Psalm 80:2 kjv
Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us.
Psalm 80:2 nkjv
Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, Stir up Your strength, And come and save us!
Psalm 80:2 niv
before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh. Awaken your might; come and save us.
Psalm 80:2 esv
Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up your might and come to save us!
Psalm 80:2 nlt
to Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh.
Show us your mighty power.
Come to rescue us!
Psalm 80 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 2:18-24 | "On the west side... shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim... Benjamin... and Manasseh..." | Tribal encampment before the Tabernacle. |
| Gen 48:19-20 | "His younger brother (Ephraim) shall be greater... they will invoke blessings..." | Jacob's blessing of Ephraim over Manasseh. |
| Josh 16-17 | Accounts of Ephraim's and Manasseh's tribal inheritances in the land. | Prominence and location of Joseph's tribes. |
| Jdg 20-21 | Narratives of the war with Benjamin. | Significance of Benjamin within Israel. |
| Isa 40:11 | "He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs..." | God as the caring Shepherd. |
| Psa 23:1 | "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." | God's protective and leading role. |
| Jer 31:7 | "Sing with joy for Jacob... 'O Lord, save your people, the remnant of Israel!'" | God's restoration of scattered Israel. |
| Hos 11:1 | "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son." | God's enduring love for His chosen people. |
| Isa 51:9 | "Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake as in days of old..." | Plea for God to manifest His power/strength. |
| Psa 35:23 | "Awake and rouse yourself for my vindication, for my cause, my God and my Lord!" | Plea for God to awake and intervene actively. |
| Hab 3:8 | "Was your wrath against the rivers, O Lord? Or your anger against the sea, when you rode on your horses of salvation...?" | God's powerful acts of deliverance. |
| Exo 14:13 | "Stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today." | God's direct act of salvation from enemies. |
| 2 Chr 20:17 | "You will not need to fight in this battle... stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord..." | Salvation comes through God's action, not man's. |
| Psa 3:8 | "Salvation belongs to the Lord; your blessing be on your people!" | Ultimate source of salvation. |
| Psa 25:5 | "Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation..." | God as the source and pathway to salvation. |
| Isa 25:9 | "Behold, this is our God... we will rejoice in His salvation." | Anticipation and joy in God's salvation. |
| Lk 1:69 | "And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David..." | Reference to the Messiah as God's salvation. |
| Lk 2:30 | "For my eyes have seen your salvation." | Simeon recognizing Jesus as the salvation. |
| Acts 4:12 | "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven... by which we must be saved." | Exclusivity of salvation through Christ. |
| Heb 5:9 | "And being made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him." | Christ as the ultimate source of salvation. |
| Rom 1:16 | "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation..." | The Gospel as the means of God's salvation. |
| Php 2:12 | "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." | Human responsibility in God's saving work. |
| Isa 43:5-6 | "Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east... I will gather you." | God's promise of gathering His scattered people. |
Psalm 80 verses
Psalm 80 2 Meaning
Psalm 80:2 is a passionate plea from God's people, particularly identifying with the suffering northern tribes of Israel (Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh), for God to manifest His power and deliver them from distress. It calls upon the Divine Shepherd to rouse His inherent strength and actively intervene for their salvation, highlighting a desperate need for immediate divine action amidst perceived passivity.
Psalm 80 2 Context
Psalm 80 is a fervent lament prayer, possibly uttered during a period of national distress, such as the Assyrian threat or post-destruction of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. It portrays God as a Shepherd who once led His people, pictured as a thriving vine brought out of Egypt, but who now appears to have forsaken them, allowing them to be ravaged. The plea for restoration is marked by a threefold repetition of "Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!" The mention of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh specifically emphasizes the Northern Kingdom, the "House of Joseph," suggesting a desperate cry for unity and rescue for all of Israel.
Psalm 80 2 Word analysis
- Before (לִפְנֵי - lifnei): Literally "in the face of" or "in the presence of." This preposition often indicates location but can also imply for the sake of, or in front of, implying leading. Here, it suggests God leading these tribes, or that His power should be displayed to, and for the benefit of, these specific tribal groups, who often bore the brunt of invasions from the north.
