Psalms 78 · Verse 57

Psalms 78:57

But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.

Psalms 78:57, King James Version

Psalms 78:57 in other translations

BSB	They turned back and were faithless like their fathers, twisted like a faulty bow.
WEB	but turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers. They were twisted like a deceitful bow.
ASV	But turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers: They were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
YLT	And they turn back, And deal treacherously like their fathers, They have been turned like a deceitful bow,
DARBY	And they drew back and dealt treacherously like their fathers: they turned like a deceitful bow.
BBE	Their hearts were turned back and untrue like their fathers; they were turned to one side like a twisted bow.
Webster	But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.

What does Psalms 78:57 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 78:56-57

56-57. a deceitful bow--which turns back, and so fails to project the arrow (2Sa 1:22; Ho 7:16). They relapsed.

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Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 57 They were turned aside like a deceitful bow - The eastern bow, which when at rest is in the form of a [curved figure], must be recurved, or turned the contrary way, in order to be what is called bent and strung. If a person who is unskilful or weak attempt to recurve and string one of these bows, if he take not great heed it will spring back and regain its quiescent position, and perhaps break his arm. And sometimes I have known it, when bent, to start aside, and regain its quiescent position, to my no small danger, and in one or two cases to my injury. This image is frequently used in the sacred writings; but no person has understood it, not being acquainted with the eastern bow [curved figure], which must be recurved, or bent the contrary way, [figure] in order to be proper for use. If not well made, they will fly back in discharging the arrow. It is said of the bow of Jonathan, it turned not back, 2Sam 1:22, לא נשוג אחור lo nasog achor, "did not twist itself backward." It was a good bow, one on which he could depend. Hosea, Hos 7:16, compares the unfaithful Israelites to a deceitful bow; one that, when bent, would suddenly start aside and recover its former position. We may find the same passage in Jer 9:3. And this is precisely the kind of bow mentioned by Homer, Odyss. xxi., which none of Penelope's suitors could bend, called καμπυλα τοξα and αγκυλα τοξα, the crooked bow in the state of rest; but τοξον παλιντονον, the recurred bow when prepared for use. And of this trial of strength and skill in the bending of the bow of Ulysses, none of the critics and commentators have been able to make any thing, because they knew not the instrument in question. On the τοξου θησις of Homer, I have written a dissertation elsewhere. The image is very correct; these Israelites, when brought out of their natural bent, soon recoiled, and relapsed into their former state.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 78:56-72

After the Israelites were settled in Canaan, the children were like their fathers. God gave them his testimonies, but they turned back. Presumptuous sins render even Israelites hateful to God's holiness, and exposed to his justice. Those whom the Lord forsakes become an easy prey to the destroyer. And sooner or later, God will disgrace his enemies. He set a good government over his people; a monarch after his own…

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Psalms 78:57 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיִּסֹּ֣גוּvai.yi.So.guand they turned backH5472

וַֽ֭יִּבְגְּדוּVai.yiv.ge.duand they acted treacherouslyH898

כַּאֲבוֹתָ֑םka.'a.vo.Tamlike ancestors theirH1

נֶ֝הְפְּכ֗וּneh.pe.Khuthey changedH2015

כְּקֶ֣שֶׁתke.Ke.shetlike a bow ofH7198

רְמִיָּֽה\׃re.mi.YahdeceitH7423

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 78:57

Hosea 7:16
They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.
Ezekiel 20:27-28
Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me. For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings.
Psalms 78:8
And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
Judges 3:5-7
And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites: And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and forgat the Lord their God, and served Baalim and the groves.
Psalms 78:10-37
They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law; And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them. Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap. …
Judges 3:12
And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord: and the Lord strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the Lord.
Psalms 78:41
Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

But.
41; Jud 3:5-7,12; Eze 20:27,28
they were.
8,10-37; Ho 7:16

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Psalms 78:56
Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies:
Psalms 78:57
But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
Psalms 78:58
For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.

Read all of Psalms 78

Psalms 78:57 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Sino que se volvieron, y se rebelaron como sus padres: volviéronse como arco engañoso.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et se retirèrent, et agirent infidèlement, comme leurs pères; ils tournèrent comme un arc trompeur.
German Elberfelder 1871	Und sie wichen zurück und handelten treulos wie ihre Väter; sie wandten sich um gleich einem trügerischen Bogen.