Psalms 78:65 — Word Study
WLCוַיִּקַ֖ץ כְּיָשֵׁ֥ן׀ אֲדֹנָ֑י כְּ֝גִבּ֗וֹר מִתְרוֹנֵ֥ן מִיָּֽיִן׃
BSAThen the LordʼĂdônây [Adonay, the supreme Ruler] awokeyâqats▸ [as one out of sleep] as from sleepyâshên [a state of inactivity] like a mighty warriorgibbôwr [strong, powerful, champion, hero] overcomerânan [shouting, crying out] by wineyayin [intoxicating drink, fermented beverage]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיִּקַ֖ץ | and he awoke | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| כְּיָשֵׁ֥ן׀ | like a sleeper | Preposition |
| אֲדֹנָ֑י | [the] Lord | Noun proper |
| כְּ֝גִבּ֗וֹר | like a warrior | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| מִתְרוֹנֵ֥ן | overcome | Verb, Hithpael, participle (active) masculine singular |
| מִיָּֽיִן׃ | from wine | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, like a mighty warrior overcome by wine. |
| KJV | Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine. |
| ASV | Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, Like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine. |
| YLT | And the Lord waketh as a sleeper, As a mighty one crying aloud from wine. |
| WEB | Then the Lord awakened as one out of sleep, like a mighty man who shouts by reason of wine. |
| BBE | Then was the Lord like one awaking from sleep, and like a strong man crying out because of wine. |
Translations agree on the meaning of the key words in this verse.
The sentence has a main clause followed by two similes and a participial phrase, illustrating God's awakening and readiness to act.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbיָקַץ
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 78:65
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 — God's Response to Israel's Failuresgenerated
Psalm 78:65 describes a moment when the Lord awakens as if from sleep, indicating a shift from inaction to action. This follows a depiction of Israel's failures and God's past judgments, illustrating the dynamic relationship between divine oversight and human behavior. The psalmist uses vivid imagery to convey God's readiness to intervene in times of need, similar to how a warrior rises to battle.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 7:6 | Arise, O LORD, in Your anger; rise up against the fury of my enemies. Awake, my God, and ordain judgment. |
| 2 | Psalm 44:23 | Wake up, O Lord! Why are You sleeping? Arise! Do not reject us forever. |
| 3 | Isaiah 51:9 | Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD. Wake up as in days past, as in generations of old. Was it not You who cut Rahab to pieces, who pierced through the dragon? |
| 4 | Isaiah 42:13–14 | The LORD goes forth like a mighty one; He stirs up His zeal like a warrior. He shouts; yes, He roars in triumph over His enemies: |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יָקַץ, vai.yi.Katzgenerated
The verb יָקַץ (yaqatz) means to awaken or become active. It emphasizes the transition from a state of sleep to alertness, suggesting that God is now ready to engage in the affairs of His people. The parsing as a sequential imperfect indicates that this awakening is a significant event in the narrative.
This word is used in a context where God moves from apparent inactivity to decisive action. The imagery of awakening from sleep reflects a sudden readiness to respond, paralleling the actions of a mighty warrior.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
Translations generally agree on the meaning of the key words in this verse.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is וַיִּקַ֖ץ (and he awoke), which governs the description of God's awakening. The structure includes a simile comparing God to a warrior and a participial phrase indicating the state of being overcome.
The sentence flows from the action of awakening to the comparison with a warrior, emphasizing God's readiness to act decisively.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יָקַץ as ἐχηγέρθη, which carries the meaning of being awakened. This choice reflects a similar understanding of God's awakening as an active response.
The choice of words in the Septuagint aligns with the Hebrew, emphasizing God's readiness to act, though the exact phrasing differs.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 78:65 describes how the Lord awakens as if from sleep, like a strong warrior stirred by wine. This imagery shows God's readiness to act on behalf of His people after a time of apparent inaction.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies God's readiness to intervene and act decisively in the face of Israel's failures.
The comparison emphasizes God's strength and power to protect and deliver His people.
It suggests a state of being stirred or affected, indicating a powerful response rather than drunkenness.
It illustrates God's active involvement in history, responding to the needs of His people with strength and authority.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I seen God awaken in my life during times of need?
