Psalms 78:47 (KJV)

What does Psalms 78:47 mean?

Psalms 78:47 describes how God destroyed the Egyptians’ grapevines with hail and their sycomore trees with frost during the plagues. This verse highlights the severe damage God brought to Egypt’s crops as part of the judgments before the Israelites’ deliverance.

In this psalm, the writer Asaph is recounting God’s mighty acts in Israel’s history, specifically the plagues against Egypt. The verse focuses on how even valuable and sturdy plants—vines for wine and sycomore trees for food and wood—were not spared from destruction. This detail shows the completeness of the devastation and God’s power over nature and nations.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 78:47

• "destroyed" (הָרַג, harag): This word often means "to kill" or "to destroy." Here, it emphasizes the total ruin brought to the plants, not just minor damage.
• "vines" (גֶּפֶן, gephen): Refers specifically to grapevines, which were important for wine and a symbol of prosperity in ancient Israel and Egypt.
• "hail" (בָּרָד, barad): Hailstorms were rare and especially destructive in this region, making this plague particularly memorable and devastating.
• "trees" (שִׁקְמָה, shiqmah): The sycomore tree was valued for its fruit and wood. Its mention shows that both luxury and staple crops were affected.
• "frost" (חֲנָמֵל, chanamel): This word points to a kind of severe cold or blight, which would be unusual and destructive in Egypt’s climate, highlighting the supernatural aspect of the plague.

Why Psalms 78:47 matters

• This verse clarifies that the plagues were not just random disasters but targeted acts affecting Egypt’s economy and daily life, showing the seriousness of God’s intervention.
• The mention of both vines and sycomore trees shows that the destruction was widespread, affecting both luxury and everyday resources.
• In the context of Psalm 78, this verse is part of a larger reminder to Israel of God’s power and faithfulness, urging them not to forget what He has done in their history.