Psalms 78:61

And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand.

And delivered {H5414}{H8799)} his strength {H5797} into captivity {H7628}, and his glory {H8597} into the enemy's {H6862} hand {H3027}.

He gave his strength into exile, his pride to the power of the foe.

He delivered His strength to captivity, and His splendor to the hand of the adversary.

And delivered his strength into captivity, And his glory into the adversary’s hand.

Commentary

Context

Psalm 78 is a sweeping historical psalm by Asaph, recounting Israel's journey from the Exodus to the reign of David, emphasizing God's faithfulness despite the people's repeated rebellion and disobedience. Verse 61 refers to a deeply humiliating and significant event in Israel's history: the capture of the Ark of the Covenant by the Philistines. This occurred during a battle when Israel, under the corrupt leadership of Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, presumed that bringing the Ark into battle would guarantee victory, rather than seeking genuine repentance and obedience. This pivotal moment, where God allowed His sacred symbol to be taken, is vividly recounted in 1 Samuel 4-6. The Ark was taken from Shiloh, which had served as a central place of worship.

Key Themes

  • The Ark as God's Presence and Power: The Ark of the Covenant, with the mercy seat above it, was the most sacred object in Israel, symbolizing God's manifest presence, strength, and glory among His people (Exodus 25:22). Its capture was perceived as God delivering His very essence into enemy hands.
  • Consequences of Disobedience and Presumption: This verse powerfully illustrates the severe repercussions of Israel's sin, particularly the corruption of the priesthood and the people's reliance on a religious symbol rather than a genuine relationship with God and obedience to His commands. Their presumption that God would act on their behalf regardless of their spiritual state led to profound national humiliation, a lesson powerfully echoed in 1 Samuel 15:22.
  • God's Sovereignty in Judgment: While appearing as a defeat for God, the capture of the Ark was an act of divine judgment and discipline. God allowed His "strength" and "glory" to be taken to humble His people and demonstrate that His presence cannot be manipulated. Even in captivity, God asserted His power over the Philistine god Dagon (1 Samuel 5:3-5), showing that He remained sovereign.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "strength" is עֹז (‘oz), which conveys power, might, and majesty. Here, it refers to God's inherent power and His manifested presence, which the Ark symbolized. "Glory" is תִּפְאֶרֶת (tif’eret), signifying beauty, splendor, and honor. It speaks to the visible manifestation of God's majesty that the Ark embodied. The phrase "delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand" emphasizes the shocking and devastating nature of this event, highlighting the depth of Israel's sin that warranted such a severe divine response.

Practical Application

Psalm 78:61 serves as a timeless reminder that God is holy and demands reverence, not presumption. We cannot take His blessings or His presence for granted, nor can we manipulate Him through religious rituals or symbols without a genuine heart of obedience. True faith involves a right relationship with God, characterized by humility and adherence to His commands. Even when God appears to withdraw His favor or allows hardship, it is often for our correction and spiritual growth. His ultimate purpose is always redemptive, and He remains faithful to those who genuinely turn to Him after discipline, just as He eventually restored the Ark and His manifest presence to Israel.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 132:8 (4 votes)

    Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength.

  • 1 Samuel 4:21 (2 votes)

    And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.

  • 1 Samuel 5:2 (2 votes)

    When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

  • 1 Samuel 4:17 (2 votes)

    And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.

  • 2 Chronicles 6:41 (2 votes)

    Now therefore arise, O LORD God, into thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.

  • Psalms 24:7 (2 votes)

    ¶ Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

  • Judges 18:30 (2 votes)

    And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.