- How can I recognize God's readiness to act in my circumstances?
- What does it mean for me to trust in God's power as a warrior on my behalf?
- How can I respond when I feel God is silent or inactive in my life?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early Church Fathers, including Jerome, referenced this verse to discuss God's vigilance and response to sin.
[Daniel 9:14] "'And the Lord hath kept watch over the evil and hath brought it upon us...'" Whenever we are rebuked because of our sins,Early Church Fathers on Psalms 78 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 78:65 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThen the Lord awaked as one out of sleep,.... He seemed to be asleep, while he suffered the ark to be taken, and the Israelites to be slain; and he may be said to awake when he exerted his power in
Read John Gill on Psalms 78 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThen the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 78 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleAwaked as one out of sleep; for God, by giving up not only his people, but his ark, to the contempt and insolency of the Philistines, might seem to be asleep, and insensible of his own honour and interest, till by a sudden and unexpected blow he convinced his enemies of the contrary. Shouteth by reason of wine; whose spirit and courage is revived and inflamed by a liberal draught of generous wine; which comparison is no more injurious to the Divine Majesty than that of a thief’ s coming in the night, to which Christ’ s second coming is compared, .
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 78 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 78:65 Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, [and] like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.Ver. 65. The Lord awaked as one out of sleep] Humanitus dictum; the Philistines haply had such bald conceits of him, that either he slept, or, if awake, that he was overcome with wine.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 78 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(65) That shouteth . . .—For the boldness of the image which likens God to a giant warrior exhilarated with wine we may range this with the picture in Psalms 60 (See Notes.)
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 78 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 65. Then the Lord awaked] He seemed as if he had totally disregarded what was done to his people, and the reproach that seemed to fall on himself and his worship by the capture of the ark. Like a mighty man] כגבור kegibbor, like a hero that shouteth by reason of wine. One who, going forth to meet his enemy, having taken a sufficiency of wine to refresh himself, and become a proper stimulus to his animal spirits, shouts-gives the war-signal for the onset; impatient to meet the foe, and sure of victory. The idea is not taken from the case of a drunken man. A person in such a state would be very unfit to meet his enemy, and could have little prospect of conquest.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 78 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges65–66. At length Jehovah took pity on His people, and delivered them from their adversaries.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 78 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThen the Lord awaked as one out of sleep - literally, as one sleeping; that is, as one who is asleep suddenly arouses himself. The Lord seemed to have slept, or to have been inattentive to what was occurring.
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
Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, like a mighty warrior overcome by wine.
Then the Lord awakened as one out of sleep, like a mighty man who shouts by reason of wine.
Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, like a mighty warrior overcome by wine.
But then the Lord awoke from his sleep; he was like a warrior in a drunken rage.
Tyndale line
Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.
Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, Like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.
Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.
Then the LORD awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.
But the Lord awaked as one out of sleepe, and as a strong man that after his wine crieth out,
Strictly literal
Then the Lord awoke as one out of sleep, like a mighty man that shouteth aloud by reason of wine;
And the Lord waketh as a sleeper, As a mighty one crying aloud from wine.
And the Lord wakes as a sleeper, || As a mighty one crying aloud from wine.
Then awoke the Lord as one that sleepeth, like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.
Then the Lord awakened as one from sleep, like a warrior who shouts because of wine.
Simplified
Then the Lord woke up as if from sleep, as a warrior sobering up from drinking wine.
Then was the Lord like one awaking from sleep, and like a strong man crying out because of wine.
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 and the Septuagint largely agree in their wording for this verse, with five out of six words matching. This indicates a consistent understanding of the passage across these traditions.
וַיִּקַ֖ץ כְּיָשֵׁ֥ן׀ אֲדֹנָ֑י כְּ֝גִבּ֗וֹר מִתְרוֹנֵ֥ן מִיָּֽיִן׃
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 78:65
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.
יָקַץ (yaqats) is a primitive root meaning 'to awake' or 'to become active.' The entries indicate it is used intransitively, focusing on the state of being awake or awakened.
[יָקַץ] vb. awake
base
H3364 יָקַץ awake
3364 yaqats yaw-kats'
a primitive root; to awake (intransitive):--(be) awake(-d).
