Psalms 80:7

KJV

Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.

KJV (with Strong's)

Turn us again {H7725}{H8685)}, O God {H430} of hosts {H6635}, and cause thy face {H6440} to shine {H215}{H8685)}; and we shall be saved {H3467}{H8735)}.

Complete Jewish Bible

God of armies, restore us! Make your face shine, and we will be saved.

Berean Standard Bible

Restore us, O God of Hosts, and cause Your face to shine upon us, that we may be saved.

American Standard Version

Turn us again, O God of hosts; And cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
This verse, a poignant refrain within Psalm 80, encapsulates Israel's desperate plea for divine restoration and salvation. It is a fervent cry for God, addressed as the mighty "God of hosts," to reverse their national distress, to turn them back to Himself, and to manifest His benevolent presence and favor, confident that His shining countenance will bring about their comprehensive deliverance.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 80 stands as a communal lament, a heartfelt cry from the nation of Israel during a period of profound distress, likely a time of invasion, exile, or severe oppression. The psalmist, possibly Asaph, opens by invoking God as the "Shepherd of Israel" and "enthroned above the cherubim" ([Psalms 80:1](/psalms/80-1 "Psalm 80:1 - God as Shepherd of Israel")), immediately establishing a tone of desperate dependence on divine care and power. The plea in [Psalms 80:7](/psalms/80-7 "Psalm 80:7 - A Plea for Restoration") functions as a central refrain, echoing almost identically in [Psalms 80:3](/psalms/80-3 "Psalm 80:3 - The First Refrain") and [Psalms 80:19](/psalms/80-19 "Psalm 80:19 - The Concluding Refrain")), which frames the entire psalm with an urgent, repeated petition for God's intervention. This repetition emphasizes the people's persistent longing for God's active presence and salvation, especially in light of the extended metaphor of Israel as a "vine" brought out of Egypt and now ravaged ([Psalms 80:8-13](/psalms/80-8 "Psalm 80:8-13 - The Vine Metaphor")).

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The specific historical backdrop for Psalm 80 is debated, but many scholars place it in the context of the Northern Kingdom's distress, perhaps during the Assyrian invasions of the 8th century BCE, or even the later Babylonian exile. The references to Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh ([Psalms 80:2](/psalms/80-2 "Psalm 80:2 - Call to the Tribes")) strongly suggest a concern for the tribes of the Northern Kingdom, which suffered devastating defeats and deportations. Culturally, the concept of God's "face shining" was deeply ingrained, reflecting the ancient Near Eastern idea of a king's benevolent gaze bestowing favor and prosperity upon his subjects. It directly echoes the Aaronic Priestly Blessing in [Numbers 6:24-26](/numbers/6-24 "Numbers 6:24-26 - The Priestly Blessing"), where God's shining face is synonymous with His grace, peace, and protection. The title "God of hosts" (Hebrew: *Elohim Tzeva'ot* or *Yahweh Sabaoth*) was a potent military and cosmic title, signifying God's supreme authority over all heavenly and earthly armies, a crucial affirmation of power in a time of national vulnerability.

