Psalms 79:12

Psa 79:12 And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.

Ver. 12. Into their bosom] Full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, Luk 6:38. See Isa 65:6-7 Jer 32:18.

Wherewith they have reproached thee] viz. In reproaching us, who do quarter arms, as it were, with thee.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Psa_79:12

And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach.

Vengeance

This is the same spirit as is breathed out in Psa_79:6. It is revenge. We have here two things.

I. A noble instinct. It is an instinct of justice, a cry against wrong. As an instinct, it is a spark from the Divine nature, a spark that reveals the justice which is at the head of the universe. Observe, the revenge here was not breathed for personal enemies, nor for bad men in the neighbourhood, the land, or the ago, but for bad men in a distant land and in a remote time. It was the breaking forth of that instinct of revenge which is in all our natures.

II. A noble instinct wrongly developed. It was a prayer that God would punish with sevenfold the sufferings which their enemies had inflicted on them.

1. It was a personal, not a public, development. We are commanded not to return evil for evil, etc.

2. It was an exaggerated development. It is not merely, treat, them as they are treating us, but with seven times the cruelty.

3. It was an impious development. It was asking the God of Infinite Love to act cruelly, it was to dictate to Infinite Justice the method of avenging the wrong. Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord. If, says Sir T. Browne, thou must needs have thy revenge of thine enemy, with a soft tongue break his bones, heap coals of fire on his head, forgive him, and enjoy it. (Homilist.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

12. (Psa 79:12) And render to our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their contempt (with) which they have contemned thee, Lord! The first verb is a causative, and means to bring back or cause to return. See above, on Psa 72:10. The neighbours are those mentioned in Psa 79:4, and the allusion here at least includes the expression of contemptuous incredulity in Psa 79:10. Sevenfold, a common idiomatic term denoting frequent repetition or abundance. See above, on Psa 12:6. Into the bosom, an expression which originally seems to have had reference to the practice of carrying and holding things in the lap or the front fold of the flowing oriental dress, has in usage the accessory sense of retribution or retaliation. See my note on Isa 65:6-7, and compare Jer 32:18, Luk 6:38. The cognate noun and verb, translated contempt and contemned, denote not the mere internal feeling, but the oral expression of it by revilings, scoffs, and insults. See above, on Psa 42:10; Psa 49:9. The Lord at the conclusion is by no means a mere expletive, but aggravates the sin of these despisers by describing it as 9committed against their rightful sovereign.

Joseph Addison Alexander, The Psalms Translated and Explained (1850) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

79:12 The Exile resulted in national suffering and in individual searching for the Lord. • pay back: See 1:6; 94:2; Jer 32:18. • The expression seven times signifies something complete. • Israel’s neighbors included Edom, Moab, and Ammon (see Ps 137:7; 2 Kgs 24:2; Obad 1).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 12. Sevenfold into their bosom] That is, Let them get in this world what they deserve for the cruelties they have inflicted on us. Let them suffer in captivity, who now have us in bondage. Probably this is a prediction.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

12 And render to our neighbors sevenfold. We have already said enough on the subject of vengeance; and here the faithful show still more clearly, that they are not so much moved by the injuries done to themselves personally, as inflamed with a holy zeal when they see the sacred name of God blasphemed, and, as it were, torn in pieces by the wicked. If this affection reign in our hearts, it will easily moderate the ungovernableness of our flesh, and if the wisdom of the Spirit is added to it, our prayers will be in strict accordance with the just judgment of God.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

(12) Neighbours.—The sharpest pang of the suffering came from the taunts of “neighbours. (See Psa_79:4.)

Sevenfold.—As in Gen_4:15. We naturally contrast the law of Christian forgiveness.

