Psalms 78:58 Meaning and Explanation
“For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Israel provoked God by building pagan shrines and worshipping carved idols.
The Context of Psalms 78:58
Israel provoked God by building pagan shrines and worshipping graven images.
What Does Psalms 78:58 Mean?
The specific content of their rebellion becomes clear: 'high places' were locations of worship, and in Israel's context, these often became sites of pagan or syncretistic worship. 'Graven images' are carved idols—tangible objects that violate the prohibition against image worship.
The language 'moved him to jealousy' suggests that God takes personally the people's infidelity. Their worship of other gods is not a minor deviation but a fundamental betrayal of covenant. God's jealousy, in this context, is the protective concern of a husband whose wife pursues other lovers; it expresses the seriousness of the covenant relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 78:58
What does Psalms 78:58 mean?
Israel provoked God by building pagan shrines and worshipping carved idols.
What is the context of Psalms 78:58?
Israel provoked God by building pagan shrines and worshipping graven images.