They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down; may they perish at the rebuke of your face!
English Standard Version (ESV)
The shift from metaphor to direct statement here is striking: "they perish at the rebuke of your countenance" moves beyond the vine imagery to reveal the ultimate cause of destruction – God's displeased gaze. This isn't about physical destruction from enemies alone, but the profound reality that God's withdrawn favor leads to utter ruin.
They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down; may they perish at the rebuke of your face!
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalm has been describing Israel as a beloved vine that God planted and cared for, but now it's being devastated. The psalmist pleads for God to return and look upon this vine, acknowledging its destruction by enemies, which is ultimately due to God's displeasure. This verse vividly portrays the complete ruin of the nation, which the psalmist attributes to God's anger, even as they cry out for His intervention.
This verse paints a grim picture of destruction. How does the imagery of a vine, so carefully planted and nurtured, become fuel for a fire?
The Psalmist uses powerful imagery to describe the utter devastation of God's people, represented as a vine.
Desolation by Fire and Axe
The vine, once a symbol of God's chosen people, flourishing and protected, has now been reduced to something fit only for destruction. 'It is burned with fire; it is cut down.' This isn't just a description of physical ruin but a spiritual one. The nation's covenant relationship with God, its very identity as His planted vineyard, has been so corrupted by sin that it's like dry, useless wood ready for the flames.
The Source of Destruction
Commentators note that while enemies are the instruments of this destruction, the ultimate cause is God's reaction to their sin. The phrase 'at the rebuke of your countenance' is key. It's God's displeasure, His turning away, that seals their fate. Their enemies could do nothing without God's permission, which was granted because of their unfaithfulness.
The verse ends with a stark consequence: 'may they perish at the rebuke of your face!' What does it mean to perish at God's 'rebuke'?
This powerful statement reveals the profound impact of God's displeasure on His people.
God's Angry Gaze
'The rebuke of your countenance' is not just a mild scolding. It signifies the powerful, searing judgment that comes from God when His people turn away from Him. It's the opposite of His face shining upon them with favor. When God turns His face away in anger, the result is utter destruction. The enemies are merely the tools; God's disapproval is the true source of ruin.
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The Ultimate Consequence
The Psalmist expresses a desperate plea or perhaps an acknowledgment of reality: destruction is inevitable when God withdraws His favor. It highlights the absolute dependence of Israel on God's presence and blessing. Without His smile, they 'perish.' This isn't just about external enemies causing harm, but about the internal spiritual desolation that comes from being cut off from the source of life.
Understand the original words
abad · Hebrew Verb
To cease to exist, die, or experience judgment; often used in the Old Testament to describe the ultimate defeat of the wicked who oppose God's people.
ge'arah · Hebrew Noun
A word used to express God’s expression of disapproval, correction, or judgment against sin and the enemies of His people; it implies a powerful, authoritative confrontation.
panim · Hebrew Noun
In Hebrew thought, the face represents the person’s presence, character, and favor; to see God’s face is to experience His blessing, while being rebuked by His face signifies judgment.
This psalm likely arose during or immediately after the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem. The imagery of the vine burned and cut down powerfully conveys the devastation of that era, emphasizing that the nation's suffering was a direct consequence of God's judgment upon their sin.
c. 732 BC
Assyrian Conquest of Northern Kingdom
The Neo-Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting many inhabitants and reorganizing the region. This event highlights a period of vulnerability and divine judgment for the divided kingdom.
597 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon conquers Jerusalem, exiling King Jehoiachin and a significant portion of the Judahite elite and skilled workers. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
587/586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar II utterly destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling most of the remaining population to Babylon. This catastrophic event is a profound moment of national trauma and loss.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus the Great's Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers the Babylonian Empire, paving the way for the return of the exiled Judeans to their homeland.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus for Return
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. This marks the end of the Babylonian exile and the beginning of the restoration period.
This passage directly echoes the imagery of the vine being cut down and burned, explaining that unfruitful branches are cast out and consumed.
Jeremiah 12:7This prophecy describes God's righteous judgment upon His people, likening His beloved heritage to a lion's prey, which resonates with the idea of destruction at God's rebuke.
Ezekiel 19:10-14This prophetic oracle uses the metaphor of a vine that is transplanted and then uprooted, burned, and drenched in blood, vividly illustrating the devastating consequences of God's wrath.
Isaiah 5:1-7This parable, also about a vineyard, details how God's cherished vineyard becomes wild and desolate because it produces wild grapes, showing a similar theme of divine judgment on an unfaithful people.
pulpitPsalms 80:16: "It is burned with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance."
Verse 16. - It is burned with fire, it is cut down. The flames of war have begun to consume it - it is no longer a vine, but mere fuel (comp. Isaiah 33:12), ready to be burned. They perish at the rebuke of thy countenance. Here the metaphor is dropped. The climax has been reached, and the matter is too serious for rhetorical treatment. The nation typified by the vine, the Israel of God, is peri…
calvinPsalms 80:14-19: "Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine;"
- Return, I beseech thee, O God of Hosts! look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine, 15. And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and upon [395] the branch [396] which thou hast strengthened for thyself. 16. It is burnt with fire; it is cut down; [397] they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance. 17. Let thy hand be upon the Man of thy right hand, upon t…
The shift from metaphor to direct statement here is striking: "they perish at the rebuke of your countenance" moves beyond the vine imagery to reveal the ultimate cause of destruction – God's displeased gaze. This isn't about physical destruction from enemies alone, but the profound reality that God's withdrawn favor leads to utter ruin.
The psalm has been describing Israel as a beloved vine that God planted and cared for, but now it's being devastated. The psalmist pleads for God to return and look upon this vine, acknowledging its destruction by enemies, which is ultimately due to God's displeasure. This verse vividly portrays the complete ruin of the nation, which the psalmist attributes to God's anger, even as they cry out for His intervention.
The psalm has been describing Israel as a beloved vine that God planted and cared for, but now it's being devastated. The psalmist pleads for God to return and look upon this vine, acknowledging its destruction by enemies, which is ultimately due to God's displeasure. This verse vividly portrays the complete ruin of the nation, which the psalmist attributes to God's anger, even as they cry out for His intervention.
"They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down; may they perish at the rebuke of your face!" — The shift from metaphor to direct statement here is striking: "they perish at the rebuke of your countenance" moves beyond the vine imagery to reveal the ultimate cause of destruction – God's displea…
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Last reviewed October 2026