* **Key Themes:** The overarching theme of Psalm 80 is **divine restoration** and **salvation**. The repeated plea "Turn us again" highlights the people's recognition of their need for spiritual renewal and a return to God's favor, implying a departure or judgment. This is intertwined with the theme of **God's sovereign power and presence**, as invoked by the title "God of hosts" and the request for His "face to shine." The psalm grapples with the tension between God's past faithfulness (bringing Israel out of Egypt, [Psalms 80:8](/psalms/80-8 "Psalm 80:8 - God's Past Deliverance")) and their current suffering, prompting a desperate call for Him to **remember His covenant** and act decisively. The "vine" metaphor further underscores themes of **divine cultivation and judgment**, as the once-flourishing vine is now broken down, prompting a cry for God to "visit this vine" ([Psalms 80:14](/psalms/80-14 "Psalm 80:14 - Plea to Visit the Vine")) and restore its vitality. Ultimately, the psalm expresses a profound longing for **holistic deliverance**—physical, spiritual, and national—that only God's active intervention can provide.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Turn us again (שׁוּב, _shuv_):** This Hebrew verb carries a rich semantic range, encompassing "to turn back," "to return," "to restore," and "to repent." In this context, it is a dual plea: for God to "turn" His people back to Himself (implying their spiritual straying or His turning away in judgment) and for Him to "restore" their fortunes, reversing their current state of distress. It signifies a profound desire for spiritual renewal and national deliverance, a return to a state of favor and well-being.
* **God of hosts (אֱלֹהִים צְבָאוֹת, _Elohim Tzeva'ot'_):** This majestic divine title emphasizes God's supreme authority and power. "Hosts" (צְבָאוֹת, _tzeva'ot_) refers to armies, celestial bodies, or all created things. Thus, "God of hosts" portrays God as the Commander of all heavenly and earthly forces, the sovereign Lord over all creation and every power. This appellation underscores the psalmist's conviction that only a God of such infinite might can bring about the desired salvation and restoration from their overwhelming enemies and circumstances.
* **Cause thy face to shine (הָאֵר פָּנֶיךָ, _ha'er paneikha'_):** This is a direct and intimate appeal for God's manifest presence, favor, and blessing. The "shining face" of God is a powerful anthropomorphism (attributing human characteristics to God) that symbolizes His active benevolence, approval, and life-giving presence. It implies divine illumination, guidance, and protection, contrasting sharply with a hidden or angry face, which would signify judgment or abandonment. It is a request for God to look upon His people with favor, to bring light into their darkness, and to make His presence known in a way that brings peace and prosperity.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Turn us again, O God of hosts":** This opening clause is a desperate, repeated petition. "Turn us again" signifies both a desire for God to reverse their dire circumstances and for Him to bring His people back into a right relationship with Him, implying a need for repentance and spiritual renewal. Addressing God as "O God of hosts" invokes His supreme power and authority, acknowledging that only the Almighty Commander of all forces can effect such a profound restoration.
* **"and cause thy face to shine":** This is a specific and profound request for God's active, benevolent presence and favor. It echoes the ancient Priestly Blessing, where God's shining face signifies His approval, blessing, and life-giving light. The psalmist understands that divine favor is the ultimate source of their well-being and deliverance, a visible manifestation of God's grace breaking through their darkness.
* **"and we shall be saved":** This concluding clause expresses the confident expectation and inevitable outcome of God's intervention. The "salvation" here is comprehensive, encompassing physical deliverance from enemies and hardship, spiritual restoration, and the holistic well-being and peace that result from being rightly related to and favored by God. It is a statement of faith that God's turning, His shining face, guarantees their ultimate rescue and flourishing.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 80:7 masterfully employs several literary devices to amplify its urgent plea. The most prominent is **Refrain**, as this exact phrase appears three times throughout the psalm ([Psalms 80:3](/psalms/80-3 "Psalm 80:3 - The First Refrain"), [Psalms 80:7](/psalms/80-7 "Psalm 80:7 - The Central Refrain"), [Psalms 80:19](/psalms/80-19 "Psalm 80:19 - The Concluding Refrain")), creating a powerful, insistent rhythm that underscores the people's desperation and persistent longing for divine intervention. **Anthropomorphism** is evident in "cause thy face to shine," attributing a human characteristic (a face) to God, which serves as a vivid metaphor for His active presence, favor, and blessing. This phrase also functions as a **Metaphor** for divine illumination and grace, contrasting with the darkness of their distress. The structure of the verse itself exhibits a form of **Parallelism**, where the two petitions ("Turn us again," "cause thy face to shine") are linked to a single, desired outcome ("and we shall be saved"), demonstrating a clear cause-and-effect relationship in the psalmist's theological understanding.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 80:7 is a profound theological statement on God's sovereignty, His covenant faithfulness, and the absolute necessity of His divine presence for the well-being and salvation of His people. It highlights the Old Testament understanding that true deliverance is not merely from external enemies but fundamentally from a state of alienation from God. The plea for God to "turn us again" implies a recognition of human failing or divine judgment, emphasizing the need for repentance and God's active grace to restore the relationship. The request for God's "face to shine" directly links to the concept of divine blessing and favor, a theme deeply embedded in Israel's theological heritage, signifying peace, prosperity, and protection. This verse underscores that salvation, in its fullest sense, is a holistic restoration—spiritual, physical, and communal—that flows directly from God's benevolent presence and power.

