Psalm 80:12
New International Version
Why have you broken down its walls so that all who pass by pick its grapes?

New Living Translation
But now, why have you broken down our walls so that all who pass by may steal our fruit?

English Standard Version
Why then have you broken down its walls, so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit?

Berean Standard Bible
Why have You broken down its walls, so that all who pass by pick its fruit?

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

New King James Version
Why have You broken down her hedges, So that all who pass by the way pluck her fruit?

New American Standard Bible
Why have You broken down its hedges, So that all who pass that way pick its fruit?

NASB 1995
Why have You broken down its hedges, So that all who pass that way pick its fruit?

NASB 1977
Why hast Thou broken down its hedges, So that all who pass that way pick its fruit?

Legacy Standard Bible
Why have You broken down its hedges, So that all who pass that way pick its fruit?

Amplified Bible
Why have You broken down its walls and hedges, So that all who pass by pick its fruit?

Christian Standard Bible
Why have you broken down its walls so that all who pass by pick its fruit?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Why have You broken down its walls so that all who pass by pick its fruit?

American Standard Version
Why hast thou broken down its walls, So that all they that pass by the way do pluck it?

Contemporary English Version
Our Lord, why have you torn down the wall from around the vineyard? You let everyone who walks by pick the grapes.

English Revised Version
Why hast thou broken down her fences, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Why did you break down the stone fences around this vine? All who pass by are picking its fruit.

Good News Translation
Why did you break down the fences around it? Now anyone passing by can steal its grapes;

International Standard Version
Why did you break down its walls so that those who pass by pluck its fruits?

Majority Standard Bible
Why have You broken down its walls, so that all who pass by pick its fruit?

NET Bible
Why did you break down its walls, so that all who pass by pluck its fruit?

New Heart English Bible
Why have you broken down its walls, so that all those who pass by the way pluck it?

Webster's Bible Translation
Why hast thou then broke down her hedges, so that all they who pass by the way do pluck her?

World English Bible
Why have you broken down its walls, so that all those who pass by the way pluck it?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Why have You broken down its hedges, "" And everyone passing by the way has plucked it?

Young's Literal Translation
Why hast Thou broken down its hedges, And all passing by the way have plucked it?

Smith's Literal Translation
Wherefore didst thou break down her walls, and all passing by the way plucked her?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Why hast thou broken down the hedge thereof, so that all they who pass by the way do pluck it?

Catholic Public Domain Version
So then, why have you destroyed its walls, so that all those who pass by the way gather its grapes?

New American Bible
Why have you broken down its walls, so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit?

New Revised Standard Version
Why then have you broken down its walls, so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Why hast thou then broken down its hedges, so that all they who pass by the way tread over it?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Why have you broken down its hedge and all those passing by the way have trampled it?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Why hast Thou broken down her fences, So that all they that pass by the way do pluck her?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Wherefore hast thou broken down its hedge, while all that pass by the way pluck it?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Hear Us, O Shepherd of Israel
11It sent out its branches to the Sea, and its shoots toward the River. 12Why have You broken down its walls, so that all who pass by pick its fruit? 13The boar from the forest ravages it, and the creatures of the field feed upon it.…

Cross References
Isaiah 5:5
Now I will tell you what I am about to do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be consumed; I will tear down its wall, and it will be trampled.

Jeremiah 12:10
Many shepherds have destroyed My vineyard; they have trampled My plot of ground. They have turned My pleasant field into a desolate wasteland.

Matthew 21:33
Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a tower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey.

Mark 12:1
Then Jesus began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a wine vat, and built a watchtower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey.

Luke 20:9
Then He proceeded to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it out to some tenants, and went away for a long time.

Isaiah 5:1-2
I will sing for my beloved a song of his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. / He dug it up and cleared the stones and planted the finest vines. He built a watchtower in the middle and dug out a winepress as well. He waited for the vineyard to yield good grapes, but the fruit it produced was sour!

Ezekiel 19:10-14
Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard, planted by the water; it was fruitful and full of branches because of the abundant waters. / It had strong branches, fit for a ruler’s scepter. It towered high above the thick branches, conspicuous for its height and for its dense foliage. / But it was uprooted in fury, cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up its fruit. Its strong branches were stripped off and they withered; the fire consumed them. ...

