Psalms 78:31

KJV

The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen [men] of Israel.

KJV (with Strong's)

The wrath {H639} of God {H430} came {H5927}{H8804)} upon them, and slew {H2026}{H8799)} the fattest {H4924} of them, and smote down {H3766}{H8689)} the chosen {H970} men of Israel {H3478}.

Complete Jewish Bible

when the anger of God rose up against them and slaughtered their strongest men, laying low the young men of Isra'el.

Berean Standard Bible

God’s anger flared against them, and He put to death their strongest and subdued the young men of Israel.

American Standard Version

When the anger of God went up against them, And slew of the fattest of them, And smote down the young men of Israel.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 78:31 starkly recounts a moment of divine judgment during Israel's wilderness wanderings, specifically at Kibroth-hattaavah. Following the Israelites' intense craving for meat and their grumbling against God despite His miraculous provision of manna, the Lord sent an abundance of quail. However, while the meat was still in their mouths, God's wrath erupted, striking down the strongest, most vigorous, and prominent members of the community. This verse serves as a potent reminder of the severe consequences of persistent rebellion, ingratitude, and testing God's patience, even for His chosen people.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 78 is a sweeping historical psalm, often referred to as a "maskil" or "didactic psalm," intended to instruct future generations by recounting God's faithful dealings with Israel and their repeated cycles of rebellion and repentance. The psalmist, Asaph, meticulously details events from the Exodus through the establishment of David's reign, emphasizing God's steadfast love and Israel's stubborn disobedience. Verse 31 falls within a section (verses 17-39) that specifically addresses Israel's grumbling, testing God in the wilderness, and their insatiable craving for food beyond the manna. This particular verse highlights the immediate and devastating consequence of their ungrateful lust for meat, serving as a climactic point in their pattern of rebellion and God's just response. It underscores the psalm's overarching message: learn from history to avoid repeating the failures of the past.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** This verse directly references the historical event recorded in [Numbers 11](/numbers/11 "Numbers 11 - The Quail and the Plague at Kibroth-hattaavah"). After escaping Egypt and receiving the miraculous provision of manna, the Israelites, a "mixed multitude" among them, began to complain bitterly, longing for the varied diet they had in Egypt, specifically meat. This was not merely a desire for food but a profound expression of discontentment, ingratitude, and a lack of trust in God's provision and leadership through Moses. Their craving was so intense it is described as "lusting greatly." In response to their persistent grumbling and testing of His patience, God provided an overwhelming quantity of quail. However, this provision came with a severe judgment: "while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord smote the people with a very great plague" [Numbers 11:33](/numbers/11-33 "Numbers 11:33 - The Plague at Kibroth-hattaavah"). The place was subsequently named Kibroth-hattaavah, meaning "graves of craving" or "graves of lust," a permanent memorial to their sin and its dire consequences. This event highlights the cultural significance of food as a symbol of provision and sustenance, and how its misuse could become an act of rebellion against the divine Provider.
* **Key Themes:** Psalms 78:31 powerfully illustrates several core themes found throughout the psalm and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it showcases **Divine Wrath and Judgment**, demonstrating that God's holiness demands a response to sin, and His patience has limits. This wrath is not capricious but a righteous consequence of persistent rebellion and ingratitude against His gracious provision. Secondly, the verse emphasizes the **Consequences of Disobedience**. Even when God provides abundantly, a heart of discontentment and a spirit of entitlement can lead to devastating judgment, affecting even the strongest and most influential members of the community. This highlights the seriousness of testing God and the danger of spiritual complacency. Finally, it underscores **God's Sovereignty and Justice**. The Lord is not indifferent to the actions of His people; He exercises absolute control, and His justice ensures that disobedience does not go unpunished indefinitely. This event serves as a stark warning against presuming upon God's grace or taking His faithfulness for granted, a lesson echoed in [1 Corinthians 10:6-10](/1_corinthians/10-6 "1 Corinthians 10:6-10 - Warnings from Israel's History").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Wrath (Hebrew, _ʾap̄_):** This term literally refers to the "nostrils" or "face," and by extension, the "anger" that causes the nostrils to flare. In this context, it signifies God's intense, righteous indignation and punitive judgment against the Israelites' sin. It is not an uncontrolled outburst but a holy response to their persistent rebellion, ingratitude, and lack of trust, which tested His patience to its limit.
* **Fattest (Hebrew, _ḥēlēḇ_):** In ancient Near Eastern cultures, "fat" (especially the fat of sacrifices) often symbolized the best, the richest, the most vigorous, or the choicest part. Here, "the fattest of them" does not refer to physical obesity but to the most robust, strong, healthy, prosperous, or prominent individuals within the community. This suggests that the judgment was comprehensive and struck at the very core of their perceived strength, vitality, and leadership, indicating that no one was exempt.
* **Chosen [men] (Hebrew, _bāḥûr_):** This word typically refers to "young men," often implying those who are strong, vigorous, in the prime of life, and capable. It can also denote those who are "chosen" or "select," perhaps implying the elite or most promising individuals. The use of "chosen men" alongside "the fattest" reinforces the idea that the judgment was indiscriminate, affecting those who might have felt secure in their physical prowess, social standing, or perceived importance, further emphasizing the severity and impartiality of God's wrath.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The wrath of God came upon them,"**: This clause immediately establishes the divine origin and nature of the calamity. It signifies God's active, intentional, and righteous indignation against the Israelites' sin of lusting, complaining, and testing Him. This "wrath" is a holy attribute of God, a necessary response to unrepentant rebellion, demonstrating His intolerance for sin and His commitment to justice.
* **"and slew the fattest of them,"**: This describes the direct, fatal consequence of God's wrath. The phrase "the fattest of them" highlights that the judgment was not arbitrary or limited to the weak, but specifically targeted the strong, the vigorous, and perhaps the most prominent or influential individuals. This choice of victims underscores the comprehensive and devastating nature of the plague, impacting the very vitality and perceived strength of the community.
* **"and smote down the chosen [men] of Israel."**: This parallel clause reinforces and intensifies the previous one. "Smote down" implies a decisive and powerful strike. "The chosen men of Israel" further specifies the victims as the young, strong, and perhaps elite members of the nation. The repetition emphasizes that this was a severe, widespread judgment that affected those who might have been considered the future or the backbone of the community, leaving no doubt as to the gravity of their sin and the impartiality of God's justice.