Into their bosom.—The deep folds of the Eastern dress were used as a pocket. (Comp. Rth_3:15; Isa_65:7; Jer_32:18; Luk_6:38, &c)

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

12. our neighbours] Cp. Psa_79:4 : the nations around, such as the Ammonites, Moabites, and Edomites, which instead of sympathising rejoiced at Israel’s calamity. Cp. Ezekiel 25.

sevenfold] Cp. Gen_4:15; and contrast Christ’s law of forgiveness, Mat_18:22.

into their bosom] A metaphor from the practice of carrying articles in the folds of the dress. It further suggests the idea of full and intimate recompence. Cp. Isa_65:6; Jer_32:18; Luk_6:38.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And render unto our neighbours seven fold into their bosom, Not seven fold for one, as the Targum paraphrases it, or a seven fold punishment for one sin; but that he would recompense their sins, or punish for them, and take vengeance on them, largely, abundantly, though not beyond measure, or exceeding the rules of justice; see Gen 4:15,

the reproach with which they have reproached thee, O Lord; by denying his being, or calling in question his perfections of power, truth, and goodness, to help his people; speaking ill of his providence, despising his word and ordinances, and even reproaching his people in reproaching him, Psa 89:50, and this is what a righteous recompence is desired for; see Lam 3:64.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

And render unto our neighbors - That is, the neighbors who had reproached them; the surrounding people who had seen these calamities come upon them, and who had regarded these calamities as proof that their God was unable to protect them, or that they were suffering under his displeasure. See the notes at Psa 79:4. “Sevenfold.” Seven times the amount of reproach which they have heaped upon us. The word seven is often used to denote many, as seven was one of the perfect numbers. The idea is that of complete or full vengeance. Compare Gen 4:15, Gen 4:24; Pro 6:31; Isa 30:26; Mat 18:21-22; Luk 17:4.

Into their bosom ... - Perhaps the allusion here is to the custom of carrying things in the bosom of the flowing dress as it was girded around the loins. “Let them be made to carry with them seven times the amount of reproach which they have endeavored to heap on us.”

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Sevenfold, i.e. either,

1. Abundantly, as this phrase notes, Isa 65:6,7; Jer 32:18; Luk 6:38. Or,

2. Sensibly, so as it may come home to them, and fall heavily upon them in their own persons. Reproached thee, as impotent, or unfaithful, or unmerciful to his own people. So they intimate that this desire did not proceed from a revengeful mind, but from a due sense of God’s favour.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

12. And render unto our neighbours—Comp, Psa_79:6. These “neighbours” were the nations lying around Jerusalem, as the Tyrians, Syrians, Moabites, Edomites, who either helped the army of Nebuchadnezzar or exulted in the downfall of the Hebrew nation. See Psa_137:7; Eze_26:2.

Sevenfold—That is, a full and complete recompense: seven is the number of fulness.

Into their bosom—The orientals were accustomed to place valuable articles in a fold in the “bosom” of their long, loose garments, for convenient carriage. See Luk_6:38; Isa_40:11. The same custom prevails now. It is formed by or above the wide girdle which encircles the waist. Instead of these valuables should now be the recompense of justice.

Reproached thee—This reproach of God’s covenant people was a reproach to the name of God. It was his cause, and he is importuned to see to it. The Chaldaeans hereby inferred the inferiority of Jehovah to their patron god, Bel, or Belus, and thus boasted, as later tests show. See Dan_3:15; Dan_4:25; Dan_4:35; Dan_4:37; Dan_5:21; Dan_5:23.Sweet is the closing breath of the faith and thanksgiving of this mournful psalm:—

So we thy people and the sheep of thy pasture

Will give thanks unto thee for ever,

We will declare thy praise to generation and generation.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord. (For the "reproach" intended, see ver. 10) The whole passage means, "Punish them seven times as much as thou hast punished us." Then their reproach will be seven times as great.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Pay back ... the insults ... Lord

Asaph speaks of the evil deeds that the neighboring countries did against Israel as "insults," and as if they were physical items. He asks the Lord to count those deeds, and for every one that the neighboring countries committed, he asks the Lord to have someone do seven evil deeds to the neighboring countries. (See: Metaphor)

Pay back

"Return" or "Give back"

into the laps

onto their knees and thighs as they are sitting. This is a metaphor for "directly and personally." (See: Metaphor)

we your people and sheep of your pasture will give you thanks

The word "sheep" is a metaphor for helpless people whom a shepherd protects and leads. AT: "we who are your people, whom you protect and lead, will thank you" (See: Metaphor)

tell your praises to all generations

"make sure that all generations to come know all the good things you have done"

your praises

This represents the things that people will praise them the Lord for. AT: "continue to praise you for the things that you have done" (See: Metonymy)

translationWords

neighbor

lord

people of God

ewe

eternity

praise

generation

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.