Psalms 78:57 — Word Study
WLCוַיִּסֹּ֣גוּ וַֽ֭יִּבְגְּדוּ כַּאֲבוֹתָ֑ם נֶ֝הְפְּכ֗וּ כְּקֶ֣שֶׁת רְמִיָּֽה׃
BSAThey turned backçûwg▸ [to their old ways, in apostasy] and were faithlessbâgad▸ [dealt unfaithfully, treacherous] like their fathersʼâb [ancestors, forefathers] twistedhâphak■ [overturned, completely changed] like a faultyrᵉmîyâh [deceitful, defective] bowqesheth [an archer's weapon]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיִּסֹּ֣גוּ | and they turned back | Verb, Niphal, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| וַֽ֭יִּבְגְּדוּ | and they acted treacherously | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| כַּאֲבוֹתָ֑ם | like ancestors their | Preposition, noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
| נֶ֝הְפְּכ֗וּ | they changed | Verb, Niphal, perfect third person common plural |
| כְּקֶ֣שֶׁת | like a bow of | Preposition, noun common feminine singular construct |
| רְמִיָּֽה׃ | deceit | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | They turned back and were faithless like their fathers, twisted like a faulty bow. |
| KJV | But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside 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, |
| WEB | but turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers. They were twisted 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. |
Translations agree on the primary actions described in the verse, with variations in the specific wording used.
The verse contains a main clause followed by several subordinate clauses that elaborate on the actions and comparisons made.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbסוּג
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 78:57
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Unfaithfulness of Israelgenerated
Psalm 78:57 reflects on Israel's history of turning away from God, highlighting their faithlessness and betrayal, likening them to their forefathers. The psalmist emphasizes that just as their ancestors were unfaithful, so too have the current generation acted treacherously, leading to divine displeasure. This verse serves as a reminder of the cyclical nature of disobedience among God's people, as seen throughout their history.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 78:41 | Again and again they tested God and provoked the Holy One of Israel. |
| 2 | Judges 3:5–7 | Thus the Israelites continued to live among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. |
| 3 | Ezekiel 20:27–28 | Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: In this way also your fathers blasphemed Me by their unfaithfulness against Me. |
| 4 | Psalm 78:8–10 | Then they will not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose heart was not loyal, whose spirit was not faithful to God. |
| 5 | Hosea 7:16 | They turn, but not to the Most High; they are like a faulty bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword for the cursing of their tongue; for this they will be ridiculed in the land of Egypt. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — סוּג, vai.yi.So.gugenerated
The verb סוּג (soog) means to turn back or retreat, often implying a turning away from faith or commitment. In this context, it indicates Israel's return to their old ways, suggesting a deliberate choice to abandon their covenant with God.
This verb appears in the Niphal form, which indicates a passive or reflexive action, emphasizing that they have turned back in a manner that reflects their own decisions rather than external forces. The notion of apostasy is central, as it conveys a betrayal of their relationship with God.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, where the wording captures the essence of Israel's betrayal.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse consists of three main clauses, with the finite verbs יִּסֹּ֣גוּ, יִּבְגְּדוּ, and נֶ֝הְפְּכ֗וּ governing the actions of the subjects. The structure highlights a sequence of actions taken by Israel, emphasizing their turning back, acting treacherously, and ultimately changing.
Hebrew word order places emphasis on the actions of the people, with verbs leading the clauses, indicating the significance of their betrayal and the resultant consequences.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew verb סוּג is rendered as ἀπέστρεψαν (apestrēpsan), meaning 'they turned away.' This choice reflects a direct translation of the action of turning back, maintaining the original sense of apostasy.
The use of ἠσυνθέτησαν for יִּבְגְּדוּ highlights a broader interpretation of their treachery, suggesting a more communal or collective betrayal rather than individual acts.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 78:57 describes how the Israelites turned back to their old ways, acting unfaithfully like their ancestors. They are compared to a faulty bow, which signifies their failure to fulfill their purpose.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Turning back refers to the Israelites abandoning their commitment to God, returning to behaviors and beliefs that are contrary to their covenant.
The comparison to their fathers emphasizes a pattern of unfaithfulness throughout Israel's history, showing that this betrayal is not new but a recurring theme.
