What does Psalms 80:2 mean?
"Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us." - Psalms 80:2
Psalm 80:2 in the King James Version of the Bible reads: "Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us."
To fully understand the meaning of this verse, it is important to take into consideration the historical and cultural context of when it was written. The book of Psalms is a collection of poetic prayers and songs that were used in the worship of ancient Israel. The Psalms were attributed to King David and other authors, and they were often used in both individual and communal worship settings.
In Psalm 80, the psalmist is crying out to God for restoration and salvation for the people of Israel. The mention of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh is significant because these were three of the twelve tribes of Israel. By referencing these tribes, the psalmist is appealing to God on behalf of the entire nation.
The verse begins with a plea for God to "stir up thy strength" before the tribes of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh. This is a call for God to intervene and display his power on behalf of his people. The psalmist is appealing to God's strength and might, recognizing that only God can bring about the salvation and restoration that the nation so desperately needs.
The phrase "come and save us" is a direct plea for deliverance. The people of Israel are in a state of distress and are looking to God as their only source of hope. This verse underscores the psalmist’s belief in God as the ultimate savior and the only one who can bring about the salvation and restoration of the nation.
This verse also highlights the theme of God's faithfulness and the covenant relationship between God and the nation of Israel. Throughout the Bible, God is depicted as the faithful and steadfast protector of his people. The psalmist's plea for salvation is grounded in the belief that God will uphold his end of the covenant and come to the aid of his chosen people.
Symbolically, the mention of the tribes of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh represents the entirety of the nation of Israel. These tribes were descendants of the patriarch Jacob and played a significant role in the history of Israel. By invoking these tribes, the psalmist is appealing to God on behalf of the entire nation, emphasizing the unity and solidarity of the people in their plea for salvation.
Overall, Psalm 80:2 is a powerful expression of faith and reliance on God in times of trouble. The verse serves as a reminder of God's power, faithfulness, and ability to bring about deliverance for his people. It reflects the belief that God is the ultimate source of strength and salvation, and that the nation of Israel can trust in him to come to their aid in times of need. This verse continues to serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement for believers, reminding them of God's sovereignty and his ability to bring about redemption and restoration.
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Psalms 80:2 Artwork
Psalms 80:2 - "Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us."
"Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us." - Psalms 80:2
psalm 80:1-7
Psalms 80:6 - "Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours: and our enemies laugh among themselves."
"It is burned with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance." - Psalms 80:16
Psalms 80:16 - "It is burned with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance."
Psalms 119:80 - "Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed."
Psalms 80:13 - "The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it."
Psalms 80:10 - "The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars."
"Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure." - Psalms 80:5
Psalms 80:5 - "Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure."
Psalms 80:9 - "Thou preparedst room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land."
Psalms 80:11 - "She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river."
"She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river." - Psalms 80:11
Psalms 80:15 - "And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself."
Psalms 80:3 - "Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved."
Psalms 80:8 - "Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it."
Psalms 80:7 - "Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved."
Psalms 80:4 - "O LORD God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people?"
Psalms 80:18 - "So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name."
"Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved." - Psalms 80:3
Psalms 80:19 - "Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved."
Psalms 80:14 - "Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine;"
Psalms 80:12 - "Why hast thou then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her?"
"So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name." - Psalms 80:18
"Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved." - Psalms 80:19
Psalms 80:1 - "Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth."
Psalms 80:17 - "Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself."
"Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine;" - Psalms 80:14
"Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed." - Psalms 119:80