Psalm 79:2
New International Version
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 Living Translation
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.

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
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 King James Version
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 American Standard Bible
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.

NASB 1995
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.

NASB 1977
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.

Legacy Standard Bible
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.

Amplified Bible
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.

Christian Standard Bible
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.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
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.

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
They have fed the bodies of your servants to flesh-eating birds; your loyal people are food for savage animals.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
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.

Good News Translation
They left the bodies of your people for the vultures, the bodies of your servants for wild animals to eat.

International Standard Version
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;

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
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.

New Heart English Bible
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.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
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.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
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.

Young's Literal Translation
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.

Smith's Literal Translation
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.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
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.

Catholic Public Domain Version
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.

New American Bible
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.

New Revised Standard Version
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.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
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.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
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.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
They have given the dead bodies of thy servants to be food for the birds of the sky, the flesh of thy holy ones for the wild beasts of the earth.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Prayer for Deliverance
1A Psalm of Asaph. The nations, O God, have invaded Your inheritance; they have defiled Your holy temple and reduced Jerusalem to rubble. 2They 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. 3They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury the dead.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 7:33
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.

Jeremiah 16:4
“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.”

Jeremiah 19:7
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.

Jeremiah 34:20
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.

Lamentations 2:21
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.

Lamentations 4:14
They wandered blind in the streets, defiled by this blood, so that no one dared to touch their garments.

Ezekiel 39:17-20
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. ...

1 Samuel 17:44
“Come here,” he called to David, “and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!”

1 Kings 14:11
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.

1 Kings 16:4
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.”

1 Kings 21:24
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.”

Revelation 19:17-18
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.”

Matthew 24:28
Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.

Luke 17:37
“Where, Lord?” they asked. Jesus answered, “Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.”

Acts 7:42-43
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.’


Treasury of Scripture

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.

Jeremiah 7:33
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 them away.

Jeremiah 15:3
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.

Jeremiah 16:4
They shall die of grievous deaths; they shall not be lamented; neither shall they be buried; but 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.

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Air Animals Beast Beasts Birds Bodies Dead Earth Flesh Food Fowl Fowls Godly Heaven Heavens Meat Ones Saints Servants Sky Wild
Psalm 79
1. The psalmist complains of the desolation of Jerusalem
8. He prays for deliverance
13. and promises thankfulness














They have given
This phrase indicates an action of deliberate desecration. The Hebrew root word "נָתַן" (natan) means to give, place, or set. Historically, this reflects the brutal practices of ancient warfare, where the bodies of the defeated were often left unburied as a sign of utter disgrace and humiliation. In a spiritual sense, it underscores the depth of the enemies' contempt for God's people and, by extension, for God Himself.

the corpses of Your servants
The term "servants" here is significant, as it denotes those who are devoted to God, His faithful followers. The Hebrew word "עֲבָדֶיךָ" (avadekha) implies a relationship of service and loyalty. The imagery of corpses being left unburied is a powerful symbol of dishonor and a violation of the covenant relationship between God and His people. It reflects the historical context of Israel's enemies seeking to obliterate not just the people but their identity and faith.

as food to the birds of the air
This phrase paints a vivid picture of desecration and abandonment. In ancient Near Eastern culture, not receiving a proper burial was considered a fate worse than death. The Hebrew word for "birds" (עוֹף, oph) often refers to birds of prey, which were seen as unclean. This imagery is used to emphasize the totality of the defeat and the shame brought upon the people of God. It serves as a call to God for justice and restoration.

the flesh of Your saints
The word "saints" (חֲסִידֶיךָ, chasidekha) refers to the holy ones, those set apart for God. This term underscores the covenantal relationship and the expectation of divine protection. The use of "flesh" highlights the physical and tangible aspect of the suffering endured. It is a poignant reminder of the vulnerability of God's people in a hostile world and their reliance on God's deliverance.

to the beasts of the earth
This phrase completes the picture of utter devastation. The "beasts" (חַיַּת, chayat) symbolize the wild and untamed forces of chaos and destruction. In the biblical context, this can be seen as a metaphor for the nations and powers that oppose God's kingdom. The historical backdrop of this verse likely involves a time of national crisis for Israel, such as the Babylonian invasion, where the land was ravaged, and the people were left defenseless. It serves as a lament and a plea for God to intervene and restore His people.

(2) In addition to references in Margin see Deuteronomy 28:26.

Saints.--Heb., chasidim. (See Note, Psalm 16:10.) Here with definite allusion to the Assd?ans of 1 Maccabees 7.

Verse 2. - The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to Be meat unto the fowls of the heaven. A common incident of warfare (see the Assyrian sculptures, passim). The flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth; or, of the land. Hyaenas and jackals would dispute the flesh of the slain with vultures and crows.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
They have given
נָֽתְנ֡וּ (nā·ṯə·nū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

the corpses
נִבְלַ֬ת (niḇ·laṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 5038: A flabby thing, a carcase, carrion, an idol

of Your servants
עֲבָדֶ֗יךָ (‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

as food
מַ֭אֲכָל (ma·’ă·ḵāl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3978: An eatable

to the birds
לְע֣וֹף (lə·‘ō·wp̄)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5775: Flying creatures

of the air,
הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם (haš·šā·mā·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky

the flesh
בְּשַׂ֥ר (bə·śar)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1320: Flesh, body, person, the pudenda of a, man

of Your saints
חֲ֝סִידֶ֗יךָ (ḥă·sî·ḏe·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 2623: Kind, pious

to the beasts
לְחַיְתוֹ־ (lə·ḥay·ṯōw-)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

of the earth.
אָֽרֶץ׃ (’ā·reṣ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land


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OT Poetry: Psalm 79:2 They have given the dead bodies (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 79:1
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