Pay back to our neighbors seven times into their bosom their reproach with which they have reproached you, Lord.
Parallel Translations
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Pay back to our neighbors seven times into their bosom their reproach with which they have reproached you, Lord.
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And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.
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And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached Thee, O Lord.
Cross-references (10)
Passages linked to Psalms 79:12 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Jeremiah 32:18 You show loving kindness to thousands, and repay the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them. The great, the mighty God, Yahweh of Armies is your name:
- Genesis 4:15 Yahweh said to him, “Therefore whoever slays Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” Yahweh appointed a sign for Cain, so that anyone finding him would not strike him.
- Leviticus 26:21 “ ‘If you walk contrary to me, and won’t listen to me, then I will bring seven times more plagues on you according to your sins.
- Leviticus 26:28 then I will walk contrary to you in wrath. I will also chastise you seven times for your sins.
- Psalms 74:18-22 Remember this, that the enemy has mocked you, Yahweh. Foolish people have blasphemed your name. Don’t deliver the soul of your dove to wild beasts. Don’t forget the life of your poor forever. Honor your covenant, for haunts of violence fill the dark places of the earth. Don’t let the oppressed return ashamed. Let the poor and needy praise your name. Arise, God! Plead your own cause. Remember how the foolish man mocks you all day.
- Proverbs 6:31 but if he is found, he shall restore seven times. He shall give all the wealth of his house.
- Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be given to you. For with the same measure you measure it will be measured back to you.”
- Psalms 44:16 at the taunt of one who reproaches and verbally abuses, because of the enemy and the avenger.
- Isaiah 65:5-7 who say, ‘Stay by yourself, don’t come near to me, for I am holier than you.’ These are smoke in my nose, a fire that burns all day. “Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will repay, yes, I will repay into their bosom, your own iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together”, says Yahweh, “who have burned incense on the mountains, and blasphemed me on the hills. Therefore I will first measure their work into their bosom.”
- Psalms 74:10 How long, God, shall the adversary reproach? Shall the enemy blaspheme your name forever?
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (13 sources)
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John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain 12 And render to our neighbors sevenfold. We have…
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.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Psa 79:12 And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into…
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.
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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.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Sevenfold, i.e. either,
Sevenfold, i.e. either,
1. Abundantly, as this phrase notes, Isa 65:6,7; Jer 32:18; Luk 6:38. Or,
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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.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain And render unto our neighbours seven fold into their…
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.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 12. Sevenfold into their bosom] That is, Let…
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.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain And render unto our neighbors - That is, the…
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.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 12. And render unto our neighbours—Comp, Psa_79:6. These “neighbours”…
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.
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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.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 12. our neighbours] Cp. Psa_79:4 : the nations around,…
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.
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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.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (12) Neighbours.—The sharpest pang of the suffering came from…
(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.
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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.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom…
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.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom…
Psa_79:12
And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach.
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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.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 Pay back ... the insults ... Lord
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)
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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.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 79:12 The Exile resulted in national suffering and in…
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.