The Meaning of Psalms 79:1 Explained

Psalms 79:1

KJV: {A Psalm of Asaph.} O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.

YLT: A Psalm of Asaph. O God, nations have come into Thy inheritance, They have defiled Thy holy temple, They made Jerusalem become heaps,

Darby: {A Psalm of Asaph.} O God, the nations are come into thine inheritance: thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem in heaps.

ASV: O God, the nations are come into thine inheritance; Thy holy temple have they defiled; They have laid Jerusalem in heaps.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

{{A Psalm  of Asaph.  }} O God,  the heathen  are come  into thine inheritance;  thy holy  temple  have they defiled;  they have laid  Jerusalem  on heaps. 

What does Psalms 79:1 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 79:1-13 - "help Us, O God Of Our Salvation"
It was the period of the Chaldean invasion. This cry of horror went forth from the heart of the Chosen People, who had looked upon the sacred shrine as inviolable. They could not believe that the tide of invasion could break in upon Jerusalem, or that the Holy City should be defiled by the profane feet of the heathen. This psalm should be compared with the book of Lamentations. We there find the same horror, the same anguish, the same sense of surprise, the same hatred of the foe, the same cry to God.
Does it seem as if God were angry with you? Have the heathen forced their way into the inner shrine and city of your heart? Are you brought very low and near unto death? Then begin to inquire whether some sin may not have alienated God from you. Confess it and put it away. Turn to God with a free and glad faith. Ask that His mercies may prevent (literally, "go before") and His help succor you, for His Name's sake. The sighing of the captive and the greatness of God power, Psalms 79:11, are in close affinity; and when you are delivered, remember your vows, and show forth His praise to all within your reach. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 79

1  The psalmist complains of the desolation of Jerusalem
8  He prays for deliverance
13  and promises thankfulness

What do the individual words in Psalms 79:1 mean?

A Psalm of Asaph God have come the nations into Your inheritance they have defiled - temple Your holy they have laid Jerusalem in heaps
מִזְמ֗וֹר לְאָ֫סָ֥ף אֱ‍ֽלֹהִ֡ים בָּ֤אוּ גוֹיִ֨ם ׀ בְּֽנַחֲלָתֶ֗ךָ טִ֭מְּאוּ אֶת־ הֵיכַ֣ל קָדְשֶׁ֑ךָ שָׂ֖מוּ יְרוּשָׁלִַ֣ם לְעִיִּֽים

מִזְמ֗וֹר  A  Psalm 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִזְמֹור  
Sense: melody, psalm.
לְאָ֫סָ֥ף  of  Asaph 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָסָף  
Sense: the father of Hezekiah’s secretary.
אֱ‍ֽלֹהִ֡ים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
בָּ֤אוּ  have  come 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
גוֹיִ֨ם ׀  the  nations 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
בְּֽנַחֲלָתֶ֗ךָ  into  Your  inheritance 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: נַחֲלָה  
Sense: possession, property, inheritance, heritage.
טִ֭מְּאוּ  they  have  defiled 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: טָמֵא 
Sense: to be unclean, become unclean, become impure.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הֵיכַ֣ל  temple 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: הֵיכָל  
Sense: palace, temple, nave, sanctuary.
קָדְשֶׁ֑ךָ  Your  holy 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: קֹדֶשׁ  
Sense: apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness.
שָׂ֖מוּ  they  have  laid 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֣ם  Jerusalem 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְרוּשָׁלַםִ  
Sense: the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split.
לְעִיִּֽים  in  heaps 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: עִי  
Sense: ruin, heap of ruins.