Psalms 76:6

At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.

At thy rebuke {H1606}, O God {H430} of Jacob {H3290}, both the chariot {H7393} and horse {H5483} are cast into a dead sleep {H7290}{H8737)}.

At your rebuke, God of Ya'akov, riders and horses lie stunned.

At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both horse and rider lie stunned.

At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, Both chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.

Psalms 76:6 vividly portrays the overwhelming power of God in defeating His enemies. This verse is part of a psalm that celebrates God's awesome majesty and His decisive victory over invading forces, likely reflecting a specific historical event where God miraculously protected Jerusalem.

Historical and Cultural Context

Psalm 76 is often considered a hymn of triumph, possibly composed after a great military deliverance for Judah, with the most commonly cited event being the miraculous destruction of Sennacherib's Assyrian army outside Jerusalem (as recorded in 2 Kings 19:35 and Isaiah 37:36). The "chariot and horse" represent the peak of ancient military technology and might, symbolizing the formidable strength of earthly armies. The mention of "God of Jacob" emphasizes God's covenant relationship with Israel, His chosen people, and His faithfulness to protect them, as seen in His promises to Jacob.

Key Themes and Messages

  • God's Supreme Power: The verse highlights that God's mere "rebuke" is sufficient to dismantle the greatest human power. No army, no matter how equipped or numerous, can stand against His will.
  • Divine Intervention: It underscores the reality of God's active involvement in human affairs, particularly in defending His people and upholding justice.
  • Vulnerability of Human Might: Earthly strength and military prowess are utterly insignificant when confronted by the Almighty. The "chariot and horse" are rendered helpless, cast into a "dead sleep" by divine decree.
  • God as Protector: This psalm reassures believers of God's unwavering protection over those who trust in Him, especially in times of overwhelming threat.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "rebuke" is ga'arah (גַּעֲרָה), which signifies a sharp, severe command or a powerful demonstration of displeasure that brings about a desired effect. It's not merely a verbal reprimand but an act of divine judgment or intervention that causes immediate cessation or destruction. This concept is similarly used in Nahum 1:4 where God rebukes the sea and makes it dry. The phrase "cast into a dead sleep" translates the Hebrew nirdamah (נִרְדָּמָה), a passive form meaning to be made to fall into a deep, heavy sleep, often implying unconsciousness, stupor, or even a death-like state. It suggests a sudden, supernatural incapacitation, not a natural slumber, rendering the enemy completely powerless and inanimate.

Practical Application

Psalms 76:6 offers profound encouragement for believers facing seemingly insurmountable challenges, whether personal struggles or global crises. It reminds us that:

  • God is Sovereign: No earthly power, threat, or opposition is beyond God's control. He can, with a mere command, neutralize any force.
  • Trust in His Protection: When we feel overwhelmed, this verse calls us to place our trust in the God who is our refuge and strength, knowing He fights for His people.
  • Humility for the Powerful: It serves as a stark warning to those who rely solely on their own strength, wealth, or military might, reminding them that all human power is fleeting and ultimately subject to God's ultimate authority.
This verse celebrates the awe-inspiring power of the "God of Jacob" and His readiness to defend His covenant people, turning the mightiest enemies into helpless slumberers.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Exodus 15:1

    ¶ Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

  • Exodus 15:21

    And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

  • Psalms 80:16

    [It is] burned with fire, [it is] cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.

  • Ezekiel 39:20

    Thus ye shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord GOD.

  • Zechariah 12:4

    In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness.

  • Jeremiah 51:39

    In their heat I will make their feasts, and I will make them drunken, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the LORD.

  • 2 Samuel 10:18

    And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew [the men of] seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.

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