Psalms 80:16 Meaning and Explanation
“It is burned with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Israel is being destroyed, apparently because of God's displeasure.
The Context of Psalms 80:16
The deepest point of lament, acknowledging that suffering is from God's hand.
What Does Psalms 80:16 Mean?
The vine faces total destruction: fire and cutting down are two ways of ending a plant. The parallelism emphasizes completeness—there is no escape from this devastation. 'They perish' shifts from the vine as metaphor to the people themselves, making the implications visceral.
'At the rebuke of thy countenance' is the key phrase. The people are not claiming innocence; they acknowledge that God's anger and disapproval have led to this destruction. This is the closest the psalm comes to admitting that Israel's suffering may be deserved, yet even so, the plea is for restoration.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 80:16
What does Psalms 80:16 mean?
Israel is being destroyed, apparently because of God's displeasure.
What is the context of Psalms 80:16?
The deepest point of lament, acknowledging that suffering is from God's hand.