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Psalms 80:8

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¶ Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.

Thou hast brought {H5265}{H8686)} a vine {H1612} out of Egypt {H4714}: thou hast cast out {H1644}{H8762)} the heathen {H1471}, and planted {H5193}{H8799)} it.

You brought a vine out of Egypt, you expelled the nations and planted it,

You uprooted a vine from Egypt; You drove out the nations and transplanted it.

Thou broughtest a vine out of Egypt: Thou didst drive out the nations, and plantedst it.

Commentary

Psalm 80:8 is a poignant verse from a communal lament, where the psalmist, likely Asaph, appeals to God for restoration and deliverance. It vividly recalls God's foundational acts of grace and power in establishing the nation of Israel, setting the stage for the plea for renewed divine favor.

Context

Psalm 80 is a prayer for revival and restoration, addressed to God as the "Shepherd of Israel." The entire psalm is a lament over Israel's suffering and apparent abandonment by God. The imagery of the "vine" is central to this psalm, representing the nation of Israel. This verse specifically grounds the psalmist's appeal in God's past faithfulness, reminding Him of His mighty acts in bringing Israel out of bondage and settling them in the Promised Land. The current distress is contrasted sharply with God's glorious past provision and protection.

Key Themes

  • Divine Deliverance and Providence: The verse highlights God's active and powerful hand in Israel's history. He is the one who "brought a vine out of Egypt," symbolizing the miraculous Exodus from slavery. This act demonstrates God's sovereignty and His commitment to His chosen people.
  • Israel as God's Chosen Vine: The metaphor of Israel as a vine is rich in biblical symbolism. It signifies a special, intimate relationship between God and His people, whom He carefully cultivated and protected. This imagery reappears throughout the Old Testament, often depicting Israel's fruitfulness or lack thereof.
  • Conquest and Settlement: "Thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it" refers to God's act of dispossessing the Canaanite nations to make way for Israel's settlement in the land promised to Abraham. This underscores God's faithfulness to His covenant promises and His power to overcome all obstacles for His people. The Book of Joshua extensively details this historical period.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "vine" (גֶּפֶן - gefen) is a recurring and potent metaphor in Scripture. In this context, it emphasizes Israel's dependence on God for its very existence and sustenance. The phrase "cast out" (גָּרַשׁ - garash) implies a forceful and decisive expulsion, highlighting God's power in clearing the land for His people.

Related Scriptures

The imagery of Israel as a vine or vineyard is found elsewhere in Scripture, notably in Isaiah 5:1-7, where the "vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel." This metaphor is later transformed in the New Testament when Jesus declares, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman" in John 15:1, shifting the focus from national Israel to Himself and His followers as the spiritual Israel.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a powerful reminder of God's enduring faithfulness. Just as God meticulously cared for and established Israel, He continues to be providentially involved in the lives of His people today. We can draw comfort from remembering God's past acts of deliverance and planting, knowing that He is steadfast. It encourages us to trust in His ability to sustain us, even when we feel uprooted or distressed. Our spiritual growth, like that of a vine, depends entirely on being connected to God, the one who cultivates and provides all that is needed for fruitfulness.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 2:21 (7 votes)

    Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?

  • Psalms 44:2 (7 votes)

    [How] thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; [how] thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.

  • Ezekiel 17:6 (6 votes)

    And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and the roots thereof were under him: so it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs.

  • Jeremiah 12:10 (6 votes)

    Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.

  • John 15:1 (5 votes)

    I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

  • John 15:8 (5 votes)

    Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

  • Isaiah 5:1 (5 votes)

    ¶ Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: