Why hast thou then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her?

PSALMS 80:12KJV
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Psalms 80:12 (KJV)

What does Psalms 80:12 mean?

Psalms 80:12 asks why God has allowed the protective barriers around Israel to be broken down, making the nation vulnerable so that anyone passing by can take from it freely. The verse uses the image of a vineyard whose walls have been removed, leaving it open to damage and loss.

In this psalm, the speaker is addressing God, expressing confusion and distress over Israel’s suffering and exposure to enemies. The “hedges” refer to God’s protection, and their removal means Israel is no longer safe from outsiders. This verse is part of a larger plea for God to restore and care for His people again.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 80:12

  • “down” (פָּרַץ, parats): This word means to break through or tear down. It emphasizes that the protective walls or barriers were forcefully removed, not just neglected or worn away.
  • “hedges” (גָּדֵר, gader): This refers to a fence or wall, especially one around a vineyard. In ancient Israel, vineyards were surrounded by stone walls or thorn hedges to keep out animals and thieves, so this word highlights the sense of lost security.
  • “pass” (עָבַר, avar): This means to pass by or cross over. The verse pictures anyone who happens to come along the road as able to take advantage of Israel’s vulnerability.
  • “way” (דֶּרֶךְ, derek): This word means road or path. It reinforces the idea that Israel is exposed to every passerby, not just specific enemies.
  • “pluck” (לָקַט, laqat): This means to pick or gather, often used for harvesting fruit. Here, it shows that Israel’s blessings or resources are being taken by others without resistance.

Why Psalms 80:12 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the suffering and vulnerability of Israel are not accidental but are seen as the result of God’s action in removing protection, which is a central theme in the psalm’s plea for restoration.
  • The vineyard imagery connects to other parts of the Bible where Israel is described as God’s vineyard, helping readers see the continuity of this symbol and its meaning of care, protection, and fruitfulness.
  • Understanding the concrete meaning of “hedges” and “pluck” helps modern readers grasp the real sense of loss and exposure felt by the people, rather than seeing this as just a poetic complaint.

Where else these words appear

“pluck” Hebrew H717 · used in 2 verses

  • Song of Solomon 5:1 I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.

“hedges” Hebrew H1447 · used in 11 verses

  • Numbers 22:24 But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
  • Ecclesiastes 10:8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
  • Ezekiel 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

“down” Hebrew H6555 · used in 48 verses

  • Genesis 28:14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
  • 2 Kings 14:13 And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Bethshemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits.
  • Nehemiah 4:7 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,