Psalms 79:6

KJV

¶ Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.

KJV (with Strong's)

Pour out {H8210}{H8798)} thy wrath {H2534} upon the heathen {H1471} that have not known {H3045}{H8804)} thee, and upon the kingdoms {H4467} that have not called {H7121}{H8804)} upon thy name {H8034}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Pour out your wrath on the nations that don't know you, on the kingdoms that don't call out your name;

Berean Standard Bible

Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge You, on the kingdoms that refuse to call on Your name,

American Standard Version

Pour out thy wrath upon the nations that know thee not, And upon the kingdoms that call not upon thy name.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalm 79:6 is a fervent and impassioned plea within a communal lament, imploring God to unleash His righteous indignation upon the foreign nations responsible for the devastating destruction of Jerusalem and the desecration of His holy sanctuary. The psalmist appeals to divine justice, asserting that these nations deserve overwhelming judgment because they have neither intimately known God nor reverently called upon His name, thereby demonstrating their profound spiritual rebellion, active defiance, and rejection of His ultimate sovereignty.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 79 is a profoundly moving communal lament, situated within Book III of the Psalter (Psalms 73-89), a section predominantly characterized by psalms addressing national suffering, the apparent triumph of the wicked, and urgent appeals for God's covenant faithfulness and intervention. This specific verse is strategically placed in a pivotal section (verses 5-7) where the psalmist transitions from a harrowing depiction of Israel's plight to an impassioned imprecation against their oppressors. The preceding verses (1-4) vividly portray the brutal slaughter of God's people, the defilement of the Temple, and the resulting shame and mockery from surrounding nations, establishing the dire context and setting the stage for this desperate cry for divine intervention and vindication. The prayer is deeply rooted in the conviction that God's honor, reputation, and holy name have been grievously impugned by the actions of these "heathen."
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The psalm most plausibly reflects the catastrophic events surrounding the Babylonian invasion and the subsequent destruction of Jerusalem and its sacred Temple in 586 BC. This period marked an unprecedented national trauma for ancient Israel, involving widespread slaughter, forced exile, and the complete obliteration of their central religious and national institutions, which were foundational to their identity, worship, and covenant relationship with Yahweh. Culturally, the defilement and destruction of a deity's temple by foreign powers was perceived as a profound insult to the deity itself, suggesting weakness, defeat, or even non-existence. The psalmist's urgent plea for God to "pour out His wrath" is therefore not merely a desire for personal vengeance but a desperate, theologically informed appeal for God to reassert His divine power, defend His own glorious name, and demonstrably execute His justice against those who have defied Him and brought such unimaginable calamity upon His covenant people.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several foundational themes within the psalm and the broader biblical narrative. It underscores the theme of **Divine Justice**, asserting unequivocally that God is not indifferent to profound wickedness and will ultimately hold all nations accountable for their actions, especially when they oppress His chosen people and brazenly reject His supreme authority. It highlights the severe consequences of **Spiritual Ignorance and Active Rebellion**, as the phrases "have not known thee" and "have not called upon thy name" signify a fundamental lack of intimate, covenantal relationship and reverent submission to the one true God. This stands in stark contrast to Israel's unique calling to acknowledge and worship Yahweh alone, as profoundly articulated in passages like [Deuteronomy 4:35](/deuteronomy/4-35 "Deuteronomy 4:35 - The Lord is God; there is no other"). Furthermore, the verse implicitly affirms God's **Sovereignty Over Nations**, even in their apparent triumph and destructive power, suggesting that their might is ultimately subject to His divine judgment, a concept powerfully echoed throughout the prophetic books (e.g., [Isaiah 10:5-7](/isaiah/10-5-7 "Isaiah 10:5-7 - Assyria as God's Instrument")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Pour out (Hebrew, _shâphak'_):** This primitive root signifies to spill forth, to gush out, or to shed. When used in the context of divine wrath, it conveys the imagery of a complete, unreserved, and overwhelming release of God's righteous indignation. It implies a decisive and full manifestation of judgment, leaving no doubt as to its source or intensity.
* **Wrath (Hebrew, _chêmâh'_):** This term denotes intense heat, burning anger, or furious indignation. In a divine context, it refers to God's holy and just displeasure against sin, rebellion, and unrighteousness. It is not an uncontrolled human emotion but a righteous, settled, and fierce response to profound wickedness and defiance of His character and covenant. The imagery of "pouring out" suggests a complete and overwhelming manifestation of this judgment.
* **Heathen (Hebrew, _gôwy'_):** Literally meaning "nation" or "people," this term, especially in this context, refers to non-Israelite nations. Here, it carries a strong pejorative connotation, specifically identifying those foreign nations hostile to God and His chosen people. They are characterized by their spiritual alienation from God, setting them apart from Israel, who was called to be God's unique possession.
* **Known (Hebrew, _yâdaʻ'_):** Derived from the verb *yada'*, "to know," this is far more than mere intellectual awareness or factual knowledge. In biblical thought, "knowing God" implies an intimate, personal, and covenantal relationship, marked by experiential understanding, deep acknowledgment, faithful obedience, and mutual commitment. To "not know" God, therefore, signifies a profound spiritual ignorance that manifests as a rejection of His authority, His ways, His very being, and His covenant demands.
* **Called upon thy name (Hebrew, _qârâʼ b'shimkha'_):** This phrase signifies an act of worship, invocation, and humble submission. To "call upon the name of the Lord" is to acknowledge His identity, His power, His authority, to seek Him in prayer, and to depend on Him for salvation and sustenance. The accusation that the nations "have not called upon thy name" highlights their idolatry, their self-sufficiency, and their active refusal to worship the one true God, contrasting sharply with the fundamental practice of true faith and dependence.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Pour out thy wrath":** This is an imperative plea, a desperate and urgent cry for God to actively intervene and unleash His righteous judgment. The vivid imagery of "pouring out" suggests a full, unrestrained, and decisive act of divine retribution, emphasizing the psalmist's conviction that the dire situation demands immediate, overwhelming, and manifest divine action. It is a profound call for God to visibly manifest His power and justice against the perpetrators of injustice.
* **"upon the heathen that have not known thee":** This clause identifies the primary recipients of the requested wrath: the foreign nations. The fundamental justification for this severe judgment is their profound spiritual ignorance and their complete lack of an intimate, covenantal relationship with God. Their destructive actions against Israel are thus seen as a direct consequence of their failure to acknowledge, understand, and relate to the true God in a personal, submissive, and worshipful way.
* **"and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name":** This second clause provides a parallel and reinforcing reason for divine judgment. The "kingdoms" are synonymous with the "heathen," emphasizing their national and political entities, highlighting their collective and organized rebellion. Their failure to "call upon God's name" signifies their active rejection of His worship, their pursuit of idolatry and false gods, and their deliberate refusal to submit to His divine authority. This underscores their willful rebellion and self-reliance, making them fully deserving of divine accountability and judgment.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 79:6 masterfully employs several powerful **Literary Devices** to convey its urgent and intense message. The most prominent is **Imprecation**, a direct and fervent appeal to God to bring judgment or calamity upon enemies. This is powerfully evident in the imperative "Pour out thy wrath," which is a direct command to God. The verse also utilizes **Parallelism**, specifically synonymous parallelism, where the two clauses ("the heathen that have not known thee" and "the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name") express the same core idea in different, yet reinforcing, words. This repetition emphasizes and intensifies the twin accusations of spiritual ignorance and active rebellion. The phrase "Pour out thy wrath" is a clear example of **Anthropomorphism**, attributing a human action (pouring out a liquid) to God, making His divine judgment more tangible, comprehensible, and emotionally impactful to the human mind. Finally, the use of "heathen" and "kingdoms" can be seen as a form of **Merism**, encompassing all non-Israelite entities that stand in opposition to God and His people, thereby emphasizing the universal scope and comprehensive nature of their rebellion and the judgment sought.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly articulates the enduring biblical principle of divine justice and the ultimate accountability of all nations before the sovereign God. It underscores that spiritual ignorance, active rejection of God's authority, and the deliberate refusal to worship Him are not benign conditions but incur serious, indeed catastrophic, consequences. The psalmist's desperate plea is rooted in a deep, covenantal understanding of God's character as both merciful and immutably just, believing firmly that His righteousness demands a decisive response to profound wickedness, the desecration of His holiness, and the cruel oppression of His covenant people. It highlights the fundamental distinction between those who are in a genuine, intimate relationship with God and those who are alienated from Him, emphasizing that true knowledge of God involves not merely intellectual assent but a life characterized by worship, humble dependence, and faithful obedience.