#### Literary Devices
The psalmist employs several potent **Literary Devices** to convey the gravity of God's judgment. **Parallelism** is prominent, particularly **Synonymous Parallelism**, in the phrases "slew the fattest of them" and "smote down the chosen [men] of Israel." These two clauses express the same idea—the comprehensive and severe impact of God's judgment—using different but reinforcing terms, thereby intensifying the message. The terms "fattest" and "chosen men" also function as **Metonymy**, where a characteristic (fatness, chosenness) stands for the individuals possessing those traits, effectively representing the most robust and significant members of the Israelite community. The vivid imagery of God's "wrath" coming upon them and the swift, fatal action of "slew" and "smote down" creates a powerful and immediate sense of divine retribution, serving as a stark **Warning** to the audience. The entire account within Psalm 78 functions as a **Didactic Narrative**, using historical events to teach profound theological lessons about obedience, consequences, and God's unwavering character.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 78:31 provides a sobering theological insight into the character of God and the nature of sin. It reveals that while God is abundant in mercy and patient in His dealings with humanity, His holiness and justice are equally fundamental to His being. The judgment at Kibroth-hattaavah demonstrates that persistent rebellion, ingratitude, and a spirit of discontentment, even amidst miraculous provision, are not trivial matters to God. This event serves as a powerful reminder that there are serious, sometimes immediate, consequences for defying the Lord and testing His patience. It underscores the principle that God's covenant relationship with His people requires faithfulness and obedience, and that even His chosen ones are not exempt from His righteous judgment when they fall into unrepentant sin. This historical account is preserved not merely as a record of the past, but as a perpetual warning and a call to reverence and humility before a holy God.

