New International Version Why have you broken down its walls so that all who pass by pick its grapes? New Living Translation But now, why have you broken down our walls so that all who pass by may steal our fruit? English Standard Version Why then have you broken down its walls, so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit? Berean Standard Bible Why have You broken down its walls, so that all who pass by pick its fruit? Berean Literal Bible Why have You broken down her walls, and all passing by the way pluck her fruit? King James Bible Why hast thou then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her? New King James Version Why have You broken down her hedges, So that all who pass by the way pluck her fruit? New American Standard Bible Why have You broken down its hedges, So that all who pass that way pick its fruit? NASB 1995 Why have You broken down its hedges, So that all who pass that way pick its fruit? NASB 1977 Why hast Thou broken down its hedges, So that all who pass that way pick its fruit? Legacy Standard Bible Why have You broken down its hedges, So that all who pass that way pick its fruit? Amplified Bible Why have You broken down its walls and hedges, So that all who pass by pick its fruit? Berean Annotated Bible Why have You broken down its walls, so that all who pass by pick its fruit? Christian Standard Bible Why have you broken down its walls so that all who pass by pick its fruit? Holman Christian Standard Bible Why have You broken down its walls so that all who pass by pick its fruit? American Standard Version Why hast thou broken down its walls, So that all they that pass by the way do pluck it? Contemporary English Version Our Lord, why have you torn down the wall from around the vineyard? You let everyone who walks by pick the grapes. English Revised Version Why hast thou broken down her fences, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her? GOD'S WORD® Translation Why did you break down the stone fences around this vine? All who pass by are picking its fruit. Good News Translation Why did you break down the fences around it? Now anyone passing by can steal its grapes; International Standard Version Why did you break down its walls so that those who pass by pluck its fruits? NET Bible Why did you break down its walls, so that all who pass by pluck its fruit? New Heart English Bible Why have you broken down its walls, so that all those who pass by the way pluck it? Webster's Bible Translation Why hast thou then broke down her hedges, so that all they who pass by the way do pluck her? Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleWhy have You broken down its walls, so that all who pass by pick its fruit? World English Bible Why have you broken down its walls, so that all those who pass by the way pluck it? Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionWhy have You broken down its hedges, "" And everyone passing by the way has plucked it? Berean Literal Bible Why have You broken down her walls, and all passing by the way pluck her fruit? Young's Literal Translation Why hast Thou broken down its hedges, And all passing by the way have plucked it? Smith's Literal Translation Wherefore didst thou break down her walls, and all passing by the way plucked her? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleWhy hast thou broken down the hedge thereof, so that all they who pass by the way do pluck it? Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible Why have you broken down its walls, so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit? New Revised Standard Version Why then have you broken down its walls, so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit? Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleWhy hast thou then broken down its hedges, so that all they who pass by the way tread over it? Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Why have you broken down its hedge and all those passing by the way have trampled it? OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Why hast Thou broken down her fences, So that all they that pass by the way do pluck her? Brenton Septuagint Translation Wherefore hast thou broken down its hedge, while all that pass by the way pluck it? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Hear Us, O Shepherd of Israel…11It sent out its branches to the Sea, and its shoots toward the River. 12Why have You broken down its walls, so that all who pass by pick its fruit? 13The boar from the forest ravages it, and the creatures of the field feed upon it.… Cross References Why have You broken down its walls, Isaiah 5:5-6 Now I will tell you what I am about to do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be consumed; I will tear down its wall, and it will be trampled. / I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and thorns and briers will grow up. I will command the clouds that rain shall not fall on it.” Psalm 89:40 You have broken down all his walls; You have reduced his strongholds to rubble. Lamentations 2:8 The LORD determined to destroy the wall of the Daughter of Zion. He stretched out a measuring line and did not withdraw His hand from destroying. He made the ramparts and walls lament; together they waste away. so that all who pass by Lamentations 1:12 Is this nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look around and see! Is