Text -- Psalms 79:11 (NET)

79:11 Listen to the painful cries of the prisoners! Use your great strength to set free those condemned to die!

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Psa 79:11

¹ tn Heb “may the painful cry of the prisoner come before you.”

² tn Heb “according to the greatness of your arm leave the sons of death.” God’s “arm” here symbolizes his strength to deliver. The verbal form הוֹתֵר (hoter) is a Hiphil imperative from יָתַר (yatar, “to remain; to be left over”). Here it must mean “to leave over; to preserve.” However, it is preferable to emend the form to הַתֵּר (hatter), a Hiphil imperative from נָתַר (natar, “be free”). The Hiphil form is used in Ps 105:20 of Pharaoh freeing Joseph from prison. The phrase “sons of death” (see also Ps 102:21) is idiomatic for those condemned to die.