* [Numbers 6:24-26](/numbers/6-24 "The Priestly Blessing")
* [Psalm 4:6](/psalms/4-6 "The Light of God's Countenance")
* [Lamentations 5:21](/lamentations/5-21 "Restore Us, O Lord")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 80:7 offers a timeless model for prayer in times of profound personal or communal distress. It teaches us to approach God with raw honesty about our need for restoration, acknowledging that our ultimate hope lies not in our own efforts or external circumstances, but in His sovereign power and benevolent presence. When we feel distant from God, or when our lives, communities, or nations are ravaged by hardship, this verse encourages us to humbly and persistently cry out, "Turn us again!" It reminds us that true salvation—wholeness, peace, and deliverance—is inextricably linked to God's active favor and His manifest presence. Our deepest longing should be for His "face to shine" upon us, for in His light alone do we find life, guidance, and security. This prayer cultivates a posture of dependence, humility, and unwavering faith in the "God of hosts" who is mighty to save.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life, or in the life of your community, do you sense a need for God to "turn us again" and bring restoration?**
* **What does it mean to truly long for God's "face to shine" upon you, and how does this desire shape your prayers and priorities?**
* **How does acknowledging God as the "God of hosts" impact your trust in His ability to deliver you from overwhelming challenges?**
* **Beyond physical rescue, what does "salvation" mean to you in light of this verse, and how does it relate to your relationship with God?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of the phrase "God of hosts" in this verse?**

Answer: The title "God of hosts" (Hebrew: *Elohim Tzeva'ot* or *Yahweh Sabaoth*) is highly significant. "Hosts" refers to armies, celestial bodies, or all created things. By addressing God as the "God of hosts," the psalmist acknowledges Him as the supreme Commander of all heavenly and earthly forces, the sovereign Lord over all creation. This title emphasizes God's omnipotence, His limitless power, and His ability to intervene decisively in human affairs. In the context of Israel's distress, it serves as a powerful declaration of faith that only such a mighty God can bring about the desired salvation and restoration, demonstrating that no enemy or circumstance is too great for Him. It is a reminder that the people are appealing to the ultimate authority and power in the universe.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 80:7 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The cry to "Turn us again" is answered in Christ, who is the very embodiment of God's turning towards humanity in grace, calling us to repentance and reconciliation ([Acts 3:19](/acts/3-19 "Acts 3:19 - Repentance and Times of Refreshing")). He is the ultimate "Shepherd" ([John 10:11](/john/10-11 "John 10:11 - Jesus, the Good Shepherd")) who gathers His scattered flock and restores them to the Father. Furthermore, Jesus is the very "face" of God made manifest, the "radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being" ([Hebrews 1:3](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - The Radiance of God's Glory")). When Christ came, God's "face truly shined" upon humanity, bringing light into darkness ([John 1:9](/john/1-9 "John 1:9 - The True Light")) and revealing the Father's benevolent presence and favor in an unprecedented way. Through His atoning work on the cross and His resurrection, Jesus became the means by which we "shall be saved," offering not just physical deliverance but eternal salvation, spiritual wholeness, and reconciliation with God ([Romans 5:10](/romans/5-10 "Romans 5:10 - Reconciliation Through Christ")). In Christ, the longing for God's restoration and shining presence is fully realized, securing our salvation and enabling us to walk in the light of His countenance forever ([2 Corinthians 4:6](/2_corinthians/4-6 "2 Corinthians 4:6 - God's Light in Our Hearts")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 64:5

Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, [those that] remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved.

Psalms 51:10

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Jeremiah 4:14

O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?

Psalms 80:3

Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.

Psalms 80:19

Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.

Isaiah 30:15

For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.

2 Timothy 2:25

In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;