Psalms Chapter 80 — A Prayer for Restoration
This chapter is a communal prayer for restoration, asking God to shine His face upon His people and restore the metaphorical vine He planted.
1Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,
2Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, stir up your might!
3Turn us again, God.
4LORD God of Armies,
5You have fed them with the bread of tears,
6You make us a source of contention to our neighbors.
7Turn us again, God of Armies.
8You brought a vine out of Egypt.
9You cleared the ground for it.
10The mountains were covered with its shadow.
11It sent out its branches to the sea,
12Why have you broken down its walls,
13The boar out of the wood ravages it.
14Turn again, we beg you, God of Armies.
15the stock which your right hand planted,
16It’s burned with fire.
17Let your hand be on the man of your right hand,
18So we will not turn away from you.
19Turn us again, LORD God of Armies.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Psalms 80:1
“Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock.”
This verse establishes the imagery of God as a guiding protector and shepherd over His people.
Psalms 80:8
“You brought a vine out of Egypt. You drove out the nations, and planted it.”
This verse summarizes the Exodus and the establishment of Israel using the prominent biblical metaphor of a vine.
Psalms 80:19
“Turn us again, LORD God of Armies. Cause your face to shine, and we will be saved.”
This serves as the central refrain of the psalm, emphasizing the need for divine intervention for salvation.
Chapter Summary
Psalm 80 is a plea for God's favor and restoration directed toward the 'Shepherd of Israel.' The psalmist calls upon God to stir up His might before the tribes of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh. A recurring refrain asks God to 'turn us again' and cause His face to shine so that the people may be saved. The text describes a time of great sorrow where the people are fed the 'bread of tears' and face contention from their neighbors. Much of the chapter uses the metaphor of a vine brought out of Egypt, which God planted and cultivated until it filled the land. However, the psalmist laments that the vine's walls are now broken and it is being ravaged by wild animals and fire. The prayer concludes by asking God to protect the 'man of your right hand' and a final plea for the LORD God of Armies to restore them.
Frequently Asked Questions
The primary request is for God to restore His people and 'cause His face to shine' upon them. This refrain is repeated throughout the chapter to emphasize the need for God's favor to be saved.
The vine represents the nation of Israel, which God brought out of Egypt and planted in the Promised Land. The psalmist uses this imagery to describe how God once protected the nation but has now allowed its walls to be broken down.
The tribes of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh are specifically mentioned in the second verse. These tribes are historically associated with the descendants of Rachel and represent the people calling for God's intervention.
Study Note
The recurring refrain in verses 3, 7, and 19 creates a formal structure typical of communal laments in Hebrew poetry.
Related Chapters
Exodus Chapter 1
Provides historical context for the 'vine' being brought out of Egypt mentioned in Psalm 80.
Psalms Chapter 23
Offers another famous depiction of God as a shepherd to His people.
John Chapter 15
Uses the vine metaphor in the New Testament to describe the relationship between God and His people.
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