Psalm 80:15

Psalm 80:15, in plain English

The psalmist reminds God that this vine is His own work—'the root Your right hand planted'—and calls it 'the son You have raised up.' He's saying: 'This isn't just any vine; this is Your beloved people, whom You personally established.'

Why it's here

By calling Israel 'the son You have raised up for Yourself,' the psalmist is appealing to God's parental relationship with His people. A parent doesn't abandon the child they've nurtured and raised. This is covenant language—a reminder of God's commitment.

Who's speaking

The psalmist, speaking as Israel's advocate before God.

Where it sits in the story

This language of God's 'right hand' planting and raising echoes creation language and covenant-making language throughout Scripture. Israel isn't a random nation—they're God's deliberately chosen and cultivated people.

The scholarly reading

The psalmist specifies the object of divine protection: the vine's root (representing Israel's foundational identity) and the 'son' God has raised for Himself (likely referring to the nation corporately, or possibly the Davidic king as type).

Language and setting

The term 'root Your right hand has planted' (שׁוֹרֶשׁ שׁמָאוּל יָמִינְךָ, 'shoresh shemal yaminka'—'root that Your right hand planted') connects horticultural language to the language of covenantal establishment. The 'right hand' represents divine power and favor (Psalm 110:1, Isaiah 41:10). 'The son You have raised up' (בֶן שׁחִזַּקְתָּ לָךְ, 'ben shechizakta lakh') introduces Christological interpretation potential in Christian tradition—Calvin, Matthew Henry, and 19th-century commentators debated whether this refers to the nation Israel or the Davidic king as eschatological figure. The possessive 'for Yourself' (לָךְ, 'lakh') emphasizes that Israel exists for God's purposes and glory, not autonomous.

Voice

The psalmist continues his remonstrance, now particularizing the petition to the foundational identity and the leadership figure representing the nation.

Significance

This verse contains the seeds of messianic interpretation—the 'son' raised up as object of divine care becomes a type for the ultimate Son. It also asserts that Israel's identity and kingship are divinely constituted, not self-derived.

13The boar from the forest ravages it, and the creatures of the field feed upon it.

14Return, O God of Hosts, we pray! Look down from heaven and see! Attend to this vine—

15the root Your right hand has planted, the son You have raised up for Yourself.

16Your vine has been cut down and burned; they perish at the rebuke of Your countenance.

17Let Your hand be upon the man at Your right hand, on the son of man You have raised up for Yourself.

Read all of Psalm 80 — Israel is a vine God brought out of Egypt. Now its walls are broken and strangers pluck its fruit. Shine Your face on us, and we shall be saved.