Psalms 105:33 — Word Study
WLCוַיַּ֣ךְ גַּ֭פְנָם וּתְאֵנָתָ֑ם וַ֝יְשַׁבֵּ֗ר עֵ֣ץ גְּבוּלָֽם׃
BSAHe strucknâkâh▸ [smote, hit] their vinesgephen [grapevines] and fig treestᵉʼên [a common food source] and shatteredshâbar▸ [broke, ruptured] the treesʻêts [strong and firm objects] of their countrygᵉbûwl [borders, territory]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיַּ֣ךְ | and he struck down | Verb, Hiphil, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| גַּ֭פְנָם | vine[s] their | Noun common both singular construct, suffix |
| וּתְאֵנָתָ֑ם | and fig tree[s] their | Conjunction, noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| וַ֝יְשַׁבֵּ֗ר | and he broke down | Verb, Piel, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| עֵ֣ץ | [the] tree[s] of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| גְּבוּלָֽם׃ | territory their | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | He struck their vines and fig trees and shattered the trees of their country. |
| KJV | He smote their vines also and their fig trees; and brake the trees of their coasts. |
| ASV | He smote their vines also and their fig-trees, And brake the trees of their borders. |
| YLT | And He smiteth their vine and their fig, And shivereth the trees of their border. |
| WEB | He struck their vines and also their fig trees, and shattered the trees of their country. |
| BBE | He gave their vines and their fig-trees to destruction, and the trees of their land were broken down. |
Where they part company is וַיַּ֣ךְ — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence features two main clauses connected by 'and', indicating a series of actions taken by God.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, AdamClarke & more — read them ›
clause
verbנָכָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 105:33
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — God's Judgment on Egyptgenerated
Psalms 105:33 describes how God executed judgment on Egypt by striking their agricultural resources, specifically their vines and fig trees, which were vital for sustenance. This act illustrates the severity of His judgment and the consequences of disobedience. The context includes earlier plagues, emphasizing God's power over nature and His ability to protect His people while punishing their oppressors.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Revelation 9:4 | They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 1 reference, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — וַיַּ֣ךְ, vai.Yakhgenerated
The verb נָכָה (nakah) means to strike or smite, indicating a forceful action. It is used in various contexts, including divine judgment and punishment. The parsing shows it is in the Hiphil stem, which often denotes causative action, indicating that God caused the destruction of the vines and trees.
This word appears frequently in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing its significance in narratives of divine intervention and judgment. The lexicons confirm its range of meanings, from lightly hitting to inflicting severe punishment, underscoring the seriousness of God's actions in this verse.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse is structured around two finite verbs: וַיַּ֣ךְ (he struck) and וַ֝יְשַׁבֵּ֗ר (he broke), which govern the actions taken against the vines, fig trees, and trees of the land. The sentence flows from the actions of striking and breaking, indicating a series of destructive acts.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the actions of God, with the verbs leading the sentence, highlighting the severity of His judgment upon the agricultural life of Egypt.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates וַיַּ֣ךְ as ἐπάταχεν (he struck), which carries a similar meaning, indicating a forceful action. This choice aligns with the understanding of God's direct intervention.
For וַ֝יְשַׁבֵּ֗ר, the LXX uses συνέτριψεν (he shattered), which emphasizes the destructive nature of the act, reinforcing the idea of complete devastation.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalms 105:33 tells us that God struck down the vines and fig trees of Egypt and shattered their trees. This shows God's judgment against Egypt, demonstrating His power over nature and the consequences of their actions.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies God's judgment on Egypt, targeting their agricultural resources, which were crucial for their economy and sustenance.
These plants were vital food sources in ancient Israel, symbolizing prosperity and abundance, and their destruction indicates severe judgment.
This verse is part of a larger narrative that recounts God's faithfulness to Israel and His judgment on their oppressors, showcasing His power and sovereignty.
It reminds us of the seriousness of divine judgment and the importance of obedience to God.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are some modern examples of how we see God's judgment in the world today?
- How can we ensure that we are living in a way that honors God and avoids His judgment?
- In what ways does this verse challenge our understanding of God's justice?
- How can we apply the lessons from God's judgment on Egypt to our own lives?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentary on this verse highlights God's judgment on Egypt's agricultural resources, emphasizing His power and sovereignty.
"He smote their vines also and fig-trees; and broke every tree of their coasts" [Psalms 105:33].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 105 →
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 105:33 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHe smote their vines also, and their fig trees,.... So that they died; for in Psalms 78:47, it is said, he "killed" them; and it is not only used in common speech with us, but with classical writers
Read John Gill on Psalms 105 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHe turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish. -The three plagues omitted out of the ten are the murrain of the cattle and the boils, the fifth and the sixth, and the darkness, the ninth;
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 105 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 105:33 He smote their vines also and their fig trees; and brake the trees of their coasts.Ver. 33. He smote their vines also, and their fig trees] Of the fruitfulness of these trees in Egypt, strange things are reported by Solinus and others; but this extraordinary hail mingled with fire, marred them in the spring, when they promised great store of fruit, trusis botris et baccis. And brake the trees] Yea, dashed out the brains of men and beasts that were abroad, as Moses addeth.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 105 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 33. He smote their vines also, and their fig trees] This is not mentioned in Exodus; but we have had it before, Psalms 78:47.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 105 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges25–36. The enmity of the Egyptians to Israel, and the display of Jehovah’s power which prepared the way for the Exodus.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 105 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible29-36. For an explanation of these verses see notes on Psalms 78:44-51
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 105 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
He struck their vines and fig trees and shattered the trees of their country.
