Psalm 80:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: It sent out its branches to the sea and its shoots to the River.

NIV: Its branches reached as far as the Sea, its shoots as far as the River.

NASB: It was sending out its branches to the sea And its shoots to the Euphrates River.

CSB: It sent out sprouts toward the Sea and shoots toward the River.

NLT: We spread our branches west to the Mediterranean Sea; our shoots spread east to the Euphrates River.

KJV: She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river.

NKJV: She sent out her boughs to the Sea, And her branches to the River.

Psalm 80:7–13 reflects on the Lord's former blessings on Israel. The nation's rescue from slavery and establishment in the Promised Land are depicted as a vine transplanted and nurtured. This "vine" became large, powerful, and successful. But now the nation is like a vineyard with broken walls: open to thieves, vandals, and wild animals.

The psalmist calls for God's rescue during a time of defeat. The refrain "Restore us…that we may be saved" is repeated several times. The song expresses grief that the Lord has allowed Israel to suffer defeat and embarrassment. Though Israel was brought out of slavery and established in the Promised Land, it is being attacked by some force or foreign power. The psalmist appeals to God to restore His chosen people.

This is not clearly associated with a specific event, as are some other chapters in this part of the book of Psalms. Scholars have suggested the conquest of the northern kingdom, the fall of the entire nation of Israel, and harassment by foreign nations during the early days of the monarchy. An unlikely possibility is that the psalm mourns spiritual decay in the nation. The wide range of eras which might apply makes exact authorship uncertain, as well.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 7/27/2024 6:55:36 AM