Psalm 80:5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 80:1-7

The psalmist here, in the name of the church, applies to God by prayer, with reference to the present afflicted state of Israel. I. He entreats God's favour for them (Ps. 80:1, 2); that is all in all to the sanctuary when it is desolate, and is to be sought in the first place. Observe, 1. How he eyes God in his address as the Shepherd of Israel, whom he had called the sheep of his pasture (Ps. 79:13), under whose guidance and care Israel was, as the sheep are under the care and conduct of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 80:5

Thou feedest them with the bread of tears ,.... With tears instead of bread, having none to eat; or their bread is mingled with their tears, "dipped" therein, as the Targum; such was their constant grief, and the occasion of it, that they could not cease from tears while they were eating their meals, and so ate them with them F14 "----lachrymisque suis jejunia pavit", Ovid. Metamorph. l. 4. Fab. 6. : and givest them tears to drink in great measure ; or the wine of tears "three... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 80:5

Thou feedest them with the bread of tears - They have no peace, no comfort, nothing but continual sorrow. In great measure - שליש shalish , threefold. Some think it was a certain measure used by the Chaldeans, the real capacity of which is not known. others think it signifies abundance or abundantly. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 80:5

Verse 5 5Thou hast fed us with bread of tears, etc. By these forms of expression, they depict the greatness of their grief, and the long continuance of their calamities; as if they had said, We are so filled with sorrow, that we can contain no more. (388) They add, in the following verse that they were made a strife to their neighbors This admits of being explained in two ways. It means either that their neighbors had taken up a quarrel against them; or that, having obtained the victory over... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 80:1-19

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 80:1-19

God's redemption. "It is not a bringing back out of exile that is here prayed for, for the people are still on the soil of their own country; but in their present Feebleness they are no longer like themselves, but stand in need of Divine intervention, the shining forth of the hidden countenance of God, in order again to attain a condition that is in harmony with the promises." Suggests— I. GOD HAS MADE A GLORIOUS REDEMPTION POSSIBLE FOR US . ( Psalms 80:8 .) Has... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 80:3-18

A cry of weakness, a prayer of faith, "Turn us … we shall be turned." The life of the individual, of the Church, of the nation, depends not on means, methods, forms, institutions. With God is the fountain of life. These words are a cry of weakness, helplessness, humiliation; but also a prayer of faith, hope, joyful expectancy. I. A CONFESSION OF WEAKNESS , DANGER , SIN . 1 . In ordinary affairs a sense of weakness, helplessness, despondency, is the forerunner of failure,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 80:5

Thou feedest them with the bread of tears (comp. Psalms 42:2 , "My tears have been my meat day and night"). And givest them tears to drink in great measure ; or, and givest them to drink a copious draught of tears; literally, shalish is a measure of capacity, probably the third part of an ephah (see Isaiah 40:12 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 80:5

Tears to drink: the mission of troublous experiences. "Givest them tears to drink in great measure." Reference must be to the dreariness and hopelessness and misery of the captives in Babylon. There was no other time in the national history when the expression was so suitable. The misery is forcibly pictured in Psalms 137:1-9 . When the eyes of the exiles were full of tears, it was bitterness indeed to be asked to sing "one of the songs of Zion." "How could they sing the Lord's song in a... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 80:5

Thou feedest them with the bread of tears - literally, “Thou causest them to eat the bread of tears,” or of weeping. That is, their food was accompanied with tears; even when they ate, they wept. Their tears seemed to moisten their bread, they flowed so copiously. See the notes at Psalms 42:3.And givest them tears to drink - So abundant were their tears that they might constitute their very drink.In great measure - Or rather by measure; that is, abundantly. The word here rendered “great... read more

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