Being like a faulty bow suggests that they have become ineffective in fulfilling their purpose, just as a defective weapon cannot perform its intended function.
This verse encapsulates the theme of Israel's repeated disobedience and God's response, serving as a warning about the consequences of turning away from Him.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I seen patterns of unfaithfulness in my own life or community?
- How can I ensure that I remain committed to my faith and avoid turning back to old ways?
- What does it mean for me to be effective in fulfilling my purpose, like a well-functioning bow?
- How can I learn from the mistakes of my ancestors to avoid similar pitfalls in my spiritual journey?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 78:57 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleBut turned back,.... From God and his worship, apostatized from the true religion, and turned to idols: and dealt unfaithfully, like their fathers; in the wilderness; see Psalms 78:8, they were
Read John Gill on Psalms 78 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryYet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies: -Israel's unfaithfulness in the time of the Judges caused God to forsake the tabernacle of Shiloh, and brought down other sore judgments. Verse 56.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 78 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleWhich either breaketh when it is drawn, or shooteth awry, and frustrateth the archer’ s design and expectation So when they pretended, and both God and men expected, obedience and gratitude to their great Benefactor, they behaved themselves undutifully and unfaithfully towards him.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 78 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 78:57 But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.Ver. 57. But turned back, &c.] They had a kind of willingness and velleity, a kind of wambling, as one speaketh, but it boiled not up to the full height of resolution for God. They were turned aside like a deceitful bow] Non semper feriet quodcunque minabitur arcus; but a deceitful bow, that turneth back into belly, as we say, will be sure to deceive the archer, though he level his eye and his arrow never so directly to the mark, and think with himself to hit it. Lo, such a false rotten bow is man’ s deceitful heart; and hence the arrows of his purposes and promises vanish…
Read John Trapp on Psalms 78 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(57) Turned aside . . .—Better, turned like a relaxed bow. (See Note to Psalms 78:9.) The bows of the Hebrews, like those of other ancient nations, were probably, when unstrung, bent the reverse way to that assumed when strung, which makes the figure more expressive of the disposition which cannot be relied upon in the moment of need.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 78 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 57. They were turned aside like a deceitful bow.] The eastern bow, which when at rest is in the form of a [curved figure 'C'], 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 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…
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 78 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges57. unfaithfully] Or, as R.V., treacherously. Cp. Hosea 5:7; Hosea 6:7. like a deceitful bow] Which misses the mark and disappoints its owner. Cp. Hosea 7:16.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 78 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleBut turned back ... - See the notes at Psalms 78:41. They were turned aside like a deceitful bow - literally, a bow of deceit.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 78 →The verse in English, compared — 16 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
They turned back and were faithless like their fathers, twisted like a faulty bow.
but turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers. They were twisted like a deceitful bow.
They turned back and were faithless like their fathers, twisted like a faulty bow.
They were unfaithful and acted as treacherously as their ancestors; they were as unreliable as a malfunctioning bow.
Tyndale line
But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
But turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers: They were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
But turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
But turned backe and delt falsely like their fathers: they turned like a deceitfull bowe.
Strictly literal
And they drew back and dealt treacherously like their fathers: they turned like a deceitful bow.
And they turn back, And deal treacherously like their fathers, They have been turned like a deceitful bow,
And they turn back, || And deal treacherously like their fathers, || They have been turned like a deceitful bow,
But swerved aside, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers; they turned about like a deceitful bow.
They were unfaithful and acted treacherously like their fathers; they were as undependable as a faulty bow.
Simplified
Just like their forefathers they turned away from God and were unfaithful to him, as twisted as a defective bow.
Their hearts were turned back and untrue like their fathers; they were turned to one side like a twisted bow.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text reads: וַיִּסֹּ֣גוּ וַֽ֭יִּבְגְּדוּ כַּאֲבוֹתָ֑ם נֶ֝הְפְּכ֗וּ כְּקֶ֣שֶׁת רְמִיָּֽה׃. The Septuagint matches five of the six words, indicating a strong agreement between the two texts, though the order and phrasing differ.
