Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants be known among the nations before our eyes!
English Standard Version (ESV)
The plea here is not just for vengeance, but for God’s glory to be vindicated. The nations are mocking, "Where is their God?" so the psalmist asks that God would act, making His power and justice known among those same nations so they can no longer question His presence or might.
Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants be known among the nations before our eyes!
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist is lamenting the desecration of Jerusalem and the Temple by hostile nations, seeing it as an invasion of God's inheritance and a defilement of His holy place. Amidst the devastation and the spilled blood of God's people, the psalmist cries out to God, questioning why the surrounding nations should mock their faith by asking, "Where is their God?" The prayer implores God to reveal His power and justice by avenging the blood of His servants, making His might known to all the nations.
When God's people suffer, the world often questions God's presence and power. This isn't just about our pain; it's about God's public image.
The psalmists often wrestled with how the suffering of God's people reflected on Him. In verse 10, the question 'Where is their God?' is a direct challenge. The nations mock, implying that God is either absent, weak, or unable to protect His chosen people. This isn't just a theological debate; it's a public relations crisis for God's name. The plea that follows is a request for God to act in a way that silences these accusations and vindicates His own honor. The suffering of believers can become a stumbling block to unbelievers if God doesn't show His power and justice.
The cry for vengeance in this psalm might sound harsh, but it's rooted in a deep conviction about God's justice and the sanctity of life.
The psalmist calls for 'avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants.' This isn't a call for personal revenge fueled by hatred, but a plea for God's righteous judgment. In the ancient world, the shedding of innocent blood was a grave offense that cried out for justice. For the psalmist, seeing God enact vengeance is not about satisfying a bloodthirsty desire, but about witnessing God's justice made visible. It's about God proving that He is indeed God, and that He cares for His people and upholds the value of their lives, even in death. This is seen as a public declaration of God's power and righteousness among the nations.
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neqamah · Hebrew Noun
The act of retributive justice where God vindicates His people and proves His sovereignty over those who have harmed them. It is not personal vendetta but the upholding of divine justice.
This psalm is a cry from a people who have witnessed the utter devastation of their land and the desecration of their holy places. The question, 'Where is their God?', echoes the taunts of conquerors throughout Israel's history, from the fall of the northern kingdom to the destruction of Jerusalem. The plea for vengeance is not just about retribution, but a desperate need to see God's power displayed, vindicating His people and His name before the nations.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, deporting many of its citizens and repopulating the area with foreigners. This event marked a significant blow to Israel's sovereignty and religious identity.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and the Southern Kingdom
The Neo-Babylonian Empire, under Nebuchadnezzar II, conquers the southern kingdom of Judah, destroys Jerusalem and the Temple, and exiles a significant portion of the population to Babylon. This was a catastrophic event for the Jewish people.
c. 580-560 BC
Prophecies of Jeremiah and Ezekiel
During the Babylonian exile, prophets like Jeremiah and Ezekiel ministered, addressing the people's sin, God's judgment, and offering hope for future restoration. Their prophecies often reflect the anguish and theological questions arising from the exile.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon
The Persian king Cyrus the Great overthrows the Babylonian Empire. This event led to the decree allowing Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple.
c. 440 BC— this verse
Post-Exilic Period and Temple Reconstruction
Following the return from exile, the Jewish people worked to re-establish their community and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. This period was marked by both challenges and a renewed commitment to God's law.
c. 167-164 BC
Maccabean Revolt
A Jewish rebellion against the Seleucid Empire, led by the Maccabees, erupted due to religious persecution. This period saw significant conflict and the rededication of the Temple.
This passage echoes the plea in Psalms 79:10, asking God to spare His people and prevent the nations from mocking, 'Where is their God?'
Ezekiel 36:20-23These verses reveal God's strong motivation for acting on behalf of His people: to vindicate His own name among the nations when His people defiled it through their exile.
Isaiah 63:4-6This prophecy describes God's righteous judgment against His enemies, portraying Him as a warrior treading down nations in His anger, which parallels the psalmist's desire for God's avenging power to be made known.
Revelation 6:9-11This passage shows souls under the altar crying out for justice concerning their shed blood, echoing the cry in Psalms 79:10 for the avenging of spilled blood.
Deuteronomy 32:43This passage, which is foundational to Psalms 79:10, speaks of God avenging the blood of His servants and making reconciliation for His land and people.
clarkePsalms 79:10: "Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed."
Where is their God? - Show where thou art by rising up for our redemption, and the infliction of deserved punishment upon our enemies.
pulpitPsalms 79:10: "Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed."
Verse 10. - Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? (so Joel 2:17). A triumph over a foreign nation was always regarded in the ancient world as a triumph over their gods. Their gods were bound to protect them, and, if they did not, must either have been absent or powerless (comp. 2 Kings 18:33-35; 2 Kings…
The plea here is not just for vengeance, but for God’s glory to be vindicated. The nations are mocking, "Where is their God?" so the psalmist asks that God would act, making His power and justice known among those same nations so they can no longer question His presence or might.
The psalmist is lamenting the desecration of Jerusalem and the Temple by hostile nations, seeing it as an invasion of God's inheritance and a defilement of His holy place. Amidst the devastation and the spilled blood of God's people, the psalmist cries out to God, questioning why the surrounding nations should mock their faith by asking, "Where is their God?" The prayer implores God to reveal His power and justice by avenging the blood of His servants, making His might known to all the nations.
The psalmist is lamenting the desecration of Jerusalem and the Temple by hostile nations, seeing it as an invasion of God's inheritance and a defilement of His holy place. Amidst the devastation and the spilled blood of God's people, the psalmist cries out to God, questioning why the surrounding nations should mock their faith by asking, "Where is their God?" The prayer implores God to reveal His power and justice by avenging the blood of His servants, making His might known to all the nations.
"Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants be known among the nations before our eyes!" — The plea here is not just for vengeance, but for God’s glory to be vindicated. The nations are mocking, "Where is their God?" so the psalmist asks that God would act, making His power and justice k…
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Last reviewed October 2026