Psalm 80 12

Psalm 80:12 kjv

Why hast thou then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her?

Psalm 80:12 nkjv

Why have You broken down her hedges, So that all who pass by the way pluck her fruit?

Psalm 80:12 niv

Why have you broken down its walls so that all who pass by pick its grapes?

Psalm 80:12 esv

Why then have you broken down its walls, so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit?

Psalm 80:12 nlt

But now, why have you broken down our walls
so that all who pass by may steal our fruit?

Psalm 80 verses

Psalm 80 12 Meaning

Psalm 80:12 vividly laments that God, the divine Gardener, has seemingly removed His protective boundaries around Israel, His chosen vine. This act of divine withdrawal or allowance leads directly to the nation's vulnerability, permitting any passing foe to plunder and ravage it without restraint. It portrays a people in distress, questioning why their covenant Protector would leave them exposed to such devastation.

Psalm 80 12 Context

Psalm 80 is a communal lament, one of the most intense appeals for national restoration in the Psalter. The overarching context is Israel's distress during a period of deep national humiliation, likely resulting from military defeat, invasion, or exile. The Psalm consistently implores God to "restore us" (Ps 80:3, 7, 19). It uses powerful agricultural imagery, portraying Israel as a "vine" brought from Egypt (Ps 80:8) and carefully planted and cultivated by God Himself, who made it spread out and fill the land (Ps 80:9-11). Verse 12 is a bewildered and distressed question: after such divine care and blessing, why would God dismantle the very protection He provided? The "hedges" refer to the vineyard's walls or fences that protect it from wild animals and thieves. The historical backdrop for such a lament could be the Assyrian or Babylonian invasions and exiles, which saw Israel/Judah utterly stripped of its former glory and security, suggesting a time when God seemed to have abandoned His people. The verse is part of a larger plea for God's merciful intervention against those who are destroying what was once His cherished possession.

Psalm 80 12 Word analysis

• לָמָּה (Lāmāh): "Why?" - This is an interrogative adverb, expressing deep perplexity, lament, and even a respectful challenge or questioning of God's actions. It signifies bewilderment and distress, not a denial of God's power but a desperate plea for understanding amidst suffering.
• פָּרַצְתָּ (Pārats'tā): "You have broken down" or "You have breached." - Derived from the verb "פרץ" (parats), meaning to break out, break through, break down, or burst forth. The perfect tense verb indicates a completed action initiated by God ("You" - second person singular). This highlights the direct agency of God in dismantling the protection, not merely His passive permission. It implies divine judgment or allowing suffering.
• גְּדֵרֹתֶיהָ (Gəḏērōṯeihā): "her hedges" or "her walls." - Refers to the protective enclosures, typically a stone wall or thorny hedge, built around a vineyard to safeguard it from wild animals and trespassers. The suffix "-יהָ" ("her") links it directly to the "vine" (Israel) mentioned earlier in the psalm. These "hedges" symbolize God's covenantal protection, the nation's security, and perhaps even its physical borders and divine favor.
• וַיִּבְצְרוּהָ (Wayyiḇtsərūhā): "and they pluck her," "and they gather her grapes." - Derived from "בצר" (batsar), meaning to cut off, gather, or prune, specifically relating to harvesting grapes. Here, in the context of broken hedges, it denotes the opportunistic plundering and destruction by enemies, not a careful harvest. The waw-consecutive imperfect indicates a consequence directly following God's action.
• כָּל־עֹבְרֵי דָרֶךְ (Kol ‘ōḇərê ḏāreḵ): "all who pass by the way" or "everyone passing by the road." - This phrase emphasizes the indiscriminate and effortless nature of the plundering. With no hedge, even casual passersby (representing any common foe or invader) can easily come in and devastate what was once God's precious vineyard. It speaks to extreme vulnerability and the shame of utter exposure.

Words-group analysis:

• "Why have you broken down her hedges?" This opening phrase expresses the core lament. It is a direct and mournful question addressed to God. It underscores the belief that Israel's security was entirely dependent on divine protection, and thus, its present distress could only be the result of God's withdrawal or intentional judgment. The question doesn't deny God's sovereignty but pleads for divine understanding and compassion.
• "So that all who pass by her way pluck her grapes/fruit." This clause presents the devastating consequence. The breakdown of God's protection (the hedge) leads directly to an open invitation for any opportunistic enemy to despoil Israel (the vine). The "plucking" signifies the violent taking away of the nation's resources, strength, and perhaps even its people, emphasizing total devastation and shame due to exposure.

Psalm 80 12 Bonus section

• The imagery of the vine and vineyard for Israel is pervasive in the Old Testament, illustrating God's meticulous care for His chosen people and their responsibility to bear fruit for Him. Its presence in Psalm 80 connects this lament to a broader biblical narrative of divine election, covenant, and the consequences of unfaithfulness.
• The rhetorical "Why?" implies that the psalmist cannot comprehend God's action from a human perspective, revealing the profound confusion and spiritual agony of the nation. It reflects a wrestling with God's justice and mercy in the face of national calamity.
• While God "breaking down the hedges" indicates divine permission or judgment, it doesn't mean abandonment in an ultimate sense. The very act of lamenting and appealing to God in this psalm (e.g., "Restore us, O God") shows that the people still believe in His power to intervene and save, even when they cannot understand His ways.
• The shift from God's careful planting and spreading of the vine (Ps 80:8-11) to its immediate vulnerability in verse 12 creates a stark contrast, highlighting the depth of the national tragedy and the perceived reversal of divine favor.

Psalm 80 12 Commentary

Psalm 80:12 is a poignant cry from a nation in deep crisis, personifying Israel as a vulnerable vineyard abandoned by its divine Vinedresser. The central agony expressed is that God Himself, who meticulously planted and cared for this vine (Israel), has seemingly chosen to remove its essential protective "hedges." This isn't depicted as the work of enemies overcoming God's defenses, but rather God actively dismantling His own. This implies a profound divine judgment or an incomprehensible withdrawal of favor, leaving the once-thriving vine exposed to any passing despoiler. The phrase "all who pass by her way pluck her" underscores the effortless and universal nature of the despoilment—the absence of the protective hedge makes the nation an easy target for common enemies. It’s a lament filled with bewilderment and pain, yet it holds onto the hope that God will once again "turn," "look down," and restore His broken hedge and His suffering people. The psalm thus moves from profound distress to an ardent appeal for renewed divine intervention.