Psalm 78 9

Psalm 78:9 kjv

The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.

Psalm 78:9 nkjv

The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, Turned back in the day of battle.

Psalm 78:9 niv

The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned back on the day of battle;

Psalm 78:9 esv

The Ephraimites, armed with the bow, turned back on the day of battle.

Psalm 78:9 nlt

The warriors of Ephraim, though armed with bows,
turned their backs and fled on the day of battle.

Psalm 78 verses

Psalm 78 9 Meaning

Psalm 78:9 describes the children of Ephraim, a prominent tribe of Israel, who, despite being fully equipped with weapons and skilled in archery, abandoned their positions and fled when they encountered actual battle. This verse illustrates Israel's (specifically representing the northern tribes through Ephraim) historical spiritual failure, where outward preparedness and perceived strength proved meaningless in the absence of genuine trust and faithfulness towards God. It serves as a stark warning about relying on human ability rather than divine power.

Psalm 78 9 Context

Psalm 78 is a "maskil," an instructive or didactic psalm, which recounts the history of God's covenant people, Israel. Its primary purpose is to teach the next generation from the past errors of their forefathers, specifically highlighting their persistent rebellion and forgetfulness of God's miraculous works and faithfulness. The psalm stretches from the Exodus through the wilderness wanderings, the conquest, the period of the judges, and into the Davidic monarchy.

Verse 9, concerning the children of Ephraim, falls within the section of the psalm dealing with Israel's unfaithfulness during the wilderness journey and their subsequent history in the land. Ephraim, as a populous and historically prominent tribe, especially within the Northern Kingdom after the division, often symbolizes the nation of Israel or the northern tribes collectively, particularly in their tendency towards spiritual rebellion and idolatry. While no single historical event definitively pinpoints "Ephraim" as "armed and carrying bows" and "turning back in the day of battle," this verse is understood as either:

1. A poetic summary or representative incident reflecting a broader pattern of military failures that occurred due to a lack of trust in God (e.g., defeats against the Philistines when the Ark was captured).
2. A parable where military failure serves as a direct metaphor for spiritual disloyalty and failure in God's service.The psalm later emphasizes Judah and Zion (the Davidic line and Jerusalem) as God's chosen place, indicating the eventual rejection of Ephraim's leadership due to their persistent apostasy (Pss 78:67-68).

Psalm 78 9 Word analysis

• בְּנֵי אֶפְרַיִם (b'nei Ephraim): "Children of Ephraim."

  • בְּנֵי (b'nei): "Sons of," or "children of," denoting lineage, membership, or character.
  • אֶפְרַיִם (Ephraim): Meaning "doubly fruitful" (from Gen 41:52). This tribe, descending from Joseph, became numerically strong and politically influential, particularly as the leading tribe of the northern kingdom after the split. Ironically, despite its "fruitful" name and prominent status, Ephraim repeatedly embodied the northern kingdom's backsliding and unfaithfulness to God in prophetic literature (e.g., Hosea). Here, it represents Israel's unreliability.

• נוֹשְׁקֵי (noshekei): "Armed," "bearing," or "equipped."

  • From the root nashaq (נשק), which can mean "to arm," "to take up arms," but also "to kiss" or "to touch closely." In this military context, it conveys being thoroughly equipped and prepared for combat, or perhaps even having their weapons readily at hand as if "kissing" them for readiness. It signifies full preparedness.

• רְמֵי קָשֶׁת (remei qashet): "Carrying bows," or "archers."

  • רְמֵי (remei): "Shooters," "archers," or "throwers." From the root ramah (רמה), "to throw" or "to shoot." Implies proficiency and skill in using the bow.
  • קָשֶׁת (qashet): "Bow," a powerful and primary long-range weapon in ancient warfare.
  • This phrase emphasizes their specific military specialty and formidable capability: they were not merely armed but skilled archers, a highly effective unit in battle.

• הָפְכוּ (haf'khu): "Turned back," "reversed," "fled."

  • From the root haphakh (הפך), meaning "to turn," "overthrow," "change," or "turn oneself." In a military context, it describes a sudden reversal of direction, signifying retreat, desertion, or panicked flight. It’s a deliberate action to flee despite their preparation.

• בְּיוֹם קְרָב (b'yom qrav): "In the day of battle."

  • בְּיוֹם (b'yom): "In the day of," indicating a specific time or condition.
  • קְרָב (qrav): "Battle," "combat," "war."
  • This specifies the crucial context: their failure occurred precisely when their military strength and resolve were most needed, not in training or minor skirmishes, but during actual, decisive conflict.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "The children of Ephraim, armed and carrying bows": This phrase highlights a powerful contradiction. It establishes Ephraim's outward strength, preparedness, and specialized military skill. They were positioned for success by human standards, having the right lineage (children of Israel), the right equipment ("armed"), and the right training ("carrying bows" / "archers"). This sets up the dramatic reversal that follows.

• "turned back in the day of battle": This clause provides the shocking outcome that undermines the preceding description of strength. It signifies a profound failure, not due to lack of physical ability or armament, but a failure of will, courage, and, crucially, trust in the divine. The phrase emphasizes the critical moment of their collapse – in the midst of conflict when resolve was paramount. It points to a moral or spiritual deficiency rather than merely a tactical mistake.

Psalm 78 9 Bonus section

The choice of Ephraim as the exemplar of this failure is significant. Ephraim was not a minor tribe; it was one of the largest and most influential tribes, often mentioned first among the northern tribes. Post-Solomon, the first king of the Northern Kingdom, Jeroboam, was an Ephraimite, and Ephraim's territory became central to the northern kingdom's identity. Thus, naming Ephraim here resonates deeply with the prophetic tradition, especially in books like Hosea, which frequently decries Ephraim's idolatry and spiritual adultery. The psalm's subsequent shift to emphasizing Judah and David’s chosen line (Ps 78:67-68) highlights God's ultimate rejection of Ephraim's leadership due to their prolonged unfaithfulness, solidifying the idea that military failure in verse 9 is merely an outward symptom of profound spiritual apostasy and a heart not steadfast with God.

Psalm 78 9 Commentary

Psalm 78:9 serves as a concise, yet powerful, allegorical indictment of Israel’s historical unfaithfulness, represented through the specific military failure of the tribe of Ephraim. This verse stands out because it vividly contrasts outward preparation with inner spiritual weakness. The Ephraimites, archetypically representing the northern tribes of Israel, were seemingly at their peak of readiness: they were descendants of the covenant, skilled warriors, and perfectly equipped for conflict. Yet, at the critical moment, the "day of battle," they faltered and fled.

This account is not primarily about military tactics but about theological failure. Their physical retreat is a parable for their spiritual turning away from God. Their inability to stand in the face of earthly enemies directly reflects their deeper spiritual instability and lack of reliance on the God who had repeatedly delivered their forefathers. It warns against trusting in human strength, military might, or outward religious observance without a true, unwavering faith in the living God. The psalm's larger message emphasizes that despite God's consistent faithfulness, His people persistently strayed, forgot His wonders, and put Him to the test. Thus, Ephraim’s "turning back" epitomizes this cycle of spiritual defection and its devastating consequences. This verse acts as a solemn warning against misplaced trust, emphasizing that true victory comes not from human prowess, but from courageous faith and unwavering obedience to the Lord.