What Does Psalms 80:18 Mean?

So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name. This verse concludes the psalm with covenant recommitment. "So will not we go back from thee" (ve'lo-nasug mimekha, וְלֹא־נָסוּג מִמֶּךָּ) uses sug (סוּג), meaning to turn back, retreat, apostatize. The people pledge: grant restoration and we will not repeat the apostasy that brought judgment. This conditional commitment acknowledges that past covenant violations caused current devastation, and pledges renewed faithfulness if God renews blessing. The negative formulation—"will not go back"—emphasizes determined resistance to future unfaithfulness.

"Quicken us" (techayyenu, תְּחַיֵּנוּ) uses chayah (חָיָה), meaning to live, revive, restore to life. The people recognize they're effectively dead—burned vineyard, cut-down branch, devastated nation. Only divine quickening can restore vitality. This anticipates New Testament theology of spiritual death requiring divine regeneration (Ephesians 2:1-5; Colossians 2:13). The causative form—"cause us to live"—emphasizes God must act; human effort cannot produce resurrection.

"And we will call upon thy name" (uveshimkha niqra, וּבְשִׁמְךָ נִקְרָא) pledges renewed worship and covenant loyalty. Qara beshem (קָרָא בְּשֵׁם) means to call on the name—invoke in prayer, worship exclusively, identify with publicly. The phrase appears in Abrahamic narratives (Genesis 12:8, 13:4, 21:33) describing altar-building and worship. The people promise: revive us, and we will worship You exclusively, publicly identifying as Your people. The pledge closes the psalm hopefully: though burned and cut down, the vine can sprout again if God grants quickening grace.