Return sevenfold into the lap of our neighbors the taunts with which they have taunted you, O Lord!
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse isn't just a cry for vengeance; it's a passionate plea that God's honor be restored. The psalmist asks for the enemies' taunts against God to be returned to them "sevenfold," not simply for personal revenge, but to demonstrate to the whole world that God is real and powerful.
Return sevenfold into the lap of our neighbors the taunts with which they have taunted you, O Lord!
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalm laments the destruction of Jerusalem and the desecration of the Temple by enemies, casting the people of God as helpless victims. In response to this devastation and the enemies' taunts, the psalmist cries out to God, pleading for His intervention not only for their own sake but also for the sake of His name, which the nations are mocking. The prayer escalates to asking God to repay the enemies sevenfold for their insults and the bloodshed of His servants, seeking vindication that will make His power known.
The psalmist cries out for a fierce repayment of insults. But what does 'sevenfold' really mean in this context, and why is it directed at God's honor?
The request for neighbors to be repaid 'sevenfold' isn't just about personal revenge; it's deeply tied to the glory of God's name. When God's people are taunted and ravaged, it's seen as a direct insult to God Himself.
The Weight of 'Sevenfold'
This isn't about a simple tit-for-tat. 'Seven' in the Bible often signifies completeness or fullness. So, when the psalmist asks for 'sevenfold' repayment, they're asking for God to fully and completely vindicate Himself against those who have mocked Him and His people. It’s a plea for divine justice to be executed thoroughly.
God's Reputation at Stake
The core of this cry is the question: 'Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”' (Psalm 79:10). The enemies' taunts are not just aimed at the Israelites; they are aimed at challenging God's power, presence, and faithfulness. Therefore, the 'sevenfold' vengeance is specifically for the reproach hurled against God, demanding a powerful demonstration of His sovereignty.
The enemies are called 'neighbors,' which feels uncomfortably close. Why does the psalm focus on these specific 'neighbors,' and what does their mockery reveal?
Ask a follow-up
The enemies are identified as 'neighbors,' highlighting a painful reality: often, the deepest hurts come from those we know or who are geographically close. These neighbors weren't just distant pagans; they likely represented surrounding nations who witnessed Israel's suffering and used it to mock their God.
The Shame of the Nations
These neighbors' taunts serve to question God's power and faithfulness. They see Israel's devastation and conclude that their God is either unable or unwilling to save them. This demonstrates a profound misunderstanding of God's purposes, often involving chastisement for His people before deliverance.
A Plea for Divine Intervention
The psalmist isn't just asking for punishment; they're asking for God to act and make His power known. The 'sevenfold' repayment is a call for God to step in, not just for Israel's sake, but to silence the blasphemy of the nations and re-establish His reputation.
Understand the original words
shib'atayim · Hebrew Adverb
The biblical metaphor for the complete or total repayment of judgment or recompense. Seven is the number of divine completeness, implying a full settling of accounts according to God’s justice.
cherpah · Hebrew Noun
A scornful, insulting, or mocking reproach directed against someone. In the Psalms, taunts against God’s people are treated as blasphemous affronts against God Himself.
This psalm vividly captures the anguish of Jerusalem's destruction and the subsequent exile. The prayer for vengeance on neighbors who taunted God reflects the deep shame and outrage felt by a people whose national identity and faith were shattered by invasion and conquest.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon conquers Judah, exiling some of the elite, including the prophet Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Following a revolt, Nebuchadnezzar deports more Judeans, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon. Jerusalem's Temple is partially plundered.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
After a prolonged siege and further rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the majority of the population to Babylon. This is a devastating national catastrophe.
c. 586-538 BC
Babylonian Exile
The Judean people live in exile in Babylon, facing hardship and taunts from their captors who mock their God. This period is characterized by deep sorrow and a fervent longing for return.
539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers the Babylonian Empire, paving the way for the return of exiled peoples, including the Jews.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple, marking the end of the Babylonian exile.
This verse echoes the idea of a sevenfold vengeance, referencing the 'sevenfold' punishment for Cain's sin, highlighting the theme of divine retribution for wrongdoing.
Isaiah 10:5This passage speaks of God using a nation (Assyria) as a tool for His judgment, but then calling that nation to account for its own cruelty, paralleling the prayer for judgment on the neighbors who have wronged God's people.
Luke 6:38Jesus' teaching to 'give, and it will be given to you' uses the metaphor of fullness, similar to the 'sevenfold into their bosom' imagery, though applied to a principle of generosity rather than vengeance.
Lamentations 3:64This verse directly asks for recompense for the enemies who have reproached the Lord, mirroring the prayer in Psalms 79:12 for God to return the taunts to His neighbors.
Matthew 23:35This passage speaks of 'all the righteous blood shed on earth' being demanded from a wicked generation, connecting to the idea of vengeance for shed blood and the consequences of sin across generations.
pulpitPsalms 79:12: "And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord."
Verse 12. - 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.
clarkePsalms 79:12: "And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord."
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.
This verse isn't just a cry for vengeance; it's a passionate plea that God's honor be restored. The psalmist asks for the enemies' taunts against God to be returned to them "sevenfold," not simply for personal revenge, but to demonstrate to the whole world that God is real and powerful.
The psalm laments the destruction of Jerusalem and the desecration of the Temple by enemies, casting the people of God as helpless victims. In response to this devastation and the enemies' taunts, the psalmist cries out to God, pleading for His intervention not only for their own sake but also for the sake of His name, which the nations are mocking. The prayer escalates to asking God to repay the enemies sevenfold for their insults and the bloodshed of His servants, seeking vindication that will make His power known.
The psalm laments the destruction of Jerusalem and the desecration of the Temple by enemies, casting the people of God as helpless victims. In response to this devastation and the enemies' taunts, the psalmist cries out to God, pleading for His intervention not only for their own sake but also for the sake of His name, which the nations are mocking. The prayer escalates to asking God to repay the enemies sevenfold for their insults and the bloodshed of His servants, seeking vindication that will make His power known.
"Return sevenfold into the lap of our neighbors the taunts with which they have taunted you, O Lord!" — This verse isn't just a cry for vengeance; it's a passionate plea that God's honor be restored. The psalmist asks for the enemies' taunts against God to be returned to them "sevenfold," not simply fo…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026