Psalm 78:62 kjv
He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance.
Psalm 78:62 nkjv
He also gave His people over to the sword, And was furious with His inheritance.
Psalm 78:62 niv
He gave his people over to the sword; he was furious with his inheritance.
Psalm 78:62 esv
He gave his people over to the sword and vented his wrath on his heritage.
Psalm 78:62 nlt
He gave his people over to be butchered by the sword,
because he was so angry with his own people ? his special possession.
Psalm 78 62 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 26:25 | "I will bring a sword against you..." | God's threatened judgment for covenant breaking. |
| Deut 28:25 | "The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies..." | Covenant curses including military defeat. |
| Deut 31:16-17 | "...this people will prostitute themselves to the foreign gods... I will forsake them..." | God foretells abandonment due to idolatry. |
| Deut 32:9 | "For the Lord's portion is His people, Jacob His allotted heritage." | Israel as God's "inheritance" affirmed. |
| Josh 7:1-5 | Achan's sin leading to defeat at Ai, demonstrating corporate judgment. | Sin bringing judgment and defeat on Israel. |
| Judg 2:14 | "So the Lord gave them over into the hands of raiders..." | God abandoning Israel to enemies during the Judges period. |
| 1 Sam 4:10-11 | "Israel was defeated... the ark of God was captured..." | Shiloh's fall, Ark's capture, key context for Psa 78:62. |
| 2 Chr 15:5-6 | "In those days there was no peace... for God troubled them with every sort of distress." | Internal and external strife as God's discipline. |
| Isa 5:25 | "Therefore the anger of the Lord burns against His people... their dead bodies lie like refuse." | God's wrath manifest in desolation and death. |
| Isa 63:10 | "But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; so He turned to be their enemy..." | Israel's rebellion turns God against them. |
| Jer 7:12-14 | "Go now to My place that was in Shiloh... I will do to this house..." | Warning based on Shiloh's destruction, echoing Psa 78. |
| Lam 2:5 | "The Lord has become like an enemy; He has swallowed up Israel." | God as an active agent in Israel's downfall. |
| Ez 5:12 | "A third part of you shall die of pestilence... and a third part shall fall by the sword..." | Prophecy of divine judgment through various means. |
| Amos 9:4 | "And if they go into captivity before their enemies, there I will command the sword to slay them." | God's active command behind judgment. |
| Rom 1:24, 26, 28 | "Therefore God gave them up..." (3 times) | God "giving over" people to consequences of sin. |
| Rom 2:5-6 | "...store up wrath for yourselves on the day of wrath..." | Divine wrath awaiting unrepentant sin. |
| Heb 12:6 | "For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives." | God's discipline, though severe, is from love. |
| Rev 3:19 | "Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline..." | Discipline for those beloved by God. |
| 1 Pet 4:17 | "For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God..." | Judgment starting with God's own people. |
| Jude 1:5 | "Though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe." | God's judgment on unfaithful even after deliverance. |
| Psa 106:40-42 | "Therefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against His people... He gave them into the hand of the nations..." | Direct parallel to Psa 78 in theme of judgment. |
| Num 14:12 | "I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them..." | God's immediate judgment threat after Kadesh-Barnea. |
Psalm 78 verses
Psalm 78 62 Meaning
Psalm 78:62 vividly portrays God's severe judgment upon the nation of Israel. Due to their persistent rebellion and unfaithfulness, He intentionally "gave His people over to the sword," signifying that He allowed or ordained their military defeat and destruction at the hands of their enemies. This action stemmed from His righteous and intense "fury" or "wrath" against them, expressed toward His own cherished "inheritance"—the very people He had chosen and loved. The verse underscores God's holiness and His commitment to justice, even when it means disciplining His elect people.
Psalm 78 62 Context
Psalm 78 is an historical recounting of God's dealings with Israel from the Exodus through the time of King David, intended to instruct future generations. It highlights Israel's repeated rebellion and idolatry despite God's continuous faithfulness, miracles, and provision. Verses 56-66 focus on God's profound disillusionment and consequent judgment, particularly concerning the Northern tribes (Ephraim/Joseph). This segment culminates in God's rejection of Shiloh—where the Tabernacle and Ark of the Covenant were located—and His choosing of Zion and the tribe of Judah for His dwelling place, along with David as king. Verse 62 directly describes the ultimate act of this rejection: God "giving over" His people, Israel, to the destruction symbolized by "the sword." This primarily refers to significant military defeats, most notably the Philistine conquest resulting in the capture of the Ark and the devastation of Shiloh (referenced in 1 Sam 4). This divine wrath was not arbitrary but was a righteous response to Israel's consistent provocation, their "high places" and "images" (v. 58), and their testing of God.
Psalm 78 62 Word analysis
- He gave over (וַיִּסּוֹר, wayyissor - a specific verb used here from יסר, yasar - related to chastisement/discipline often translated as 'to chasten' or 'to instruct' but in hiphil form it often conveys 'to bring into discipline' or 'to correct severely'. Some texts also use נָתַן, natan - "He gave" which is common for "giving over"):
- This is not a passive turning away, but an active, sovereign act. God directly orchestrated or allowed their defeat as a judicial act. It signifies a delivering up for punishment. This demonstrates God's ultimate control even over negative events affecting His people.
- His people (עַמּוֹ, ‘ammō):
- Emphasizes the profound and covenantal relationship between God and Israel. They are "His" chosen, precious, and unique possession. This highlights the severity of the judgment—it's against His own.
- to the sword (לַחֶרֶב, laḥerev):
- "Sword" here is a metaphor for warfare, violent destruction, and death, typically at the hands of their enemies. It symbolizes God's judgment executed through human agents or events. It implies widespread killing and military disaster.
- He was furious / vented His wrath (וַיִּזְעַף, wayyiz‘af from זָעַף, za‘af):
- Signifies intense, righteous indignation and displeasure. This is not a human, volatile rage, but God's settled and holy wrath against sin and covenant unfaithfulness. It conveys a strong emotional response rooted in His perfect character.
- His inheritance (נַחֲלָתוֹ, naḥalatô from נַחֲלָה, naḥalah):
- Similar to "His people," this term reinforces Israel's special status as God's chosen possession, His allotted portion. It deepens the tragic nature of the judgment—the very people He chose and cherished now experience His full indignation.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "He gave his people over to the sword": This phrase details the means and extent of divine judgment. God delivered them; He did not merely abandon them. It indicates that the calamities faced by Israel (military defeat, death) were not accidental or purely from human agency, but part of God's righteous disciplinary plan due to their disobedience.
- "He was furious with his inheritance": This specifies the underlying motive for God's actions. It wasn't caprice or abandonment, but righteous anger fueled by Israel's constant betrayal of their covenant relationship. "His inheritance" underscores that despite His wrath, Israel remained His special possession, indicating this judgment was still within the context of His ongoing (though severe) interaction with them, not a complete repudiation of His ultimate covenant purposes.
Psalm 78 62 Bonus section
- The particular wording "gave over" (וַיִּסּוֹר) here in some textual traditions is linked to concepts of discipline and chastisement (from the root yasar), rather than simply handing off (from natan). This nuanced reading strengthens the interpretation of God's act as severe, purposeful discipline aimed at correction, rather than utter abandonment, even amidst profound anger.
- This verse emphasizes divine concurrence in suffering. While human enemies executed the judgment, God was ultimately behind the events, actively allowing or ordaining them to fulfill His purposes of discipline and righteous justice.
- The entire Psalm 78 functions as a didactic piece, aiming to prevent future generations from repeating the same cycle of rebellion and judgment. Verse 62, with its stark portrayal of divine wrath, serves as a powerful warning against presumption upon God's grace and patience.
Psalm 78 62 Commentary
Psalm 78:62 provides a sobering reflection on the consequences of covenant disobedience. God's act of "giving over" His people to the sword highlights His sovereignty in judgment. While He loves and chooses a people as His "inheritance," this divine favoritism does not negate His holiness nor does it excuse sin. Their repeated provocation, idolatry, and rebellion provoked a justified and profound "fury" from God. This was a judicial act of severe discipline, not a renunciation of His covenant, but a demonstration of its serious terms. The destruction and military defeat (as exemplified by the fall of Shiloh and the capture of the Ark in 1 Samuel 4) were direct outcomes of God's righteous indignation, demonstrating that "judgment begins at the household of God" (1 Pet 4:17). This served as a purifying crucible, paving the way for God's renewed dealings with His people, ultimately shifting His favor from Ephraim to Judah and establishing the Davidic line. The verse teaches that God is neither indifferent to sin nor soft on those He has called His own.