וַיִּסֹּ֣גוּ וַֽ֭יִּבְגְּדוּ כַּאֲבוֹתָ֑ם נֶ֝הְפְּכ֗וּ כְּקֶ֣שֶׁת רְמִיָּֽה׃
5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 78:57
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
סוּג (soog) is a Hebrew verb meaning to move away or backslide. It conveys the idea of retreating, either literally or figuratively, such as turning away from a commitment. The verb appears in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances of turning back or being repulsed. It is related to the concept of apostasy.
[סוּג, seldom שׂוּג] vb. move away, backslide
Qal backslide, prove recreant to י׳
Niph.
refl. turn oneself away, turn back
be turned or driven back, be repulsed
Hiph.
usu. of displacing, moving back a boundary mark
remove, carry away
Hoph. and justice is driven back
base
H5472 [סוּג, seldom שׂוּג] move away, backslide
5472 cuwg soog
a primitive root; properly, to flinch, i.e. (by implication)
to go back, literally (to retreat) or figuratively (to
apostatize):--backslider, drive, go back, turn (away, back).
סוּג (sug) — to turn.
1) to move, go, turn back, move away, backslide
1a) (Qal) to backslide, prove recreant to
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to turn oneself away, turn back
1b2) to be turned or driven back, be repulsed
Also means: sug (שׂוּג "to turn back" H7734)
Conj | V-Niphal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Niphal · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/VNw3mp
בָּגַד (bagad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to act treacherously or deceitfully. It is derived from a root that suggests covering or acting covertly, and it encompasses actions such as offending or being unfaithful. The term appears in various contexts in the Old Testament, highlighting themes of betrayal and unfaithfulness.
[בָּגַד] vb. act or deal treacherously
base
H898 בָּגַד act or deal treacherously
898 bagad baw-gad'
a primitive root; to cover (with a garment); figuratively, to
act covertly; by implication, to pillage:--deal deceitfully
(treacherously, unfaithfully), offend, transgress(-or),
(depart), treacherous (dealer, -ly, man), unfaithful(-ly,
man), X very.
בָּגַד (ba.gad) — to act treacherously.
1) to act treacherously, deceitfully, deal treacherously
1a) (Qal) to act or deal treacherously, faithlessly, deceitfully, offend
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vqw3mp
אָב (av) means 'father' and encompasses various roles such as the literal father of an individual, God as the father of His people, and the head of a household or clan. It can also refer to an ancestor, originator of a profession, or a figure of respect and protection. Notably, it can imply a ruler or chief in later contexts.
אָב 1101 n.m. father
father of individual
of God as father of his people
head of household, family or clan
ancestor
originator or patron of a class, profession, or art
fig. of producer, generator
fig. of benevolence & protection
term of respect & honor
specif., ruler, chief (late)
base
H1 אָב father . father of individual
. of God as father of his people
. head of household, family or clan
. ancestor
. originator or patron of a class, profession, or art
. fig. of producer, generator
. fig. of benevolence & protection
. term of respect & honor
. specif., ruler, chief (late)
1 'ab awb
a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or
figurative and remote application):--chief,
(fore-)father(-less), X patrimony, principal. Compare names
in "Abi-".
אָב (av) — father.
1) father of an individual
2) of God as father of his people
3) head or founder of a household, group, family, or clan
4) ancestor
4a) grandfather, forefathers - of person
4b) of people
5) originator or patron of a class, profession, or art
6) of producer, generator (fig.)
7) of benevolence and protection (fig.)
8) term of respect and honour
9) ruler or chief (spec.)
Also means: av (אַב "father" H0002)
אָב (av) — (Huram)-abi.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.7.13; also called Huram-abi (KJV: "Huram my father's") at 2Ch.2.13; 4.16;
Combined with chi.ram (חִירָם "Hiram" H2438H)
אָב (av) — father of.
The father of Gibeon, also known as Abiel - a man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.9.1;
son of: Zeror (H6872C); married to Maacah (H4601N);
Prep | N-mp | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHR/Ncfpc/Sp3mp
הָפַךְ (haphak) is a Hebrew verb meaning to turn or overturn, with implications of change and transformation. It can describe actions like turning back, being reversed, or even being perverse. The entries highlight various grammatical forms, including reflexive and passive uses, indicating a wide range of applications in the Old Testament.
