Psalm 80 9

Psalm 80:9 kjv

Thou preparedst room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land.

Psalm 80:9 nkjv

You prepared room for it, And caused it to take deep root, And it filled the land.

Psalm 80:9 niv

You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land.

Psalm 80:9 esv

You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land.

Psalm 80:9 nlt

You cleared the ground for us,
and we took root and filled the land.

Psalm 80 verses

Psalm 80 9 Meaning

Psalm 80:9 vividly describes the extraordinary growth and expansion of God's people, Israel, portrayed as a luxuriant vine. This verse highlights the profound prosperity, widespread influence, and protective reach that Israel once enjoyed under divine favor. The imagery conveys that the nation, cultivated by God, had grown so vast and strong that its shade covered majestic mountains, and its branches intertwined with and overshadowed the grandest cedars, symbolizing its immense dominion and the shelter it provided.

Psalm 80 9 Context

Psalm 80 is a fervent communal lament, a heartfelt plea to God for restoration and revival. The psalmist, on behalf of Israel, implores God to "restore us; let your face shine, that we may be saved!" (vv. 3, 7, 19). The nation is in distress, facing divine wrath and apparent abandonment. Verses 8-11 recount Israel's glorious past, describing them metaphorically as a vine brought from Egypt and planted by God. This chosen vine then expanded to an immense size, filling the land and reaching across natural boundaries. Verse 9 specifically elaborates on this past period of blessed growth, describing how the vine's reach was so vast it covered mountains and overshadowed even the mightiest cedars. This vibrant imagery sets a stark contrast with Israel's current dilapidated state, depicted in subsequent verses where the vine is broken down and consumed by wild beasts (vv. 12-13). The psalm uses this past glory to bolster the plea for God to once again turn His attention to His people and make His "vine" flourish.

Psalm 80 9 Word Analysis

• The mountains (הָרִים - hā-rîm): Literally "mountains." In ancient Near Eastern geography, mountains were often perceived as challenging terrain or natural borders. The vine covering them signifies not just geographical expanse but also overcoming obstacles and establishing pervasive dominion. It speaks to a growth that transcends typical limitations, touching the very highest points of the landscape.
• were covered (כִּסּוּ - kis-sū): From the Hebrew verb כָּסָה (kāsāh), meaning "to cover," "to conceal," or "to envelop." This verb suggests a complete and pervasive spread, indicating that the vine's growth was so luxuriant that it enveloped and overshadowed its surroundings, dominating the landscape.
• with its shade (בְּצִלָּהּ - bə-ṣil-lāh): Ṣēl (צֵל) means "shade" or "shadow." Shade in a hot climate offers protection, refreshment, and comfort. For a powerful entity to cast wide shade signifies its extensive influence, security, and the beneficial dominion it exercises. This suggests that Israel, under God's blessing, provided security and relief to others, or certainly to its own inhabitants, through its flourishing.
• and the mighty cedars (וְאַרְזֵי אֵל - wə-’ar-zê ’ēl):
  • Cedars (אַרְזֵי - ’ar-zê): From אֶרֶז (’erez), specifically referring to the Cedars of Lebanon, famed for their massive size, height, strength, longevity, and valuable timber. They symbolize strength, majesty, endurance, and pride in the Bible.
  • Mighty (אֵל - ’ēl): While ’ēl often refers to God, here it functions as an intensifier, similar to "divine" or "of God," making the "cedars of God" synonymous with "mighty," "magnificent," or "supreme cedars." Thus, the verse refers to the most majestic and strongest of trees. The vine overshadowing these mighty cedars highlights its extraordinary vigor and power, even surpassing symbols of great natural strength.
• with its branches (סַעֲפֹתֶיהָ - saʿăp̄ō-ṯe-hā): From סַעַף (saʿap̄), referring to boughs or branches. This signifies the active outgrowth and spread of the vine, literally and figuratively demonstrating its pervasive reach and the extent of its influence and dominion over the land and even its grandest natural features.

Words-group Analysis:

• The mountains were covered with its shade: This phrase establishes the vine's broad geographical reach and the extensive protection and pervasive influence it offered. It highlights an encompassing growth that extends over elevated and vast terrains.
• and the mighty cedars with its branches: This phrase further emphasizes the vine's exceptional strength and vitality. By encompassing the most majestic and formidable trees, it conveys an idea of unrivaled prosperity and a power that could even dominate what was naturally strong and awe-inspiring, showcasing Israel's blessed supremacy and reach.

Psalm 80 9 Bonus section

The imagery of a vast tree or vine providing shade is also a motif found in prophetic literature, representing a kingdom's far-reaching dominion and the shelter it offers (e.g., the mighty tree of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4). For the psalmist, this recollection is not just historical; it provides hope. If God brought about such magnificent growth in the past, He certainly can do it again. The lament seeks a restoration of that divine favor. This contrasts with the concept of "the wild vine" (Deut 32:32) or the "degenerate vine" (Jer 2:21) which speak to Israel's unfaithfulness. The Psalmist here remembers a time before the degeneracy, when God's vine fulfilled its potential for glory and expansive blessing. The verse's use of "shade" implies a blessing for those within its reach, perhaps hinting at Israel's calling to be a blessing to all nations, a theme prominent in the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen 12:3).

Psalm 80 9 Commentary

Psalm 80:9 serves as a nostalgic recollection of Israel's divinely granted splendor and vast influence. The imagery of the "vine" reaching over "mountains" and covering "mighty cedars" underscores God's mighty hand in establishing His people. Mountains signify geographic spread and sometimes even powerful kingdoms, while cedars represent unparalleled strength and majesty in the ancient world. The vine's dominion over these elements metaphorically depicts Israel's flourishing as a dominant and extensive kingdom under the favor of the Almighty, perhaps reflecting the era of Solomon's unified kingdom which indeed reached significant geographical extent (e.g., from the River Euphrates to the border of Egypt, 1 Kin 4:21). The verse emphasizes not merely growth, but a profound, beneficial dominion that offered "shade"—protection and prosperity—to those under its influence. This profound imagery also subtly highlights that such magnificent growth was not inherent to the vine itself, but solely due to the divine vinedresser, God, who planted and nurtured it. This glorious past state forms the crucial backdrop for the Psalmist's lament over the vine's current devastated condition, implicitly appealing to God to restore the same care and power that once led to such magnificent expansion and provision. The underlying message is that Israel's true strength and flourishing depend entirely on the presence and favor of God.