Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.

PSALMS 44:11KJV
Know the Bible

Psalms 44:11 (KJV)

What does Psalms 44:11 mean?

Psalms 44:11 describes a time when the people of Israel feel abandoned and vulnerable, saying God has let them be treated like sheep meant for slaughter and scattered them among foreign nations. The verse expresses a deep sense of loss and helplessness, as if the people are defenseless and at the mercy of others.

The psalm is spoken by the community of Israel, addressing God during a period of national crisis or defeat. The language paints a vivid picture of suffering: being "given like sheep appointed for meat" means being handed over without protection, and being "scattered among the heathen" refers to being exiled or dispersed among non-Israelite nations. This verse is part of a larger lament where the people remember God’s past help but now feel forsaken.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 44:11

  • נָתַן (nathan; "given"): This word often means to hand over or allow something to happen. Here, it emphasizes the feeling that God has actively allowed their suffering.
  • צֹאן (tso'n; "sheep"): Sheep symbolize vulnerability and helplessness, highlighting how defenseless the people feel.
  • מַאֲכָל (ma'akal; "meat"): This word means food or something to be eaten, stressing the idea that the people are as defenseless as sheep prepared for slaughter.
  • זָרָה (zarah; "scattered"): This word means to disperse or spread out, underlining the trauma of being forced away from home and community.
  • גּוֹי (goy; "heathen"): This word refers to foreign nations, showing that the scattering is not just physical but also cultural and spiritual, being placed among those who do not share their faith.

Why Psalms 44:11 matters

  • This verse clears up the idea that suffering and defeat were always due to personal sin; the psalm wrestles with feeling abandoned even when the people have tried to be faithful.
  • The vivid imagery of sheep and scattering connects to other biblical themes of exile and vulnerability, helping readers understand the emotional weight of Israel’s history.
  • It highlights the honesty of biblical prayer, showing that expressing pain and confusion to God is part of the faith journey.

Where else these words appear

“meat” Hebrew H3978 · used in 29 verses

  • Genesis 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
  • 1 Chronicles 12:40 Moreover they that were nigh them, even unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, and meat, meal, cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep abundantly: for there was joy in Israel.
  • Isaiah 62:8 The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured:

“scattered” Hebrew H2219 · used in 38 verses

  • Exodus 32:20 And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.
  • Isaiah 30:22 Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.
  • Ezekiel 6:5 And I will lay the dead carcases of the children of Israel before their idols; and I will scatter your bones round about your altars.