He struck down their vines and fig trees, and shattered the trees of their country.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse doesn't just list plagues; it highlights the specific destruction of "vines and fig trees," which were not just food sources but also symbols of prosperity and security in ancient culture. By specifically naming these, the psalmist emphasizes the devastating, foundational economic and social impact of God's judgment on Egypt.
He struck down their vines and fig trees, and shattered the trees of their country.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm recounts the plagues God sent upon Egypt to free His people, highlighting the destruction of crops and trees as a part of His judgment. These verses follow the description of earlier plagues like hail and fire, and precede the ultimate plague against the firstborn, all leading to Israel's miraculous exodus from Egypt.
Think about a time your plans were suddenly ruined by something completely out of your control. How did that feel? In Psalm 105, we see God bringing devastating plagues upon Egypt.
This verse describes a specific, targeted destruction during the plagues God sent on Egypt. While the Exodus account in chapter 9 mentions hail destroying "every herb of the field" and "every tree of the field," this psalm highlights the impact on vines and fig trees.
Why these specific plants?
We often see natural disasters and wonder if they're just random acts of nature. But what if there's a divine hand at work, even in destruction?
The language used in Psalm 105:33 points to a supernatural element in these plagues that goes beyond natural phenomena.
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More Than Just Hail
This reminds us that while we live in a world governed by natural laws, those laws are ultimately under the authority of the Creator. When God chooses to act, His power transcends the ordinary.
Understand the original words
nakah · Hebrew Verb
To strike or smite is a common biblical term for the execution of divine judgment. It implies a sovereign act of correction or punishment performed by God to display His supremacy over false gods or rebellious peoples.
gefen · Hebrew Noun
Representing agricultural productivity and God's provision for His people, the destruction of these trees signifies the stripping away of prosperity and security. In prophetic contexts, it often symbolizes the stripping of divine blessing from a rebellious nation.
This verse recalls the devastating plagues God sent upon Egypt as a judgment before freeing His people. It highlights God's power over nature and His judgment against oppressors, emphasizing that even the fertile land of Egypt, with its valuable vines and trees, was subject to His wrath when He moved to deliver Israel.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
The Israelites, after centuries of enslavement in Egypt, are miraculously led out of bondage by God through Moses.
c. 1446 BC
Plagues of Egypt Culminate
As the Israelites prepare to leave, God unleashes the tenth and final plague, striking down the firstborn of Egypt, leading Pharaoh to finally release the people.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Destruction of Egyptian Agriculture
During the plagues, God sends devastating storms and destructive forces upon Egypt, including hail and scorching fire, which destroy crops, vines, and trees, shattering the land's produce.
c. 1446 BC
Israelites Depart Egypt
Under God's powerful hand, the Israelites leave Egypt, taking plunder and rejoicing in their newfound freedom.
c. 1446-1406 BC
Wilderness Sojourn
The Israelites journey through the Sinai desert for forty years, during which God provides for them and guides them.
This passage describes the same plague of hail that destroyed the crops and trees in Egypt, emphasizing the widespread destruction wrought by God's judgment.
Psalm 78:47This psalm also recounts the plagues of Egypt, specifically mentioning the destruction of vines and fig trees, offering a parallel narrative of God's power over nature.
Isaiah 5:1-7This prophetic passage uses the imagery of a vineyard that yields wild grapes as a metaphor for Israel's unfaithfulness and God's subsequent judgment, echoing the theme of destruction of productive plants.
Jeremiah 8:13This verse speaks of God's judgment upon His people by removing their harvest and crops, including their vines, illustrating a similar consequence for disobedience or apostasy.
clarkePsalms 105:33: "He smote their vines also and their fig trees; and brake the trees of their coasts."
He smote their vines also, and their fig trees - This is not mentioned in Exodus; but we have had it before, Psalm 78:47 .
poolePsalms 105:33: "He smote their vines also and their fig trees; and brake the trees of their coasts."
No text from Poole on this verse.
This verse doesn't just list plagues; it highlights the specific destruction of "vines and fig trees," which were not just food sources but also symbols of prosperity and security in ancient culture. By specifically naming these, the psalmist emphasizes the devastating, foundational economic and social impact of God's judgment on Egypt.
This psalm recounts the plagues God sent upon Egypt to free His people, highlighting the destruction of crops and trees as a part of His judgment. These verses follow the description of earlier plagues like hail and fire, and precede the ultimate plague against the firstborn, all leading to Israel's miraculous exodus from Egypt.
This psalm recounts the plagues God sent upon Egypt to free His people, highlighting the destruction of crops and trees as a part of His judgment. These verses follow the description of earlier plagues like hail and fire, and precede the ultimate plague against the firstborn, all leading to Israel's miraculous exodus from Egypt.
"He struck down their vines and fig trees, and shattered the trees of their country." — This verse doesn't just list plagues; it highlights the specific destruction of "vines and fig trees," which were not just food sources but also symbols of prosperity and security in ancient culture.…
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Last reviewed October 2026