Psalms 80:6
You make us an object of contention for our neighbors, and our enemies laugh among themselves.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's easily missed is that Israel's neighbors and enemies aren't just observing their suffering; they are actively contending with and mocking them because of God's hand in their plight. They see Israel as a prize to be fought over and a spectacle for their derision, highlighting the depth of Israel's shame and isolation in this moment.
This psalm is a desperate plea from a people in deep distress, feeling abandoned by God. They lament their suffering, recounting how God has "fed them with bread of tears" and made them a source of mockery for their neighbors and enemies. The prayer continues by asking God to "turn us again," appealing to Him as the Shepherd who once led them gloriously.
Have you ever felt like you're the subject of gossip or arguments, not even part of the conversation? For Israel, this wasn't just gossip; it was a divine judgment.
A Hot Potato Among Nations
Imagine a valuable prize that everyone wants to grab, or a source of constant bickering. That’s what Psalm 80:6 paints Israel as: "a strife unto our neighbours." This wasn't just about borders or resources; it was deeper.
It's one thing to be in trouble, but it's another to have others laugh at your pain. This verse captures that deep sting of humiliation.
Laughter at the Lowest Point
The second part of the verse hits hard: "and our enemies laugh among themselves." This isn't just a casual chuckle; it's the sound of triumphant scorn.
Understand the original words
madon · Hebrew Noun
A Hebrew term referring to quarreling, strife, or being a target of mockery/derision. In a biblical context, it often describes the suffering of God's people at the hands of those who oppose them.
This psalm likely arose during or after periods of intense conflict and exile, such as the Assyrian invasions or the Babylonian conquests. The imagery of being a 'strife' and 'laughed at' vividly captures the humiliation and vulnerability of a people ravaged by powerful, hostile neighbors, who scorned their God as well as them.
c. 734-732 BC
Syro-Ephraimitic War
The Northern Kingdom of Israel (often called Ephraim or Joseph) and Damascus (Syria) formed an alliance against Judah. When Judah resisted joining, the allied forces besieged Jerusalem, but failed to capture it.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Neo-Assyrian Empire conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting many of its inhabitants and scattering them throughout the empire. This event left Judah isolated and vulnerable.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Assyrian Invasion of Judah
King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah, conquering many fortified cities and putting Jerusalem under siege. While Jerusalem was miraculously spared destruction, the land suffered greatly.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Under Nebuchadnezzar II, the Babylonian Empire began deporting Jewish leaders and skilled workers to Babylon, marking the beginning of the Judean exile.
This passage speaks of neighboring peoples being a 'prick and a pain' to Israel, directly reflecting the theme of being an object of contention for those nearby.
Psalm 44:13-14This Psalm shares the lament of being a reproach to neighbors and a subject of mockery by enemies, mirroring the deep pain expressed in Psalm 80:6.
Lamentations 2:15-16Here, Jerusalem's plight is described as enemies rejoicing and laughing, highlighting the suffering and humiliation that comes when a nation is in distress and becomes a spectacle.
Jeremiah 20:7-11Jeremiah describes being ridiculed and mocked by his adversaries, illustrating how being in distress can make one an object of scorn and derision for those around.
clarkePsalms 80:6: "Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours: and our enemies laugh among themselves."
Thou makest us a strife - The neighboring districts have a controversy about us; we are a subject of contention to them. A people so wonderfully preserved, and so wonderfully punished, is a mystery to them. They see in us both the goodness and severity of God. Or, all the neighboring nations join together to malign and execrate us. We are hated by all; derided and cursed by all.
gillPsalms 80:6: "Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours: and our enemies laugh among themselves."
Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours,.... Either obliges us to contend with them for our defence and safety; or having given us into their hands, they strive and contend one with another about dividing the spoil: and our enemies laugh among themselves; at us, and because there is no help for us in God, as they imagine; or at God himself, as Kimchi, saying he cannot save as.
What's easily missed is that Israel's neighbors and enemies aren't just observing their suffering; they are actively contending with and mocking them because of God's hand in their plight. They see Israel as a prize to be fought over and a spectacle for their derision, highlighting the depth of Israel's shame and isolation in this moment.
This psalm is a desperate plea from a people in deep distress, feeling abandoned by God. They lament their suffering, recounting how God has "fed them with bread of tears" and made them a source of mockery for their neighbors and enemies. The prayer continues by asking God to "turn us again," appealing to Him as the Shepherd who once led them gloriously.
This psalm is a desperate plea from a people in deep distress, feeling abandoned by God. They lament their suffering, recounting how God has "fed them with bread of tears" and made them a source of mockery for their neighbors and enemies. The prayer continues by asking God to "turn us again," appealing to Him as the Shepherd who once led them gloriously.
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This scene is a vivid picture of what happens when God’s people fall into deep distress, becoming a spectacle for those who oppose them.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem
Babylonian forces destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple, ending the Davidic kingdom and leading to a second, larger deportation of the population into exile.
"You make us an object of contention for our neighbors, and our enemies laugh among themselves." — What's easily missed is that Israel's neighbors and enemies aren't just observing their suffering; they are actively contending with and mocking them because of God's hand in their plight. They see I…