Hosea 2:6
Therefore, behold, I will hedge up her path with thorns; I will enclose her with a wall, so she cannot find her way.

Isaiah 27:2-3
In that day: “Sing about a fruitful vineyard. / I, the LORD, am its keeper; I water it continually. I guard it night and day so no one can disturb it;

John 15:1-2
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard. / He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful.

Romans 11:17-21
Now if some branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others to share in the nourishment of the olive root, / do not boast over those branches. If you do, remember this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. / You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” ...

Matthew 21:41
“He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and will rent out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his share of the fruit at harvest time.”

Mark 12:9
What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.

Luke 20:16
He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” And when the people heard this, they said, “May such a thing never happen!”

Isaiah 32:13-14
and for the land of my people, overgrown with thorns and briers—even for every house of merriment in this city of revelry. / For the palace will be forsaken, the busy city abandoned. The hill and the watchtower will become caves forever—the delight of wild donkeys and a pasture for flocks—


Treasury of Scripture

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

broken

Psalm 89:40,41
Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin…

Isaiah 5:5
And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:

Isaiah 18:5,6
For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away and cut down the branches…

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Psalm 80
1. The psalmist in his prayer complains of the miseries of the church
8. God's former favors are turned into judgments
14. He prays for deliverance














Why have You broken down its walls
The phrase begins with a poignant question, "Why," which reflects a deep sense of confusion and lament. The Hebrew root for "broken down" is "parats," which conveys a forceful breach or breaking. In the historical context of ancient Israel, walls were vital for protection against enemies and wild animals. The breaking down of walls symbolizes vulnerability and exposure to danger. Spiritually, this can be seen as a metaphor for divine protection being removed due to the people's disobedience or sin. The psalmist is addressing God directly, indicating a belief in His sovereignty and control over the nation's fate. This phrase invites reflection on the consequences of turning away from God and the resulting loss of His protective presence.

so that all who pass by
The phrase "all who pass by" suggests a universal exposure to external threats. In the ancient Near Eastern context, travelers or passersby could include traders, nomads, or invading armies. The Hebrew word "abar" for "pass by" implies movement and transition, often without concern for the land they traverse. This highlights the nation's defenseless state, where even those with no vested interest in the land can exploit it. Spiritually, it can be seen as a warning of the dangers of spiritual neglect, where the absence of divine protection allows external influences to encroach upon and exploit the community of faith.

pick its fruit
The imagery of "pick its fruit" is rich with meaning. In an agrarian society, fruit represents the yield of one's labor and the blessing of God. The Hebrew word "batsar" for "pick" can also mean to gather or harvest, often implying taking what is not rightfully one's own. This phrase suggests that the blessings and prosperity intended for God's people are being taken by others due to the lack of divine protection. Historically, this could refer to the plundering of Israel by foreign nations. Spiritually, it serves as a metaphor for the loss of spiritual blessings and the consequences of living outside of God's will. It is a call to return to faithfulness, seeking restoration and the rebuilding of the protective "walls" of divine favor.

(12) Pluck.--For the same image of the broken fence, and the fruit gathered by the passers by, see Psalm 89:40-41.

Verse 12. - Why hast thou then broken down her hedges? or, her fences. Vineyards in the East were fenced round with walls (see Isaiah 5:5). So all they which pass by the way do pluck her; i.e. "pluck off her grapes" - ravage her and plunder her (comp. Psalm 89:40, 41).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Why
לָ֭מָּה (lām·māh)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

have You broken down
פָּרַ֣צְתָּ (pā·raṣ·tā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6555: To break through

its walls,
גְדֵרֶ֑יהָ (ḡə·ḏê·re·hā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 1447: A circumvallation, an inclosure

so that all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

who pass by
עֹ֥בְרֵי (‘ō·ḇə·rê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

pick its fruit?
וְ֝אָר֗וּהָ (wə·’ā·rū·hā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural | third person feminine singular
Strong's 717: To gather, pluck


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OT Poetry: Psalm 80:12 Why have you broken down its walls (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 80:11
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