Psalms 80:5
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Psalms 80:5
5 Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure.
Chapter Context
Psalms 80 is a poetic and liturgical chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of holiness, prayer, salvation. Written during various periods (c. 1000-400 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Temple worship utilized these compositions across various periods of Israel's history.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-19: Central message and teachings
This chapter is significant because it demonstrates God's faithfulness despite human unfaithfulness. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Psalms and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Psalms 80:5
5 Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure.
Analysis
Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure. This vivid metaphor inverts covenant blessing into covenant curse. Where God promised to feed Israel with finest wheat and honey (Deuteronomy 32:13-14; Psalm 81:16), He now feeds them tears. The parallel structure—"bread of tears" (lechem dim'ah, לֶחֶם דִּמְעָה) and "tears to drink" (dim'ot shalish, דִּמְעוֹת שָׁלִישׁ)—emphasizes tears constitute their entire diet, both solid food and liquid drink.
"Bread of tears" employs lechem (לֶחֶם), the staff of life, now replaced by sorrow. Tears become daily sustenance rather than occasional expression of grief. The phrase recalls Psalm 42:3: "My tears have been my meat day and night." This isn't momentary weeping but sustained, life-encompassing sorrow. The community subsists on grief rather than joy, suffering rather than blessing.
"In great measure" (shalish, שָׁלִישׁ) literally means "a third part" or may refer to a large measure. Either interpretation emphasizes abundance: God gives tears generously, in full measure—tragic inversion of promised overflowing blessing (Malachi 3:10). The theology is sobering: God Himself feeds His people bitterness as covenant discipline. Yet even judgment comes from God's hand, implying relationship hasn't terminated—only turned severe for corrective purposes.
Historical Context
This verse reflects the sustained suffering of exile or oppression, not momentary crisis. The image of tears as food recalls Lamentations' descriptions of Jerusalem's suffering, where starvation drove people to desperate measures (Lamentations 4:9-10). The abundance of tears contrasts sharply with the abundance of covenant blessings promised in Deuteronomy 28:1-14. The reversal demonstrates covenant curse fulfillment (Deuteronomy 28:15-68), particularly verses describing siege conditions where parents would eat their own children due to starvation.
Reflection
- How should believers understand seasons when God seems to 'feed' them suffering rather than blessing?
- What is the relationship between covenant discipline (God causing suffering for correction) and natural consequences of sin?
- How can Christians maintain trust in God's goodness during prolonged seasons when tears constitute daily 'bread'?
Cross-References
- Parallel theme: Psalms 42:3, 102:9, Job 6:7, Isaiah 30:20