What is the meaning of Psalm 78:47?

He killed their vines

• The verse recalls the seventh Egyptian plague (Exodus 9:23-25), when God literally shattered Egypt’s agriculture.

• Vines supplied grapes for drink, medicine, and trade; their loss struck directly at Egypt’s economy and comfort (Psalm 105:33).

• God targeted what seemed secure and fruitful, showing that no earthly abundance can stand against His righteous judgment (Deuteronomy 8:17-18; Proverbs 11:28).

---

With hailstones

• Scripture describes hail “with fire flashing continually” (Exodus 9:24)—a supernatural storm beyond natural weather patterns.

• Hail appears elsewhere as a weapon in God’s hand (Joshua 10:11; Isaiah 30:30), underscoring His absolute authority over creation.

• The severity reminds believers that divine warnings are not empty words; they are confirmed by decisive acts (Job 37:6-13).

---

And their sycamore-figs

• Sycamore-fig trees were staple food sources (1 Kings 10:27; Amos 7:14). Destroying them meant long-term scarcity, not merely a temporary setback.

• By naming both vines and sycamores, the psalmist highlights comprehensive judgment: luxury (wine) and daily bread alike fell under God’s hand (Joel 1:7, 12).

• The specificity verifies the historical reliability of the account—real trees, real loss, real judgment.

---

With sleet

• “Sleet” stresses the icy, driving force that stripped bark and fruit (Psalm 147:17).

• Egypt’s climate seldom sees such storms, amplifying the miraculous nature of God’s intervention (Exodus 9:18).

• The unusual weather served as a sign that the plagues were not random disasters but purposeful acts pointing Pharaoh to the Lord’s sovereignty (Exodus 9:29; Romans 9:17).

---

summary

Psalm 78:47 testifies that God literally sent a hail-and-ice storm that ruined Egypt’s vines and sycamore-figs. The verse underscores His power to dismantle every perceived source of security when nations harden their hearts. It calls God’s people to remember His faithfulness in delivering judgment on the oppressor and deliverance for His own, trusting that the same sovereign hand still rules every storm and every harvest.