* [Jeremiah 10:25](/jeremiah/10-25 "Jeremiah 10:25 - Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not know you")
* [2 Thessalonians 1:8-9](/2_thessalonians/1-8-9 "2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 - Judgment on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel")
* [Romans 1:18-20](/romans/1-18-20 "Romans 1:18-20 - God's Wrath Revealed Against Ungodliness and Unrighteousness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While Psalm 79:6 is a raw lament born from national catastrophe and a fervent plea for immediate divine judgment, it offers enduring and profound truths for believers today. It serves as a powerful reminder that God is indeed a God of perfect justice, who sees every act of unrighteousness, every instance of oppression, and every defiance of His holy name, and who will ultimately address them with perfect righteousness. Our initial response to profound injustice and suffering should always be to cry out to God, trusting in His perfect timing, His sovereign methods for vindication, and His ultimate triumph over evil. However, the New Testament calls us to a higher, transformative standard of love, even for our enemies, recognizing that ultimate vengeance belongs to God alone, as powerfully articulated in [Romans 12:19](/romans/12-19 "Romans 12:19 - Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord"). This New Covenant perspective does not negate the reality of divine judgment, but it shifts the responsibility for its execution from human hands to God's. For us, Psalm 79:6 serves as a sober reminder of the profound and eternal consequences of rejecting God and underscores the vital importance of cultivating a genuine, intimate "knowing" of Him and consistently "calling upon His name" in worship, humble dependence, and obedient faith. Our mission, therefore, is to compassionately share the saving knowledge of God with those who do not know Him, rather than to call for their immediate destruction.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Psalm 79:6 inform and shape our understanding of God's justice in a world that often seems unjust, where evil appears to triumph, and where suffering abounds?**
* **What does it truly mean for us personally to "know God" in a deep, covenantal sense, and how does this experiential knowledge differ fundamentally from mere intellectual assent or factual information about Him?**
* **In what tangible and spiritual ways do we, both individually and collectively as the church, "call upon God's name" today, and how does this consistent practice reflect our profound dependence on His character and power?**
* **How can we faithfully reconcile the psalmist's passionate plea for divine wrath with the New Testament's radical call to love our enemies, pray for those who persecute us, and extend grace to the undeserving?**