there any sorrow like mine, which was inflicted on me, which the LORD made me suffer on the day of His fierce anger? Lamentations 2:15 All who pass by clap their hands at you in scorn. They hiss and shake their heads at the Daughter of Jerusalem: “Is this the city that was called the perfection of beauty, the joy of all the earth?” Mark 15:29 And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, pick its fruit? Jeremiah 6:9 This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Glean the remnant of Israel as thoroughly as a vine. Pass your hand once more like a grape gatherer over the branches.” Jeremiah 5:17 They will devour your harvest and food; they will consume your sons and daughters; they will eat up your flocks and herds; they will feed on your vines and fig trees. With the sword they will destroy the fortified cities in which you trust.” Deuteronomy 28:33 A people you do not know will eat the produce of your land and of all your toil. All your days you will be oppressed and crushed. Jeremiah 12:10 Many shepherds have destroyed My vineyard; they have trampled My plot of ground. They have turned My pleasant field into a desolate wasteland. Matthew 21:33 Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a tower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey. Mark 12:1 Then Jesus began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a wine vat, and built a watchtower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey. Luke 20:9 Then He proceeded to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it out to some tenants, and went away for a long time. Isaiah 5:1-2 I will sing for my beloved a song of his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. / He dug it up and cleared the stones and planted the finest vines. He built a watchtower in the middle and dug out a winepress as well. He waited for the vineyard to yield good grapes, but the fruit it produced was sour! Ezekiel 19:10-14 Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard, planted by the water; it was fruitful and full of branches because of the abundant waters. / It had strong branches, fit for a ruler’s scepter. It towered high above the thick branches, conspicuous for its height and for its dense foliage. / But it was uprooted in fury, cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up its fruit. Its strong branches were stripped off and they withered; the fire consumed them. … Hosea 2:6 Therefore, behold, I will hedge up her path with thorns; I will enclose her with a wall, so she cannot find her way. Treasury of Scripture Why have you then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her? broken Psalm 89:40,41 Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin… Isaiah 5:5 And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: Isaiah 18:5,6 For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away and cut down the branches… Jump to Previous Broke Broken Fences Fruit Grapes Hands Hedges Passing Pick Pluck Plucked Walls WayJump to Next Broke Broken Fences Fruit Grapes Hands Hedges Passing Pick Pluck Plucked Walls WayPsalm 80 1. The psalmist in his prayer complains of the miseries of the church8. God's former favors are turned into judgments 14. He prays for deliverance Why have You broken down its walls, Israel, portrayed as God’s vine in Psalm 80:8–11, had been planted, protected, and made fruitful by the Lord. The ruined walls signify that God had withdrawn the national security Israel once enjoyed under His covenant care. As in Isaiah 5:5, the removal of protection revealed divine judgment upon a people who had not remained faithful. The lament recognizes that Israel’s calamity had not escaped God’s rule; He had permitted the defenses to fall. Isa 5:5-6 Now I will tell you what I am about to do to My vineyard:… so that all who pass by With the vineyard exposed, surrounding nations could enter without restraint. Israel’s history included invasions, tribute, exile, and the loss of land and cities to hostile powers. The image recalls the covenant warnings that disobedience would bring domination by enemies and the loss of peace in the land (Leviticus 26:16–17; Deuteronomy 28:49–52). Lam 1:12 Is this nothing to you, all you who pass by?… pick its fruit? The fruit represents the nation’s prosperity, labor, land, and blessings. What God had cultivated for His glory was being consumed by others. The following verses portray the vineyard ravaged by a wild boar and beasts of the field, emphasizing the devastation brought by foreign oppressors. Yet the plea for God to return and tend His vine rests on His past mercy and points toward the restoration God provides through the Son of Man at His right hand, ultimately fulfilled in Christ. Jer 6:9 This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Glean the remnant”… Persons / Places / Events 1. GodThe central figure in this verse, God is the one who has allowed the walls to be broken down. This reflects His sovereignty and control over the protection and judgment of His people. 2. Israel Represented metaphorically as a vineyard, Israel is the nation whose protective walls have been broken, leaving it vulnerable to external threats and exploitation. 3. Passersby These are the external forces or nations that take advantage of Israel's vulnerability, symbolized by picking its fruit. 