* [Numbers 11:33-34](/numbers/11-33 "Numbers 11:33-34 - The Plague at Kibroth-hattaavah")
* [1 Corinthians 10:6](/1_corinthians/10-6 "1 Corinthians 10:6 - Warning Against Lusting After Evil Things")
* [Hebrews 3:17-19](/hebrews/3-17 "Hebrews 3:17-19 - Disobedience in the Wilderness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 78:31, though recounting a severe historical judgment, holds profound and timeless lessons for believers today. It challenges us to examine our own hearts for any seeds of discontentment, ingratitude, or presumptuousness towards God. The Israelites, despite daily manna and miraculous deliverance, lusted for more, illustrating that true contentment is not found in external circumstances or material abundance, but in a heart that trusts and appreciates God's faithful provision. This verse urges us to take sin seriously, recognizing that God's grace, while boundless, is not an excuse for rebellion. His holiness demands a response to disobedience, and we are called to live in reverent submission to His will, learning from the mistakes of those who came before us. It reminds us that our spiritual vitality and perceived strength offer no immunity from divine discipline if we choose a path of unfaithfulness. Ultimately, this passage calls us to cultivate a spirit of deep gratitude, humble obedience, and unwavering trust in the Lord, lest we, too, fall prey to the consequences of a craving heart.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be exhibiting discontentment or ingratitude, despite God's faithful provision?**
* **How seriously do I take the warnings about sin and disobedience found in Scripture?**
* **What lessons can I draw from the Israelites' failures in the wilderness to apply to my own spiritual walk today?**
* **How does this verse deepen my reverence for God's holiness and justice, alongside His mercy?**

### FAQ
**Why did God's wrath strike the "fattest" and "chosen men" of Israel?**

Answer: The specific targeting of the "fattest" and "chosen men" was not arbitrary but profoundly symbolic and intentional. In ancient contexts, "fatness" often represented health, strength, prosperity, and the prime of life, while "chosen men" referred to the vigorous, capable, or elite youth. By striking these individuals, God demonstrated the comprehensive and impartial nature of His judgment. It showed that no one, regardless of their physical strength, social standing, or perceived importance, was immune to the consequences of sin. This act underscored the severity of their rebellion and ingratitude, indicating that their sin had corrupted the very core and vitality of the community, and that God's justice would reach even those who might have felt most secure in their human prowess. It served as a stark warning that spiritual vitality is not measured by physical strength or social status, but by obedience and trust in God.

**How does this event reconcile with God's character of love and mercy?**

Answer: While Psalms 78:31 vividly portrays God's wrath and judgment, it does not contradict His character of love and mercy, but rather highlights the multifaceted nature of His holiness. God's love is indeed boundless, and His mercy is enduring, as seen in His repeated patience with Israel throughout the wilderness ([Psalms 78:38-39](/psalms/78-38 "Psalms 78:38-39 - God's Compassion Despite Rebellion") speaks of His compassion). However, God is also perfectly just and holy, and His nature cannot tolerate unrepentant sin and persistent rebellion. The judgment at Kibroth-hattaavah was a severe, yet righteous, response to a people who continually tested His patience, despised His provision (manna), and lusted after evil things. It demonstrates that while God desires reconciliation and offers grace, there are limits to His patience, and sin has real, devastating consequences. This act of judgment, though harsh, was ultimately a demonstration of God's commitment to His own holiness and to the moral order of His covenant, serving as a necessary lesson for His people to learn reverence and obedience.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The judgment described in Psalms 78:31, where God's wrath consumed the "fattest" and "chosen men" of Israel due to their lust and ingratitude, serves as a sobering foreshadowing of the ultimate consequence of sin and the profound nature of God's righteous wrath. While Israel’s craving for meat led to physical death, humanity's deeper spiritual craving for self-rule and rejection of God's perfect provision leads to eternal separation. Yet, in the fullness of time, God, in His infinite love and mercy, provided the ultimate solution to His own righteous wrath against sin: His Son, Jesus Christ. The wrath that "came upon them" at Kibroth-hattaavah was a temporal, physical judgment, but the wrath due to all humanity for its sin was fully poured out upon the [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God") on the cross. Jesus, the true "chosen one" and the "Fattest" in the sense of being the most vital, perfect, and preeminent of all creation ([Colossians 1:15-18](/colossians/1-15 "Colossians 1:15-18 - Christ's Supremacy")), willingly bore the full weight of God's judgment. Through His sacrifice, those who trust in Him are spared the wrath to come ([Romans 5:9](/romans/5-9 "Romans 5:9 - Saved from Wrath Through Christ")). The temporary provision of quail and the subsequent judgment highlight humanity's inability to satisfy its deepest longings apart from God, and point to Christ as the true bread of life ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")) and the living water, who alone can truly satisfy the soul and offer eternal life instead of judgment.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 10:16

Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire.