphasize the depth of the public disgrace:

  • "Reproach" (Hebrew: ḥerpa, חֶרְפָּה): This word signifies shame, disgrace, or insult. It often implies a public dishonoring, where one becomes an object of contempt.
  • "Scorn" (Hebrew: la'ag, לַעַג): Refers to mockery or derision, often expressed through visible contempt or taunting.
  • "Derision" (Hebrew: qeles, קֶלֶס): Similar to scorn, denoting ridicule, scoffing, or jeering.

Together, these words paint a picture of intense, widespread, and active humiliation, where Israel's suffering was not just observed but actively mocked by those around them.

Practical Application

Psalm 79:4 serves as a powerful reminder of the potential consequences of national or personal sin that leads to public disgrace. For believers today, it underscores the importance of living in a manner that honors God's name, as our actions can impact how others perceive the faith we profess. When facing hardship or public criticism, this verse also offers a framework for lament—a candid expression of pain and humiliation before God, trusting in His ultimate deliverance and vindication (as seen in the psalm's later appeal, e.g., Psalm 79:9). It reminds us that even in times of profound suffering, God hears the cries of His people and is ultimately concerned with the glory of His own name.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 80:6

    Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours: and our enemies laugh among themselves.

  • Nehemiah 2:19

    But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard [it], they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What [is] this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?

  • Ezekiel 35:12

    And thou shalt know that I [am] the LORD, [and that] I have heard all thy blasphemies which thou hast spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, They are laid desolate, they are given us to consume.

  • 1 Kings 9:7

    Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people:

  • Deuteronomy 28:37

    And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither the LORD shall lead thee.

  • Lamentations 2:15

    All that pass by clap [their] hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, [saying, Is] this the city that [men] call The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?

  • Lamentations 2:16

    All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee: they hiss and gnash the teeth: they say, We have swallowed [her] up: certainly this [is] the day that we looked for; we have found, we have seen [it].

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