4. Vineyard A metaphor for Israel, often used in the Old Testament to describe God's chosen people and their relationship with Him. 5. Walls Symbolic of protection and security, the walls represent God's provision and safeguarding of Israel, which have been removed due to their disobedience. Teaching Points God's Protection and JudgmentGod provides protection to His people, but persistent disobedience can lead to the removal of that protection as a form of judgment. The Consequences of Disobedience Just as Israel faced consequences for their unfaithfulness, believers today must be aware that turning away from God can lead to vulnerability and spiritual decline. The Importance of Spiritual Walls Building and maintaining spiritual walls through prayer, scripture, and community is essential for protection against spiritual attacks. God's Desire for Fruitfulness God desires His people to be fruitful, reflecting His character and love. When we stray, we risk losing the ability to bear good fruit. Restoration and Hope Even when walls are broken, God offers restoration to those who repent and return to Him, emphasizing His mercy and grace. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Psalm 80:12?2. Why has God "broken down its walls" in Psalm 80:12? 3. How can we prevent spiritual "walls" from being broken in our lives? 4. What does Psalm 80:12 teach about God's protection and discipline? 5. How does Psalm 80:12 connect with Nehemiah's rebuilding efforts? 6. How can we restore our spiritual "walls" through prayer and repentance? 7. Why did God allow the wall of the vineyard to be broken in Psalm 80:12? 8. What is the significance of the vineyard metaphor in Psalm 80:12? 9. How does Psalm 80:12 reflect God's relationship with Israel? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Psalm 80? What Does Psalm 80:12 Mean Why have You• The psalmist opens with a heartfelt question that assumes God’s sovereignty over Israel’s circumstance. • Rather than blaming chance or human enemies, he recognizes the Lord as the one who ultimately allows or withholds protection (Psalm 44:23–24; Psalm 13:1). • The inquiry is not disbelief but covenant confidence: if God has acted, He has reasons grounded in His holiness and His people’s obedience or lack thereof (Deuteronomy 29:24–25; Amos 3:2). broken down its walls • “Walls” point to the protective hedge God placed around His vine—Israel (Psalm 80:8–11). • When those walls stand, enemies are restrained (Job 1:10; Zechariah 2:5). When God removes them, devastation follows (Isaiah 5:5: “Now I will tell you what I am about to do to My vineyard: I will remove its hedge, and it will be consumed”). • The literal history behind the imagery includes foreign invasions that ravaged the land whenever the nation drifted into idolatry (2 Kings 17:7–20; 2 Chronicles 36:15–17). so that all who pass by • The breach is so thorough that even passers-by, not merely organized armies, feel free to intrude (Lamentations 1:12; Psalm 89:41). • Israel, once distinct and secure, now appears common ground. God’s people become a public spectacle, fulfilling covenant warnings that disobedience would lead to becoming “an object of scorn to all the kingdoms of the earth” (Deuteronomy 28:37). pick its fruit? • Fruit belongs to the vine; strangers plucking it describes total loss of blessing and productivity (Judges 6:1–6; Deuteronomy 28:33). • What God intended as a testimony of His goodness is now confiscated, echoing the curse-blessing pattern of Leviticus 26:14–16. • Spiritually, the picture warns that when fellowship with the Lord is neglected, the joy, witness, and influence He grants can be stripped away (John 15:2,6; Revelation 2:5). summary Psalm 80:12 laments God’s removal of His protective hedge from Israel, leaving the nation exposed to every passer-by who now freely plunders its blessings. The verse teaches that divine protection is a covenant gift, withdrawn when God’s people persist in unfaithfulness. Yet by addressing God directly, the psalmist demonstrates faith that the Lord who broke down the walls can also restore them, inviting repentance and hopeful expectation of renewed favor. (12) Pluck.—For the same image of the broken fence, and the fruit gathered by the passers by, see Psalm 89:40-41.Verse 12. - Why hast thou then broken down her hedges? or, her fences. Vineyards in the East were fenced round with walls (see Isaiah 5:5). So all they which pass by the way do pluck her; i.e. "pluck off her grapes" - ravage her and plunder her (comp. Psalm 89:40, 41).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Whyלָ֭מָּה (lām·māh) Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what have You broken down פָּרַ֣צְתָּ (pā·raṣ·tā) Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 6555: To break through its walls, גְדֵרֶ֑יהָ (ḡə·ḏê·re·hā) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular Strong's 1447: A circumvallation, an inclosure so that all כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every who pass by עֹ֥בְרֵי (‘ō·ḇə·rê) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on pick its fruit? וְ֝אָר֗וּהָ (wə·’ā·rū·hā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural | third person feminine singular Strong's 717: To gather, pluck Additonal Resources Psalm 80:12 Blue Letter BiblePsalm 80:12 Bible Gateway Psalm 80:12 Bible.com Psalm 80:12 NIV |
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