Psalms 80:8
Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.
Original Language Analysis
תַּסִּ֑יעַ
Thou hast brought
H5265
תַּסִּ֑יעַ
Thou hast brought
Strong's:
H5265
Word #:
3 of 6
properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e., start on a journey
תְּגָרֵ֥שׁ
thou hast cast out
H1644
תְּגָרֵ֥שׁ
thou hast cast out
Strong's:
H1644
Word #:
4 of 6
to drive out from a possession; especially to expatriate or divorce
Cross References
Jeremiah 2:21Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?Psalms 44:2How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.Jeremiah 12:10Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.Ezekiel 17:6And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and the roots thereof were under him: so it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs.Acts 7:45Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;Ezekiel 19:10Thy mother is like a vine in thy blood, planted by the waters: she was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters.Psalms 78:55He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.Ezekiel 15:6Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; As the vine tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem.Joshua 13:6All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephoth-maim, and all the Sidonians, them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee.
Historical Context
The exodus from Egypt and conquest of Canaan (approximately 1446-1406 BC or 1290-1250 BC depending on dating models) formed Israel's foundational narrative. The vine metaphor would resonate with agricultural society familiar with viticulture's demands. Grapes were crucial to ancient Near Eastern economy and culture—for fresh fruit, dried raisins, and especially wine. A fruitful vineyard represented prosperity, security, and covenant blessing. The metaphor appears throughout prophetic literature (Isaiah 5, 27:2-6; Jeremiah 2:21; Ezekiel 15, 17, 19; Hosea 10:1).
Questions for Reflection
- How does the vine metaphor (God's careful planting and cultivation) shape understanding of the church's purpose and God's expectations?
- What does God's dispossessing other nations to plant Israel reveal about divine sovereignty, election, and the problem of Canaanite conquest?
- How should believers respond when the 'vineyard' God planted (church, ministry, life work) faces devastation despite faithful planting?
Analysis & Commentary
Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it. This verse begins Psalm 80's extended vineyard metaphor, one of Scripture's richest images for Israel's covenant relationship with God. The vine imagery recalls Isaiah 5:1-7 and Jesus's adaptation in John 15:1-8. "Thou hast brought a vine" (gefen mimitsrayim tassia, גֶּפֶן מִמִּצְרַיִם תַּסִּיעַ) uses exodus language—God uprooted Israel from Egypt like a gardener transplanting precious vine stock. Gefen (גֶּפֶן) is grapevine, valued crop requiring careful cultivation.
The parallel "cast out the heathen" (garesh goyim, גָּרֵשׁ גּוֹיִם) recalls conquest of Canaan where God drove out nations to make room for Israel (Exodus 23:28-30; Joshua 24:18). The verb garash (גָּרַשׁ) means to drive out forcefully, often used of divine expulsion (Genesis 3:24; Exodus 6:1, 11:1). God actively dispossessed Canaan's inhabitants, not because Israel deserved the land but because of both Canaanite wickedness (Deuteronomy 9:4-5) and Abrahamic covenant promises.
"Planted it" (vattita'eha, וַתִּטָּעֶהָ) continues horticultural metaphor. God didn't randomly scatter Israel but carefully planted them in choice location—land flowing with milk and honey (Exodus 3:8). The imagery emphasizes divine initiative, careful selection, and purposeful cultivation. Israel exists because God chose to transplant them from slavery to inheritance, from Egypt to Canaan. This establishes basis for subsequent lament: the vine God personally planted now suffers devastation—why would the gardener allow His own vineyard's destruction?