Psalms 80:14 Meaning and Explanation
“Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The psalmist urgently pleads for God to return and restore his attention to Israel.
The Context of Psalms 80:14
The prayer shifts to direct pleading for God's intervention and visitation.
What Does Psalms 80:14 Mean?
After the account of destruction (verses 12-13), the psalm turns back to pleading. 'Return' echoes the earlier 'turn us again' (verses 3, 7) but adds an element of God himself returning—as if he has departed or turned away. The people need not just God's face to shine but his very presence and action.
'Look down from heaven' is a traditional appeal in prayers of lament, connecting to heaven as God's throne and the vantage point from which he surveys human affairs. 'Behold' calls for attention, and 'visit' means to come with intervention and care (the same word used for God visiting the imprisoned, the sick, the afflicted).
Psalms 80:14 in the Original Language
Visit (פָּקַד, paqad) — to attend to, oversee, or bring judgment; here it means to come with care and intervention.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 80:14
What does Psalms 80:14 mean?
The psalmist urgently pleads for God to return and restore his attention to Israel.
What is the context of Psalms 80:14?
The prayer shifts to direct pleading for God's intervention and visitation.