Psalm 78:47 kjv
He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost.
Psalm 78:47 nkjv
He destroyed their vines with hail, And their sycamore trees with frost.
Psalm 78:47 niv
He destroyed their vines with hail and their sycamore-figs with sleet.
Psalm 78:47 esv
He destroyed their vines with hail and their sycamores with frost.
Psalm 78:47 nlt
He destroyed their grapevines with hail
and shattered their sycamore-figs with sleet.
Psalm 78 47 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 9:23-25 | "And the Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down... hail struck down all that was in the field... all the trees..." | Original hail plague. |
| Ps 105:32-33 | "He gave them hail for rain, and fiery lightning in their land. He struck down their vines also, and their fig trees..." | Parallel account of same plagues. |
| Joel 1:7 | "He has laid waste my vine and ruined my fig tree; he has stripped it bare and thrown it away..." | Divine judgment causing agricultural ruin. |
| Nah 1:6 | "Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by him." | God's irresistible judgment and power. |
| Job 38:22-23 | "Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail, which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war?" | God's control over meteorological elements. |
| Isa 30:30 | "And the Lord will cause his majestic voice to be heard and the descending blow of his arm to be seen, with raging anger and consuming fire, with cloudburst and deluge and hail." | God's voice causes natural devastation. |
| Jer 25:30 | "The Lord will roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he will roar mightily against his fold, and shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth." | God's roaring judgment across the earth. |
| Deut 28:40, 42 | "You shall have olive trees throughout all your territory, but you shall not anoint yourself with oil, for your olives shall drop off. ...all your trees and the fruit of your ground the buzzing locust shall possess." | Curses of agricultural loss for disobedience. |
| Amos 4:9 | "I struck you with blight and mildew; your many gardens and your vineyards, your fig trees and your olive trees the locust devoured; yet you did not return to me," | God's use of pestilence and crop destruction. |
| Mal 3:11 | "I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear fruit," | Promise to protect crops for obedience. |
| Ps 78:1-4 | "Give ear, O my people, to my teaching... I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us." | The psalm's purpose: remembering God's acts. |
| Ps 78:11-12 | "They forgot his mighty deeds and the wonders that he had shown them. In the sight of their fathers he performed wonders in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan." | Reminder of Israel's forgetting God's wonders. |
| Neh 9:10 | "And you performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants and all the people of his land, for you knew that they dealt proudly against them." | God's wonders in Egypt for His people. |
| Exod 7:5 | "The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them.” | Purpose of the plagues: God revealing Himself. |
| Rom 9:17 | "For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” | God's sovereign purpose in using Pharaoh. |
| Matt 8:26-27 | "And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm." | Christ's power over nature. |
| Mark 11:20-21 | "As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots... and Peter remembered and said to him, 'Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.'" | Christ's judgment upon the unfruitful fig tree. |
| Rev 8:7 | "The first angel blew his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up..." | Eschatological judgment involving hail. |
| Rev 16:21 | "And great hail, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on mankind; and men blasphemed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so very severe." | Final plagues, including massive hail. |
| John 15:2, 6 | "Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away... If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers..." | Spiritual application of fruitlessness/destruction. |
Psalm 78 verses
Psalm 78 47 Meaning
Psalm 78:47 recounts specific details of the plagues inflicted upon ancient Egypt by God, illustrating His immense power and targeted judgment. The verse states that God devastated their agricultural foundation, destroying the vineyards with devastating hail and the vital sycamore-fig trees with an uncharacteristic, fatal frost. This action demonstrated Yahweh's absolute sovereignty over creation and was a direct blow to Egypt's economic stability and their reliance on natural forces, implicitly challenging their pagan deities associated with nature and fertility. It served as a stark reminder of divine wrath and retribution for their refusal to let Israel go.
Psalm 78 47 Context
Psalm 78 is a "Maschil," an instructive psalm, attributed to Asaph. Its primary purpose is to educate future generations of Israel about God's historical faithfulness despite Israel's persistent disobedience. It begins by urging the audience to listen to the "dark sayings" (riddles or profound truths) of their past, recounting God's mighty acts from the Exodus through the wilderness wanderings and settlement in the land, emphasizing specific examples of Israel's rebellion and God's consistent patience and judgment. Psalm 78:47 is embedded within the section (verses 43-51) that describes the specific plagues God sent upon Egypt. These details serve as a powerful reminder to Israel of the extraordinary interventions of God on their behalf, setting the stage for their later failures to trust Him. Historically, the destruction of agricultural staples like vines and sycamore-fig trees was a direct blow to the livelihood of the Egyptian people, showcasing God's comprehensive judgment. Culturally, these plagues were also potent polemics, directly undermining the authority and power of various Egyptian gods, demonstrating that Yahweh alone controlled all aspects of nature and life.