He struck their vines and also their fig trees, and shattered the trees of their country.
He struck their vines and fig trees and shattered the trees of their country.
He destroyed their vines and fig trees, and broke the trees throughout their territory.
Tyndale line
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, And brake the trees of their borders.
He smote their vines also and their fig trees; and brake the trees of their borders.
He smote their vines also and their fig-trees; and broke the trees of their borders.
He smote their vines also and their figge trees, and brake downe the trees in their coastes.
Strictly literal
And he smote their vines and their fig-trees, and broke the trees of their borders.
And He smiteth their vine and their fig, And shivereth the trees of their border.
And He strikes their vine and their fig, || And shatters the trees of their border.
And he smote their vines and their fig-trees, and broke the trees within their boundary.
He destroyed their vines and fig trees; he broke the trees of their country.
From the Latin
Because they exasperated his spirit. And he distinguished with his lips.
Simplified
He struck down their grape vines, and tore down their trees.
He gave their vines and their fig-trees to destruction, and the trees of their land were broken down.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text states, "He struck their vines and fig trees and shattered the trees of their country." The Septuagint largely agrees with this text, matching five of the six words, although the word order and articles differ. The Dead Sea Scrolls (11Q5) contain fragments that align with the Masoretic Text, but only one word is preserved fully, with the rest reconstructed by an editor. Overall, the main elements of the verse are consistent across the witnesses, with minor variations in wording and preservation.
וַיַּ֣ךְ גַּ֭פְנָם וּתְאֵנָתָ֑ם וַ֝יְשַׁבֵּ֗ר עֵ֣ץ גְּבוּלָֽם׃
5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[ויך] גפנ׳ם [ותאנת׳ם] [וישבר] [עץ] [גבול׳ם]
1 word on the leather — 5 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 105:33
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
נָכָה (nakah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to strike or smite, encompassing a range of actions from lightly hitting to fatal blows. It appears in various forms, indicating actions like attacking, punishing, or causing disease. The entries suggest its use in both literal and figurative contexts, including divine judgment and applause. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
[נָכָה] 501 vb. smite (not in Qal)
Niph. and he shall be smitten [struck by weapon in battle] and die
Pu. both be smitten down by the hail
Hiph.
lit., smite (with a single, non-fatal, blow), strike
smite repeatedly, beat a man
and they clapped hands (in applause)
give a thrust (with fork) into pot; strike roots
rarely smite (in battle) so as (merely) to wound
smite, of sun
Smite fatally
Smite = attack, attack and destroy a company
Of God
smite with a plague, disease, etc.
smite = chastise, or send judgment upon
of God’s destroying palaces
Hoph. be smitten
base
H5221 נָכָה smite (not in Qal) . and he shall be smitten [struck by weapon in battle] and die
. both be smitten down by the hail
. . . lit., smite (with a single, non-fatal, blow), strike
. smite repeatedly, beat a man
. and they clapped hands (in applause)
. give a thrust (with fork) into pot; strike roots
. rarely smite (in battle) so as (merely) to wound
. smite, of sun
. Smite fatally
. Smite = attack, attack and destroy a company
. Of God . smite with a plague, disease, etc.
. smite = chastise, or send judgment upon
. of God’s destroying palaces
. be smitten
5221 nakah naw-kaw'
a primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally
or figuratively):--beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), X
go forward, X indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer,
punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike,
be stricken, (give) stripes, X surely, wound.
נָכָה (na.khah) — to smite.
1) to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill
1a)(Niphal) to be stricken or smitten
1b) (Pual) to be stricken or smitten
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to smite, strike, beat, scourge, clap, applaud, give a thrust
1c2) to smite, kill, slay (man or beast)
1c3) to smite, attack, attack and destroy, conquer, subjugate, ravage
1c4) to smite, chastise, send judgment upon, punish, destroy
1d) (Hophal) to be smitten
1d1) to receive a blow
1d2) to be wounded
1d3) to be beaten
1d4) to be (fatally) smitten, be killed, be slain
1d5) to be attacked and captured
1d6) to be smitten (with disease)
1d7) to be blighted (of plants)
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vhw3ms
גֶּ֫פֶן (gephen) means 'vine' and is derived from a root suggesting bending, reflecting the twining nature of vines. It encompasses literal uses, such as the grapevine, as well as metaphorical applications related to prosperity and even the fading of stars at divine judgment.
גֶּ֫פֶן n.f. vine
base
H1612 גֶּ֫פֶן vine
1612 gephen gheh'-fen
from an unused root meaning to bend; a vine (as twining),
especially the grape:--vine, tree.
גֶּ֫פֶן (ge.phen) — vine.
1) vine, vine tree
1a) of Israel (fig.)