הָפַךְ vb. turn, overturn
Qal
trans.
turn, turn about, turn over
overturn, overthrow
turn = change, transform
intrans.
turn, turn back
turn = change, change into
Niph.
reflex. & intrans.
turn oneself, turn, turn back
turn = change (oneself)
be perverse
pass.
be turned, turn over to
be reversed
be turned, changed
be overturned, overthrown
be upturned, of subterran. work of miners
Hithp.
turn this way & that, every way
transform oneself
Hoph. there have been turned upon me terrors
base
H2015 הָפַךְ turn, overturn .. trans. . turn, turn about, turn over
. overturn, overthrow
. turn = change, transform
. intrans. . turn, turn back
. turn = change, change into
. . reflex. & intrans. . turn oneself, turn, turn back
. turn = change (oneself)
. be perverse
. pass. . be turned, turn over to
. be reversed
. be turned, changed
. be overturned, overthrown
. be upturned, of subterran. work of miners
. . turn this way & that, every way
. transform oneself
. there have been turned upon me terrors
2015 haphak haw-fak'
a primitive root; to turn about or over; by implication, to
change, overturn, return, pervert:--X become, change, come, be
converted, give, make (a bed), overthrow (-turn), perverse,
retire, tumble, turn (again, aside, back, to the contrary,
every way).
הָפַךְ (ha.phakh) — to overturn.
1) to turn, overthrow, overturn
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to overturn, overthrow
1a2) to turn, turn about, turn over, turn around
1a3) to change, transform
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to turn oneself, turn, turn back
1b2) to change oneself
1b3) to be perverse
1b4) to be turned, be turned over, be changed, be turned against
1b5) to be reversed
1b6) to be overturned, be overthrown
1b7) to be upturned
1c) (Hithpael)
1c1) to transform oneself
1c2) to turn this way and that, turn every way
1d) (Hophal) to turn on someone
V-Niphal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Niphal · perfect third person common pluralHVNp3cp
קֶ֫שֶׁת (qesheth) primarily means 'bow,' referring to a weapon for hunting or battle, and can also denote 'rainbow.' It is derived from a root meaning to bend, suggesting strength. The term encompasses both literal and figurative uses, including references to archers and might.
קֶ֫שֶׁת n.f. bow
bow
rainbow
base
H7198 קֶ֫שֶׁת bow . bow
. rainbow
7198 qesheth keh'-sheth
from 7185 in the original sense (of 6983) of bending: a bow,
for shooting (hence, figuratively, strength) or the iris:--X
arch(-er), + arrow, bow((-man, -shot)).
see HEBREW for 07185
see HEBREW for 06983
קֶ֫שֶׁת (qe.shet) — bow.
1) bow
1a) bow (for hunting, battle)
1b) bowmen, archers
1c) bow (fig. of might)
1d) rainbow
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular constructHR/Ncfsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
רְמִיָּה (rmiyah) refers to both deceit and slackness. It is derived from the root word for remissness and encompasses meanings such as treachery, guile, and idleness. The entries indicate a dual focus on moral failure and a lack of diligence, but do not provide specific verse references.
רְמִיָּה n.f. deceit, treachery
base
רְמִיָּה n.f. laxness, slackness
base
H7423a רְמִיָּה deceit, treachery H7423b רְמִיָּה laxness, slackness
7423 rmiyah rem-ee-yaw'
from 7411; remissness, treachery:--deceit(- ful, -fully),
false, guile, idle, slack, slothful.
see HEBREW for 07411
רְמִיָּה (re.miy.yah) — deceit.
deceit, treachery
רְמִיָּה (re.miy.yah) — slackness.
laxness, slackness, slackening
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
de-set' (mirmah; (dolos)): The intentional misleading or beguiling of another; in Scripture represented as a companion of many other forms of wickedness, as cursing (Ps 10:7), hatred (Pr 26:24), theft, covetousness, adultery, murder (Mr 7:22; Ro 1:29). The Revised Version (British and American) introduces the word in Pr 14:25; 2Th 2:10; but in such passages as Ps 55:11; Pr 20:17; 26:26; 1Th 2:3, renders a…