- Ephraim (אֶפְרַיִם - Ephraim): One of the two prominent tribes descended from Joseph (along with Manasseh). Ephraim became the dominant tribe of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, providing its first king (Jeroboam) and often synonymous with the entire Northern Kingdom. Its inclusion here signifies the lament's deep concern for this substantial part of Israel.
- Benjamin (וּבִנְיָמִן - u'vinymin): The youngest son of Jacob, a unique tribe located between the Northern and Southern Kingdoms. Its inclusion often represents a bridge between north and south or emphasizes the suffering of those closely connected to Jerusalem but also deeply tied to the northern tribes. It completes the picture of the children of Rachel.
- Manasseh (וּמְנַשֶּׁה - u'm'nasheh): The elder son of Joseph, receiving a significant inheritance on both sides of the Jordan. Along with Ephraim, Manasseh formed the core of the "House of Joseph." The triad of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh are noteworthy because they were positioned immediately behind the Ark of the Covenant in the wilderness march (Num 2), acting as a "rear guard" for the Ark, suggesting a position of proximity and readiness before God.
- Rouse (
עוֹרֵר -orer): A strong verb meaning "to awaken," "to stir up," "to arouse." It conveys a sense of urgency, pleading for God to break His apparent silence or inactivity. It is not that God sleeps or needs actual awakening, but the prayer reflects the human perception of divine withdrawal or delay. It's an appeal for a decisive, observable intervention. - Might (גְּבוּרָה - gevurah): Refers to God's inherent strength, power, and mighty acts. This word evokes memories of the exodus from Egypt, the conquering of Canaan, and other great redemptive acts where God displayed overwhelming power. The plea is for God to re-exhibit His characteristic, conquering strength on their behalf.
- Come (וּלְכָה - u'lekhah): A direct imperative, "come forth" or "go forward." It implores active, dynamic movement from God, an immediate and physical presence. It complements "rouse," emphasizing not just the display of power but its active application in their current plight.
- To save us (לִישֻׁעָתָה לָּנוּ - liy'shu`atah lanu): "For salvation/deliverance for us." Yeshu`ah (salvation) encompasses various forms of rescue: physical, spiritual, and national deliverance. It speaks to comprehensive relief from their distress, aligning with God's fundamental identity as the rescuer of His people.
Words-group analysis:
- "Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh": This phrase carries both geographical and spiritual weight. Geographically, these tribes constituted a significant block of the Northern Kingdom, representing the suffering majority. Spiritually, their historical placement directly behind the Ark in the wilderness (Num 2) means they marched before the divine presence. The plea is for God to manifest His leadership and protection at their head, as He did historically, acting powerfully for their sake and amidst them.
- "Rouse your might and come to save us!": This is the core petition of the verse, an urgent call for divine intervention. It couples the awakening of God's latent power ("rouse your might") with the immediate application of that power for deliverance ("come to save us"). It indicates a perceived dire situation requiring the display of God's unparalleled strength for their full restoration.
Psalm 80 2 Bonus section
The appeal in Psa 80:2 highlights a key tension often found in communal laments: the paradox between God's inherent omnipotence and His perceived passivity during times of His people's suffering. The prayer is not suggesting God needs energy, but rather expresses a deep human longing for divine action, an awakening of what seems to be a slumbering force. This language serves to intensify the plea and underscore the depth of the distress. It also functions as a powerful declaration of faith that God can and will intervene with overwhelming power, if only He chooses to activate it for His people's sake.
Psalm 80 2 Commentary
Psalm 80:2 encapsulates Israel's yearning for God's visible and potent intervention. Addressing the Lord as a Shepherd, the Psalmist desperately seeks a demonstration of His power, recalling past acts of salvation. The specific mention of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh roots the prayer in the suffering of the Northern tribes, who were often the frontline in conflicts and symbolic of the larger national plight. It is a humble yet urgent appeal for God, who appears distant, to actively awaken His famed might and step forth as the Divine Warrior and Deliverer, bringing comprehensive rescue and restoration to His distressed people, echoing the core desire of every lament for God's active presence and saving work.