King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ The children of Ephraim, [being] armed, [and] carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.
Complete Jewish Bible:
The people of Efrayim, though armed with bows and arrows, turned their backs on the day of battle.
Berean Standard Bible:
The archers of Ephraim turned back on the day of battle.
American Standard Version:
The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, Turned back in the day of battle.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
The children{H1121} of Ephraim{H669}, being armed{H5401}{H8802)}, and carrying{H7411}{H8802)} bows{H7198}, turned back{H2015}{H8804)} in the day{H3117} of battle{H7128}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Deuteronomy 1:41
- Then ye answered and said unto me, We have sinned against the LORD, we will go up and fight, according to all that the LORD our God commanded us. And when ye had girded on every man his weapons of war, ye were ready to go up into the hill.
Deuteronomy 1:44
- And the Amorites, which dwelt in that mountain, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and destroyed you in Seir, [even] unto Hormah.
Joshua 17:16
- And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, [both they] who [are] of Bethshean and her towns, and [they] who [are] of the valley of Jezreel.
Joshua 17:18
- But the mountain shall be thine; for it [is] a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, [and] though they [be] strong.
1 Samuel 4:10
- ¶ And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.
1 Samuel 31:1
- ¶ Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.
Psalms 78:57
- But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
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Commentary for Psalms 78:9
Psalm 78:9, set within a larger didactic psalm attributed to Asaph, recounts the failure of the tribe of Ephraim during a critical moment in Israel's history. This verse is part of a historical recapitulation that highlights the repeated unfaithfulness of the Israelites despite God's consistent faithfulness and mighty acts on their behalf. The tribe of Ephraim, which was one of the most prominent and powerful tribes in Israel, is depicted as equipped and ready for battle, yet they retreated when it mattered most.
The historical context of this verse likely alludes to events during the period of the Judges or the early monarchy, when the Israelites faced various external threats. The Ephraimites, despite their military preparedness, succumbed to fear or lack of trust in God, abandoning their position in the face of the enemy. This act of cowardice or disobedience is contrasted with the strength and courage they should have exhibited as God's chosen people.
The themes present in Psalm 78:9 include the consequences of faithlessness, the importance of trusting in God, and the call to remember and learn from the past failures of Israel. The verse serves as a cautionary tale within the broader narrative of the psalm, which aims to instruct future generations to avoid the mistakes of their ancestors and to remain steadfast in their faith in God, who is the ultimate source of strength and deliverance. It emphasizes the expectation that God's people should be brave and rely on His power rather than their own strength or weaponry.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H669
There are 313 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶפְרַיִם
Transliteration: ʼEphrayim
Pronunciation: ef-rah'-yim
Description: dual of masculine form of אֶפְרָת; double fruit; Ephrajim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory; Ephraim, Ephraimites. - Strong's Number: H5401
There are 35 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָשַׁק
Transliteration: nâshaq
Pronunciation: naw-shak'
Description: a primitive root (identical with נָשַׂק, through the idea of fastening up; compare חָזַק, חָשַׁק); to kiss, literally or figuratively (touch); also (as a mode of attachment), to equip with weapons; armed (men), rule, kiss, that touched. - Strong's Number: H7411
There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָמָה
Transliteration: râmâh
Pronunciation: raw-maw'
Description: a primitive root; to hurl; specifically, to shoot; figuratively, to delude or betray (as if causing to fall); beguile, betray, (bow-) man, carry, deceive, throw. - Strong's Number: H7198
There are 74 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קֶשֶׁת
Transliteration: qesheth
Pronunciation: keh'-sheth
Description: from קָשָׁה in the original sense (of קוֹשׁ) of bending; a bow, forshooting (hence, figuratively, strength) or the iris; [idiom] arch(-er), [phrase] arrow, bow(-man, -shot). - Strong's Number: H2015
There are 92 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: הָפַךְ
Transliteration: hâphak
Pronunciation: haw-fak'
Description: a primitive root; to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert; [idiom] become, change, come, be converted, give, make (a bed), overthrow (-turn), perverse, retire, tumble, turn (again, aside, back, to the contrary, every way). - Strong's Number: H3117
There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹם
Transliteration: yôwm
Pronunciation: yome
Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. - Strong's Number: H7128
There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קְרָב
Transliteration: qᵉrâb
Pronunciation: ker-awb'
Description: from קָרַב; hostile encounter; battle, war.