Psalms 78:57 Meaning and Explanation
“But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Israel imitated their fathers' unfaithfulness and became unreliable like a bent bow that misfires.
The Context of Psalms 78:57
Israel imitated their ancestors' unfaithfulness, becoming unreliable like a defective bow.
What Does Psalms 78:57 Mean?
'Turned back' indicates regression—they returned to the pattern of rebellion established by earlier generations. 'Dealt unfaithfully like their fathers' makes explicit the continuity of sin across generations. The fathers in the wilderness rebelled; their descendants continued the pattern.
'Like a deceitful bow' is a striking metaphor. A bow that deceives its archer is one that misfires or bends unexpectedly, sending the arrow off target. Israel is presented as unreliable to God—when God has need of them, they fail to respond correctly. The loyalty God expects is replaced by unpredictability and inconsistency.
Psalms 78:57 in the Original Language
keshet shaqrah (קֶשֶׁת שַׁקְרָה), 'deceitful bow' — a bow that deceives the archer, bending unpredictably and failing to strike true; a metaphor for unfaithfulness and unreliability.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 78:57
What does Psalms 78:57 mean?
Israel imitated their fathers' unfaithfulness and became unreliable like a bent bow that misfires.
What is the context of Psalms 78:57?
Israel imitated their ancestors' unfaithfulness, becoming unreliable like a defective bow.