1b) of stars fading at Jehovah's judgment (metaph.)
1c) of prosperity
N-cs | Suff — Noun common both singular construct · suffixHNcbsc/Sp3mp
תְּאֵנָה (t'einah) refers to a fig or fig tree. The entries indicate it is a feminine noun, possibly of foreign origin, and cover both the tree and its fruit. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding its meaning.
תְּאֵנָה n.f. fig-tree, (then) fig
base
H8384 תְּאֵנָה fig-tree, (then) fig
8384 t'en teh-ane'
or (in the singular, feminine) t:enah {teh-ay- naw'}; perhaps
of foreign derivation; the fig (tree or fruit):--fig (tree).
תְּאֵנָה (te.e.nah) — fig.
fig, fig tree
Conj | N-fs | Suff — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHC/Ncfsc/Sp3mp
שָׁבַר (shabar) means to break or shatter, with various nuances including breaking in pieces, causing to break out (like bringing to birth), and being broken or crushed. It appears in different forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, Hiphil, and Hophal, indicating active and passive meanings. The lexicons do not present any significant disagreements.
שָׁבַר 148 vb. break, break in pieces
Qal 53 break, lit.
Niph. 57 be broken
Pi. 26 shatter, break
Hiph. cause to break out, i.e. bring to the birth
Hoph. be broken, shattered (in heart)
base
H7665 שָׁבַר break, break in pieces .break, lit.
. be broken
. shatter, break
. cause to break out, i.e. bring to the birth
. be broken, shattered (in heart)
7665 shabar shaw-bar'
a primitive root; to burst (literally or
figuratively):--break (down, off, in pieces, up),
broken((-hearted)), bring to the birth, crush, destroy, hurt,
quench, X quite, tear, view (by mistake for 7663).
see HEBREW for 07663
שָׁבַר (sha.var) — to break.
1) to break, break in pieces
1a) (Qal)
1a1) break, break in or down, rend violently, wreck, crush, quench
1a2) to break, rupture (fig)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be broken, be maimed, be crippled, be wrecked
1b2) to be broken, be crushed (fig)
1c) (Piel) to shatter, break
1d) (Hiphil) to cause to break out, bring to the birth
1e) (Hophal) to be broken, be shattered
Aramaic equivalent: te.var (תְּבַר "to break" H8406)
Conj | V-Piel-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Piel · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vpw3ms
עֵץ (ets) refers to a tree or wood, encompassing various forms such as timber, sticks, and planks. It can denote both singular and plural trees, as well as specific uses like gallows and firewood. The word is derived from a root meaning firmness, indicating its solid nature.
עֵץ 329 n.m. tree, trees, wood
(c. 150 t.)
a standing tree
coll. trees
(c. 175 t.; c. 120 t. pl., to denote pieces [or articles] of wood)
base
H6086 עֵץ tree, trees, wood . (c. 150 t.) . a standing tree
. coll. trees
. (c. 175 t.; c. 120 t. pl., to denote pieces [or articles] of wood)
6086 `ets ates
from 6095; a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural
sticks):--+ carpenter, gallows, helve, + pine, plank, staff,
stalk, stick, stock, timber, tree, wood.
see HEBREW for 06095
עֵץ (ets) — tree: wood.
: wood
1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows
1a) tree, trees
1b) wood, pieces of wood, gallows, firewood, cedar-wood, woody flax
עֵץ (ets) — tree.
: tree
1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows
1a) tree, trees
1b) wood, pieces of wood, gallows, firewood, cedar-wood, woody flax
עֵץ (ets) — tree: stick.
: stick/log
1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows
1a) tree, trees
1b) wood, pieces of wood, gallows, firewood, cedar-wood, woody flax
עֵץ (ets) — tree: stake.
: stake/shaft
1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows
1a) tree, trees
1b) wood, pieces of wood, gallows, firewood, cedar-wood, woody flax
עֵץ (ets) — tree: carpenter.
: carpenter/wood(worker)
1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows
1a) tree, trees
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
גְּבוּל (gbuwl) refers to a border or boundary, often implying a defined territory. It can denote a physical limit, such as a coast or landmark, and can also have figurative uses, like a region of darkness. The word is derived from a root meaning 'cord' and encompasses various meanings related to boundaries and territories.
גְּבוּל 240 n.m. border, boundary, territory
border, boundary
territory (enclosed within boundary)
base
H1366 גְּבוּל border, boundary, territory
1366 gbuwl gheb-ool'
or (shortened) gbul {gheb-ool'}; from 1379; properly, a cord
(as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extens. the
territory inclosed:--border, bound, coast, X great, landmark,
limit, quarter, space.
see HEBREW for 01379
גְּבוּל (ge.vul) — border: boundary.
: boundary
1) border, territory
1a) border
1b) territory (enclosed within boundary)
1c) region, territory (of darkness) (fig.)
Also means: ge.vul (גְּבוּל ": area" H1366H)
גְּבוּל (ge.vul) — border: area.
: area
1) border, territory
1a) border
1b) territory (enclosed within boundary)
1c) region, territory (of darkness) (fig.)
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3mp