King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Why hast thou [then] broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her?
Complete Jewish Bible:
Why did you break down [the vineyard's] wall, so that all passing by can pluck [its fruit]?
Berean Standard Bible:
Why have You broken down its walls, so that all who pass by pick its fruit?
American Standard Version:
Why hast thou broken down its walls, So that all they that pass by the way do pluck it?
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Why hast thou then broken down{H6555}{H8804)} her hedges{H1447}, so that all they which pass{H5674}{H8802)} by the way{H1870} do pluck{H717}{H8804)} her?
Cross-References (KJV):
Isaiah 5:5
- And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; [and] break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:
Psalms 89:40
- Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin.
Psalms 89:41
- All that pass by the way spoil him: he is a reproach to his neighbours.
Nahum 2:2
- For the LORD hath turned away the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel: for the emptiers have emptied them out, and marred their vine branches.
Luke 20:16
- He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard [it], they said, God forbid.
Isaiah 18:5
- For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away [and] cut down the branches.
Isaiah 18:6
- They shall be left together unto the fowls of the mountains, and to the beasts of the earth: and the fowls shall summer upon them, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them.
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Commentary for Psalms 80:12
Psalm 80:12 is part of a communal lament in the book of Psalms, traditionally attributed to Asaph, a leader of worship in ancient Israel. This particular psalm is a prayer for national restoration, reflecting a time of crisis when the nation of Israel (personified as a woman or a vine) faced devastation, likely due to the military conquests of neighboring empires or internal strife.
The verse speaks metaphorically of the nation's "hedges" being broken down, which in the ancient agricultural context would refer to the protective barriers that farmers built around their vineyards to shield them from animals and intruders. The breaking down of these hedges is a poignant image of vulnerability and loss of protection. The phrase "so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her" suggests that the nation has become defenseless against any who might exploit or harm her, much like a vineyard left unprotected is subject to theft and destruction by passersby.
The historical context of this psalm could be linked to various periods in Israel's history when the people experienced such calamities, such as the Assyrian or Babylonian invasions. The plea in the verse is for God to explain why He has allowed His people to be exposed to such ruin. It reflects a deep theological struggle with the concept of divine protection and the reality of suffering and national disaster. The underlying theme is a cry for divine intervention and restoration, a longing for God to once again tend to His people as a vinedresser would care for a beloved vineyard.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H6555
There are 48 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּרַץ
Transliteration: pârats
Pronunciation: paw-rats'
Description: lemma פּרַץ missing vowel, corrected to פָּרַץ; a primitive root; to break out (in many applications, direct and indirect, literal and figurative); [idiom] abroad, (make a) breach, break (away, down, -er, forth, in, up), burst out, come (spread) abroad, compel, disperse, grow, increase, open, press, scatter, urge. - Strong's Number: H1447
There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גָּדֵר
Transliteration: gâdêr
Pronunciation: gaw-dare'
Description: from גָּדַר; a circumvallation; by implication, an inclosure; fence, hedge, wall. - Strong's Number: H5674
There are 493 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָבַר
Transliteration: ʻâbar
Pronunciation: aw-bar'
Description: a primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation); alienate, alter, [idiom] at all, beyond, bring (over, through), carry over, (over-) come (on, over), conduct (over), convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail, gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way, in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle, overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over) pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over, through), (cause to, make) [phrase] proclaim(-amation), perish, provoke to anger, put away, rage, [phrase] raiser of taxes, remove, send over, set apart, [phrase] shave, cause to (make) sound, [idiom] speedily, [idiom] sweet smelling, take (away), (make to) transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-) faring man, be wrath. - Strong's Number: H1870
There are 627 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דֶּרֶךְ
Transliteration: derek
Pronunciation: deh'-rek
Description: from דָּרַךְ; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb; along, away, because of, [phrase] by, conversation, custom, (east-) ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-) way(-side), whither(-soever). - Strong's Number: H717
There are 70 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָרָה
Transliteration: ʼârâh
Pronunciation: aw-raw'
Description: a primitive root; to pluck; gather, pluck.