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Psalm 79:6
Pour out your wrath on the nations that don’t know you, on the kingdoms that don’t call on your name,
4We have become a reproach to our neighbors, a scoffing and derision to those who are around us.
5How long, LORD? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire?
6Pour out your wrath on the nations that don’t know you, on the kingdoms that don’t call on your name,
7for they have devoured Jacob, and destroyed his homeland.
8Don’t hold the iniquities of our forefathers against us. Let your tender mercies speedily meet us, for we are in desperate need.
Notice
“Pour out your wrath” is a plea for God’s judgment against nations that have destroyed Jacob’s homeland, carrying the anger of people whose home lies ruined.
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How does Jacob’s destroyed homeland shape your reading of this plea for wrath?
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Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Psalm 14:4Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and don’t call on the LORD?Both passages describe enemies who do not call on God, and both connect them with the devouring of his people.
Jeremiah 10:25Pour out your wrath on the nations that don’t know you, and on the families that don’t call on your name; for they have devoured Jacob. Yes, they have devoured …Both prayers ask God to pour out wrath on nations that do not know him, naming the destruction of Jacob’s homeland.
2 Thessalonians 1:8punishing those who don’t know God, and to those who don’t obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus,Both texts connect not knowing God with divine judgment; Thessalonians also names disobedience to the Good News of Jesus.
Psalm 69:24Pour out your indignation on them. Let the fierceness of your anger overtake them.Both prayers ask God to pour out his anger on those against whom the speaker seeks judgment.
Revelation 16:1I heard a loud voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God on the earth!”Both use the image of wrath being poured out; the psalm petitions God, while Revelation records a command to seven angels.
Isaiah 63:19We have become like those over whom you never ruled, like those who were not called by your name.Both mention God’s name: Psalm 79 describes kingdoms that do not call on it, while Isaiah laments being like people without it.
Psalm 53:4Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and don’t call on God?Both passages link failure to call on God with the devouring of his people.
Job 18:21Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous. This is the place of him who doesn’t know God.”Both describe people who do not know God; Job’s speaker associates such a person with the dwellings of the unrighteous.
Isaiah 45:4–5For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel my chosen, I have called you by your name. I have given you a title, though you have not known me.Both mention people who have not known God, though Isaiah describes God granting a title and Psalm 79 asks for wrath.
Romans 1:28Even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting;Both connect a lack of acknowledgment of God with judgment; Romans specifies a refusal to retain God in their knowledge.
Ezekiel 7:8Now I will shortly pour out my wrath on you, and accomplish my anger against you, and will judge you according to your ways. I will bring on you all your …Both speak of God pouring out wrath; Ezekiel describes judgment according to the conduct of those addressed.
2 Chronicles 12:7Both speak of wrath being poured out, but Chronicles records God withholding that wrath from Jerusalem after the people humble themselves.
Where this verse fits
Injustice and anger. grief. sermon or Bible study notes.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
The prayer takes the destruction of Jacob’s homeland to God. Its demand for wrath leaves judgment in his hands, even while the people remain in desperate need.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).