Psalms 79:6

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

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}.

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

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

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

Psalm 79 is a poignant communal lament, expressing deep anguish over the devastation of Jerusalem and the desecration of the Temple, likely following the Babylonian invasion in 586 BC. The psalmist, representing the suffering community, cries out to God for deliverance and justice. Verse 6 is a fervent plea for divine judgment against the foreign nations responsible for Israel's suffering.

Context

This verse is part of an imprecatory prayer, a common feature in the Psalms where the psalmist calls upon God to execute judgment against His enemies. The preceding verses vividly describe the slaughter of God's people, the defilement of His sanctuary, and the mockery they endure from surrounding nations. The psalmist appeals to God's honor and reputation, asking Him to act not just for Israel's sake, but for His own name's glory, which has been scorned by the "heathen." This prayer reflects a deep conviction in God's ultimate justice and sovereignty over all nations.

Key Themes

  • Divine Wrath and Justice: The core theme is the appeal for God's righteous anger to be poured out. This isn't personal vengeance but a cry for God to uphold His justice against those who have defied Him and oppressed His covenant people. It underscores the belief that God will not let unrighteousness go unpunished.
  • Ignorance of God: The phrase "have not known thee" (Hebrew: yeda'ukha) signifies more than intellectual unawareness; it points to a profound lack of relationship, covenantal recognition, and reverent acknowledgment of God's existence and authority. This ignorance leads to actions contrary to His will.
  • Rejection of God's Authority: "Have not called upon thy name" (Hebrew: qare'u b'shimkha) indicates a deliberate refusal to worship, invoke, or acknowledge the true God. It highlights their idolatry and self-reliance, contrasting sharply with Israel's calling to call upon the name of the Lord for salvation.
  • God's Sovereignty Over Nations: Despite the current suffering, the psalmist affirms God's ultimate control over all "kingdoms," believing He has the power and right to judge them.

Linguistic Insights

The term "heathen" (Hebrew: goyim) refers to the nations or Gentiles, often used in contrast to Israel, God's chosen people. In this context, it specifically denotes those nations hostile to God and His purposes. The twin accusations – "have not known thee" and "have not called upon thy name" – emphasize a fundamental spiritual rebellion. "Knowing" God in the biblical sense implies a deep, intimate, and covenantal relationship, not merely intellectual assent. Similarly, "calling upon His name" is an act of worship, dependence, and submission to His authority, a practice central to true faith.

Related Scriptures

  • This plea for God's wrath echoes similar sentiments found in Jeremiah 10:25, which uses almost identical language, suggesting a common prophetic theme.
  • The concept of God's judgment against those who do not know Him or obey the Gospel is further developed in the New Testament, such as in 2 Thessalonians 1:8.
  • The importance of knowing God is a recurring theme, as highlighted in John 17:3, where eternal life is defined as knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ.

Practical Application

While the specific context of Psalm 79 is a lament for national devastation, this verse offers timeless truths. It reminds us that:

  1. God is a God of justice, and His righteousness demands accountability for those who reject Him and oppress His people.
  2. There are profound consequences for those who willfully choose not to acknowledge God or seek Him. A genuine relationship with God involves both knowing Him intimately and actively calling upon His name in worship and dependence.
  3. Believers can confidently appeal to God for justice in a world marked by unrighteousness, trusting that He will ultimately set all things right. However, the New Testament also calls believers to a different response to enemies, as seen in Romans 12:19, which states, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." This emphasizes that ultimate judgment belongs to God alone, not to individuals.
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.

  • 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:

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