Psalm 78 47 Word analysis
- He: Refers unequivocally to God, Yahweh, the Lord of Israel. This immediately establishes divine agency and supreme authority behind the destructive acts, underscoring that these were not random natural events but specific, deliberate judgments.
- destroyed: From the Hebrew verb harag (הָרַג), which often means "to kill" or "to slay." Its use here signifies a complete and fatal ruination of the plants, going beyond mere damage. It implies a swift, decisive, and irreversible action, demonstrating the severity of God's judgment and His direct involvement in the agricultural devastation.
- their vines: Refers to the grapevines cultivated by the Egyptians. Vines were significant for their fruit (grapes) and for producing wine, which was an important part of Egyptian economy and culture, from Pharaoh's table to common beverages. The destruction of vines meant loss of food, drink, and economic capital.
- with hail: From the Hebrew barad (בָּרָד). This refers to the seventh plague of hail as recorded in Exodus 9. It describes severe, large chunks of ice, often accompanied by thunder and lightning, causing widespread destruction. Its severity and targeted nature in Egypt highlighted God's power over seemingly uncontrollable atmospheric phenomena, an area where various Egyptian gods like Seth (god of storms) might have been worshipped.
- and their sycamore-fig trees: The "sycamore-fig" tree, from the Hebrew shiqmah (שִׁקְמָה), or Ficus sycomorus, was exceptionally important in ancient Egypt. Unlike other fig trees, the sycamore-fig yielded fruit year-round and was a vital food source, especially for the common people, often called "food for the poor." Its timber was also used for furniture and even sarcophagi. Destroying these trees thus represented an assault on the basic sustenance and a common, essential resource for Egyptians, not just their luxury goods. Amos 7:14 refers to sycamore cultivation as a humble occupation.
- with frost: From the very rare Hebrew word ḥănāmāl (חֲנָמָל), meaning "killing frost" or "black frost." This is highly unusual for Egypt's typically warm climate. While rare frosts can occur, a frost severe enough to destroy mature sycamore-fig trees would be a catastrophic and supernatural event, beyond the typical seasonal weather patterns. This particular judgment underscores God's ability to manipulate even the most improbable natural elements to accomplish His purpose, demonstrating a uniquely tailored judgment. It's a miracle of destructive nature.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "He destroyed their vines with hail": This phrase pinpoints the divine origin and specific method of agricultural ruin targeting a key fruit crop. The choice of "hail" emphasizes a powerful, overwhelming, and directly atmospheric judgment from God, challenging any Egyptian deity associated with rain or storms.
- "and their sycamore-fig trees with frost": This second part broadens the scope of destruction to another essential crop, particularly vital for the general populace. The use of "frost" in a land unaccustomed to such a severe, widespread, and devastating phenomenon showcases God's extraordinary and precise control over climate and natural forces, proving His supremacy over the land's perceived gods and bringing unparalleled hardship. Together, the two clauses represent comprehensive economic and ecological devastation, hitting both general and essential food sources, underlining the thoroughness of God's judgment.
Psalm 78 47 Bonus section
The mention of "sycamore-fig trees" in particular for the frost plague (which isn't detailed explicitly in Exodus as a separate "frost" plague in the same way as hail) highlights the Psalm's intention to convey a more comprehensive picture of devastation. Some scholars suggest this may indicate an intensified effect of the hail and subsequent weather changes, or a specific focus by the psalmist on a less-common but still significant, miraculously induced destructive element. The uniqueness of the Hebrew term ḥănāmāl ("devastating frost") for Egypt underscores the miraculous, supernatural nature of this specific element of the plague, showcasing divine power extending beyond typical meteorology to a targeted, unusual environmental judgment. It was a clear demonstration that God controls all aspects of the natural world, even its exceptions.
Psalm 78 47 Commentary
Psalm 78:47 concisely details two highly specific and impactful aspects of God's judgment upon Egypt during the Exodus plagues. This verse, like others describing the plagues, serves not merely as a historical recount but as a theological statement. It powerfully asserts Yahweh's absolute sovereignty over creation, demonstrating His ability to command even the most improbable and destructive natural phenomena—unseasonal, deadly frost in Egypt and devastating hail—to achieve His redemptive purposes for Israel. By targeting the vineyards and especially the ubiquitous sycamore-fig trees, God struck at the very core of Egypt's agricultural economy and daily sustenance. This was a direct humiliation of Egyptian deities associated with nature, harvest, and life, proving their impotence against the one true God. For the original Israelite audience, it was a potent reminder of the incredible power wielded on their behalf, a lesson in fearing and trusting the God who performs such wonders. It implicitly contrasts Israel's dependency on God for their daily bread (manna in the wilderness) with Egypt's trust in their fertile land and pagan gods, both of which God decisively judged. The practical usage is to recognize God's unfailing power, both in salvation and judgment, and to live in obedient reliance on Him, rather than trusting in earthly provisions or false gods, lest one experience similar devastating consequences.