### FAQ
**Why does the psalmist ask God to "pour out His wrath"? Is this vengeful or unchristian?**

Answer: The psalmist's plea for God to "pour out His wrath" is not an expression of personal, vindictive vengeance in the modern sense, but a fervent cry for divine justice and vindication. In the Old Testament, especially within communal laments like Psalm 79, such imprecations are theological appeals to God's covenant faithfulness and His immutable character as a righteous judge. The nations had not only brutally oppressed Israel but had also blasphemed God's holy name by desecrating His Temple and mocking His covenant people, essentially challenging His sovereignty and honor. The psalmist is asking God to defend His own glory and to uphold justice against those who have actively and defiantly rejected Him. It's a recognition that ultimate judgment belongs to God alone, a principle echoed in the New Testament, such as in [Romans 12:19](/romans/12-19 "Romans 12:19 - Vengeance belongs to God"), which states, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."

**What is the profound significance of the phrases "have not known thee" and "have not called upon thy name"?**

Answer: These phrases are profoundly significant, describing the spiritual condition and moral culpability of the nations. "Have not known thee" (Hebrew: *yeda'ukha*) refers to a fundamental lack of intimate, covenantal relationship with God, far beyond mere intellectual ignorance. In biblical terms, "knowing God" implies a deep, personal, experiential acknowledgement of His character, His will, and His covenant demands, leading to worship and obedience. To "not know" Him means to be alienated from Him, to live without regard for His authority, His truth, or His very being. Similarly, "have not called upon thy name" (Hebrew: *qare'u b'shimkha*) signifies an active refusal to worship, invoke, or submit to the one true God. It points to idolatry, self-sufficiency, and a deliberate rejection of true faith and dependence. These two phrases together highlight a profound spiritual rebellion and active defiance that justifies divine judgment, contrasting sharply with the eternal life that comes from [knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ](/john/17-3 "John 17:3 - Eternal Life is Knowing God").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Psalm 79:6 is a desperate plea for God's wrath to be poured out upon those who do not know Him, its ultimate fulfillment and profound reorientation are found in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the one through whom God's ultimate judgment is executed, for the Father has [committed all judgment to the Son](/john/5-22 "John 5:22 - The Father has committed all judgment to the Son"). More profoundly, in Christ, the "wrath" of God against human sin was not poured out on the ignorant nations, but upon Himself on the cross, offering a path to reconciliation and salvation for all who believe. Through His atoning sacrifice, Jesus became the singular means by which humanity can truly "know" God, for He is the perfect, incarnate revelation of the Father, declaring, "[If you had known me, you would have known my Father also](/john/14-7 "John 14:7 - Knowing Jesus is Knowing the Father")". Now, salvation is graciously offered to "whoever calls on the name of the Lord," a universal invitation that transcends national boundaries, fulfilling the spirit of the Old Testament call to worship God's name but expanding it to all peoples through faith in Christ, saving them from the wrath to come ([Romans 10:13](/romans/10-13 "Romans 10:13 - Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved"), [Romans 5:9](/romans/5-9 "Romans 5:9 - Justified by His blood, saved from wrath")). Ultimately, at His glorious second coming, Christ will return as the righteous King to [judge the nations](/matthew/25-31-32 "Matthew 25:31-32 - The Son of Man Judging the Nations"), bringing final and perfect justice upon those who have persistently refused to know and call upon the name of God.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Jeremiah 10:25

Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.

2 Thessalonians 1:8

In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Psalms 14:4

¶ Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people [as] they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.

Psalms 69:24

Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.

Psalms 53:4

Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people [as] they eat bread: they have not called upon God.

Isaiah 45:4

For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

Isaiah 45:5

¶ I [am] the LORD, and [there is] none else, [there is] no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: