Psalm 80 10

Psalm 80:10 kjv

The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars.

Psalm 80:10 nkjv

The hills were covered with its shadow, And the mighty cedars with its boughs.

Psalm 80:10 niv

The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches.

Psalm 80:10 esv

The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches.

Psalm 80:10 nlt

Our shade covered the mountains;
our branches covered the mighty cedars.

Psalm 80 verses

Psalm 80 10 Meaning

Psalm 80:10 poetically describes the immense flourishing and protective spread of God's people, Israel, here likened to a flourishing vine. The verse illustrates the grandeur and vast influence of the nation when under God's favor and blessing, its "shade" reaching over the high "mountains" and its "branches" encompassing the most formidable "cedars." This imagery speaks to the expansive growth, dominance, and protection God granted to His chosen people, extending their territory and renown over the land and its most prominent features.

Psalm 80 10 Context

Psalm 80 is a communal lament, an urgent prayer of a people in distress. It begins by imploring God, "O Shepherd of Israel," to "restore us" (vv. 1, 3, 7, 19). The Psalm employs the powerful metaphor of Israel as a vine (v. 8), which God Himself brought out of Egypt and planted, clearing the ground for it. Verse 9 speaks of the vine's deep rooting and spread, filling the land. Verse 10 specifically describes the vine's past glory—its flourishing state where its shade and branches covered mountains and mighty cedars, illustrating Israel's initial prosperous settlement and expansion in the Promised Land under God's blessing, during times of strength like the eras of David and Solomon. This portrayal of past splendor sharply contrasts with the present distress depicted in verses 12-13, where the vine's hedges are broken down, and it is ravaged by wild beasts, signifying foreign invasions and the decline of the nation. The psalm is a cry for God to look down from heaven and visit His vine again, restoring its former glory.

Psalm 80 10 Word analysis

• The mountains (הָרִים - harim):

  • Literal: High land features, natural boundaries.
  • Significance: Symbol of greatness, stability, and broad territorial reach. In a figurative sense, it denotes widespread influence, covering even the most prominent or distant parts of the land.

• were covered (כָּסָּה - kassah):

  • Meaning: To cover, to conceal, to spread over.
  • Significance: Implies a protective embrace, total encompassment, or overwhelming dominance. It denotes the vine's widespread growth making its presence felt throughout the entire landscape.

• with its shade (צִלָּהּ - tsillah):

  • Meaning: Its shade, shadow, protection.
  • Significance: Shade offers protection, refuge, and comfort from harsh elements. This imagery conveys a sense of Israel's protective presence and blessing extending far and wide, offering refuge and benefit to others within its sphere of influence. It speaks to a time of security and peace provided by God's favor.

• and the mighty cedars (וְאַרְזֵ֣י־אֵ֫ל - v'arzei-el):

  • וְ (v): And.
  • אַרְזֵי (arzei): Cedars (plural construct). Refers to the renowned Cedars of Lebanon, known for their size, longevity, strength, and beauty.
  • אֵל (el): God; here, used as an intensifier, signifying "mighty," "divine," or "greatest" (e.g., "mountains of God" for highest mountains). Thus, "cedars of God" signifies superlatively strong and majestic cedars, the most imposing trees.
  • Significance: These cedars often symbolize strength, majesty, and pride (Isa 2:13). Their inclusion implies that Israel's flourishing vine covered even the most dominant or formidable aspects of the land, demonstrating ultimate superiority and extent of blessing, encompassing all of creation or all earthly powers.

• with its branches (בִּשְׂעַפֹתֶיהָ - bise'apoteiha):

  • בִּ (bi): With, by.
  • שְׂעַפֹתֶיהָ (se'apoteiha): Its branches, boughs, shoot-like growths.
  • Significance: Represents the outward spread, extension, and growth of the vine. The branches signify the far-reaching influence and physical expanse of the Israelite nation's dominion and prosperity when God's favor was upon it.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "The mountains were covered with its shade": This phrase emphasizes the vast territorial reach and protective influence of Israel. It suggests the vine's shade was so expansive that it cast itself over the natural boundaries and elevations of the land, providing comfort and dominance over extensive areas.
  • "and the mighty cedars with its branches": This parallelism highlights the strength and comprehensive spread of Israel's prosperity. Not just geographical expanses (mountains), but also the most towering and strong elements of the land (cedars) were engulfed by its growth. This conveys the overwhelming success and power granted by divine blessing.

Psalm 80 10 Bonus section

The superlative nature of "mighty cedars" (literally "cedars of God") is a Hebrew idiom that conveys ultimate majesty and size. This is found elsewhere, such as "mountains of God" (Ps 36:6) for highest mountains or "river of God" (Ps 65:9) for a mighty river. It amplifies the degree of the vine's expansive reach. The use of a plant metaphor (vine) for a nation is common in the Old Testament, but Psalm 80 uniquely juxtaposes the small, seemingly vulnerable vine with the towering, unyielding cedars and mountains, thus magnifying God's power in causing the "small" vine to overcome and overshadow the "great" natural world. This underlines that Israel's greatness was not inherent, but a miraculous manifestation of God's blessing.

Psalm 80 10 Commentary

Psalm 80:10 serves as a powerful testament to Israel's former glory and the expansive blessing God bestowed upon them when they lived in fidelity. Using the metaphor of a vine brought from Egypt (v. 8), the verse paints a picture of a nation so vigorously established and divinely favored that its influence and protection ('shade') extended over geographical eminences ('mountains') and its vibrant growth ('branches') enveloped even the most majestic and robust natural elements, the 'mighty cedars' of God. This imagery signifies an unparalleled period of territorial expansion, peace, and spiritual strength, such as was experienced during the united monarchy under David and Solomon, where Israel's dominion reached from the River of Egypt to the Euphrates (1 Ki 4:21). The verse emphasizes that this extraordinary flourishing was a direct result of God's nurture and blessing. It stands in stark contrast to the desolate state the psalm subsequently laments, creating a poignant plea for God to restore His vine to such heights of flourishing and protective power once again. Practically, it reminds believers that true flourishing and lasting security stem solely from being rooted in and sustained by the Lord, much like Jesus later taught that He is the "true vine" (Jn 15:1).