The Meaning of Psalms 79:6 Explained

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.

YLT: Pour Thy fury on the nations who have not known Thee, And on kingdoms that have not called in Thy name.

Darby: Pour out thy fury upon the nations that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that call not upon thy name:

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Psalms 79:6 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 79:6 mean?

Pour out Your wrath on the nations that not do know You and on the kingdoms on Your name not do call
שְׁפֹ֤ךְ חֲמָתְךָ֨ אֶֽל־ הַגּוֹיִם֮ אֲשֶׁ֪ר לֹא־ יְדָ֫ע֥וּךָ וְעַ֥ל מַמְלָכ֑וֹת בְּ֝שִׁמְךָ֗ לֹ֣א קָרָֽאוּ

שְׁפֹ֤ךְ  Pour  out 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: שֶׂפֶק 
Sense: to pour, pour out, spill.
חֲמָתְךָ֨  Your  wrath 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: חֵמָא 
Sense: heat, rage, hot displeasure, indignation, anger, wrath, poison, bottles.
הַגּוֹיִם֮  the  nations 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
אֲשֶׁ֪ר  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
יְדָ֫ע֥וּךָ  do  know  You 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural, second person masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
וְעַ֥ל  and  on 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
מַמְלָכ֑וֹת  the  kingdoms 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: מַמְלָכָה  
Sense: kingdom, dominion, reign, sovereignty.
בְּ֝שִׁמְךָ֗  on  Your  name 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
קָרָֽאוּ  do  call 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.