Psalm 80 16

Psalm 80:16 kjv

It is burned with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.

Psalm 80:16 nkjv

It is burned with fire, it is cut down; They perish at the rebuke of Your countenance.

Psalm 80:16 niv

Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire; at your rebuke your people perish.

Psalm 80:16 esv

They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down; may they perish at the rebuke of your face!

Psalm 80:16 nlt

For we are chopped up and burned by our enemies.
May they perish at the sight of your frown.

Psalm 80 verses

Psalm 80 16 Meaning

Psalm 80:16 portrays a scene of devastating destruction brought upon Israel, metaphorically depicted as a vine. It laments that this once-flourishing vine, planted and protected by God, has been violently "burned with fire" and "cut down." The verse concludes with a desperate plea to God, imploring Him to manifest His divine power through a severe "rebuke" that will cause those who inflicted this destruction to "perish." It expresses a profound cry for vindication and divine judgment against the oppressors.

Psalm 80 16 Context

Psalm 80 is a fervent prayer of lament for the restoration of Israel. It is classified as a communal lament, possibly composed during a time of national catastrophe such as the Assyrian conquest of the Northern Kingdom (722 BC) or the Babylonian exile of Judah (586 BC). The psalm frequently employs the powerful metaphor of Israel as a "vine" (v. 8) or "vineyard" which God himself brought out of Egypt and planted in the land. This vine was once prosperous, extending its branches far and wide (v. 9-11), signifying God's protective hand and the nation's growth.

However, the psalmist observes that this divine vineyard is now desolate, its hedges broken down (v. 12), and it is preyed upon by beasts (v. 13). Verse 16 specifically describes the extreme extent of this destruction: the vine is not merely neglected but violently "burned with fire" and "cut down." This indicates a direct and forceful act of devastation, rather than a gradual decline. The suffering is deeply felt, and the people attribute their woes to God's apparent withdrawal or anger (v. 4, 12). The psalm repeatedly pleads for God to "restore" them and "let Your face shine" upon them (v. 3, 7, 19), reflecting a yearning for God's presence and favor to return and alleviate their suffering. Thus, verse 16 forms part of a passionate appeal for divine intervention, a desperate cry for God to reverse their fortunes and punish those responsible for their national ruin.

Psalm 80 16 Word analysis

• They have burned it with fire:

  • They have burned it: (Hebrew: שְׂרֻפָה sᵉrupah). This is a passive participle, meaning "it has been burned." It suggests a completed action. The agents are "they," referring to the foreign nations or adversaries who have devastated Israel. This emphasizes the destructive actions of the enemies.
  • with fire: (ba'esh). Fire signifies complete destruction, a consuming judgment. In biblical contexts, burning is often associated with divine judgment, purification, or utterly laying waste. Here, it highlights the extreme nature of the vine's desolation. The extent of ruin implies no chance of regrowth without divine intervention.

• they have cut it down:

  • they have cut it down: (Hebrew: כְּרוּתָה kᵉrutah). Another passive participle, "it has been cut down." Similar to "burned," this emphasizes the severity and intentionality of the destruction by "them." Cutting down a vine makes it unproductive; it removes its life source and potential to bear fruit.
  • Significance: Both "burned" and "cut down" illustrate the total ruination of Israel. They are no longer a flourishing vine; their existence and purpose are violently curtailed. This twofold description leaves no room for partial destruction, only total devastation, heightening the psalm's desperate cry.

• may your rebuke make them perish!

  • may your rebuke: (Hebrew: גַּעֲרָתֶךָ ga‘ǎratheka). This is a strong, powerful term for divine displeasure or authoritative intervention. God's "rebuke" is not merely verbal; it carries inherent power to enforce judgment. It is an act of divine might that silences, dismisses, or destroys that which God disapproves of.
    • In other biblical texts, God's ga‘ar brings chaos to order (Psa 104:7 – rebuking waters) or subdues enemies (Psa 9:5 – rebuking nations). It indicates sovereign control.
    • Here, it's a direct petition for God to unleash this powerful, judgment-executing "rebuke" against Israel's oppressors.
  • make them perish! (Hebrew: יאבֵדוּ yo’vdu). From the verb ’avad, meaning "to perish, be destroyed, be lost." This is a jussive form, expressing a strong desire or command – a plea for immediate and absolute destruction of the enemies.
    • The prayer is an imprecation, common in the Psalms, appealing to God's justice to eradicate those who have oppressed His people.
    • This is not a cry for personal revenge but a plea for divine righteousness to be enacted, believing that God's honor and covenant promises are at stake when His people are so grievously afflicted.
    • The sequence implies that God's rebuke itself is the agent that brings about their perishing, demonstrating the immense power of God's Word and will.

Psalm 80 16 Bonus section

The lament in Psalm 80:16 reflects a profound tension within Israel's covenant relationship with God. On one hand, God is the loving Vine-dresser who carefully transplanted and established them. On the other, they perceive Him as having removed His protective hedge (v. 12), allowing them to be utterly destroyed. This challenges their understanding of God's faithfulness, and the imprecation is, in part, a call for God to act consistently with His character as a just and sovereign God who upholds His covenant. The ultimate "perishing" requested here is for the external threats that challenge God's reign and Israel's existence as His people. This lament sets the stage for the yearning for a future deliverer, a "son of man" or "Son" (v. 17), hinting at the messianic hope of restoration not only from enemies but from internal brokenness, fully realized in Christ.

Psalm 80 16 Commentary

Psalm 80:16 is a powerful, concise expression of a nation's anguish and their fervent plea for divine justice. The imagery of the "vine" previously established by God (vv. 8-11) is now tragically "burned with fire" and "cut down." These are not passive descriptions of decay but active verbs of brutal, intentional destruction inflicted by hostile forces. This profound ruination leaves the people bereft and desperate. The burning speaks of utter desolation, while cutting down signifies the complete removal of life and fruitfulness.

Against this backdrop of utter devastation, the psalmist directs a direct and passionate petition to God: "may your rebuke make them perish!" This is not a request for a mere reprimand but for a mighty, destructive display of divine displeasure (ga‘ǎratheka). God's rebuke in Scripture carries the power to subdue chaos and shatter enemies; it is an active, formidable force. The prayer that the enemies should "perish" (yo’vdu) signifies a complete and decisive end to their power and existence. It is an imprecation rooted in the belief that God is righteous and will defend His covenant people against those who bring such profound suffering. It echoes a yearning for God's glory to be vindicated and His just order to be re-established through the complete defeat of their adversaries, rather than for personal vengeance.