יָקַץ (ya.qats) — to awake.
(Qal) to awake, awaken, become active
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
יָשֵׁן (yashen) means 'sleeping' or 'asleep.' It is derived from the root word for sleep, יָשַׁן (yashan), and is used to describe a state of sleep. The entries consistently emphasize this meaning without significant disagreement.
יָשֵׁן adj. sleeping
base
H3463 יָשֵׁן
3463 yashen yaw-shane'
from 3462; sleepy:--asleep, (one out of) sleep(-eth, -ing),
slept.
see HEBREW for 03462
יָשֵׁן (ya.shen) — sleeping.
sleeping
Prep | Adj — PrepositionHR/Aamsa
אֲדֹנָי (Adonay) means 'Lord' and is an emphatic form of another Hebrew word for lord. It is used specifically as a title for God, often in place of Yahweh to show reverence. Variations include אֲדֹנִי and אֲדֹנַי, which help distinguish divine from human references.
אָדוֹן n.m. lord (אֲדֹנִי, אֲדֹנַי, אֲדֹנָי are variations of Mass. pointing to distinguish divine reference fr. human. Pl., with few exc. an intens. pl. of rank; word takes sf. as pl. in all other pers.; so doubtless here. Orig. reading prob. in all cases אֲדֹנַי; אֲדֹנִי now found in J 51 t.)
base
H136 אָדוֹן lord (אֲדֹנִי, אֲדֹנַי, אֲדֹנָי are variations of Mass. pointing to distinguish divine reference fr. human. Pl., with few exc. an intens. pl. of rank; word takes sf. as pl. in all other pers.; so doubtless here. Orig. reading prob. in all cases אֲדֹנַי; אֲדֹנִי now found in J 51 t.)
136 'Adonay ad-o-noy'
am emphatic form of 113; the Lord (used as a proper name of
God only):--(my) Lord.
see HEBREW for 0113
אֲדֹנָי (a.do.nai) — Lord.
Lord - a title, spoken in place of Yahweh in Jewish display of reverence
Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
N-mp | Suff — Noun properHNpt
Lord
There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.
(1.) Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form “Jehovah” is retained only in Ex. 6:3; Ps. 83:18; Isa. 12:2; 26:4, both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.
(2.) Heb. ‘adon, means one possessed of absolute control. It denotes a master, as of slaves (Gen. 24:14, 27), or a ruler of his subjects (45:8), or a husband, as lord of his wife (18:12).
The old plural form of this Hebrew word is ’adonai. From a superstitious reverence for the name “Jehovah,” the Jews, in reading their Scriptures, whenever that name…
[GOD]
This name belongs to God by preeminence; and in this sense ought never to be given to any creature. Jesus Christ, as the Messiah, the Son of God, and equal with the Father, is often called Lord in Scripture, especially in the writing of Paul. The word LORD, in the English Bible, when printed in small capitals, stands always for JEHOVAH in the Hebrew. See JEHOVAH.
גִּבּוֹר (gibbor) means strong or mighty, and can refer to a powerful person, such as a warrior or chief. It is built from a root that implies strength and valor, covering meanings related to strength and bravery. The entries consistently emphasize its use to describe a strong man or mighty figure.
גִּבּוֹר 159 adj. strong, mighty
base
H1368 גִּבּוֹר strong, mighty
1368 gibbowr ghib-bore'
or (shortened) gibbor {ghib-bore'}; intensive from the same
as 1397; powerful; by implication, warrior, tyrant:--
champion, chief, X excel, giant, man, mighty (man, one),
strong (man), valiant man.
see HEBREW for 01397
גִּבּוֹר (gib.bor) — mighty man.
adj
1) strong, mighty
n m
2) strong man, brave man, mighty man
Prep | Adj — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
רוּן (run) primarily means to overcome, while רָנַן (ranan) refers to giving a ringing cry, often in joy or distress. The entries indicate a range of uses, including shouting for joy, singing, and calling out in exhortation. Notably, the word can also imply causing others to rejoice or sing.
[רוּן] vb. overcome;—Hithpō‛. ψ 78:65
ref
[רָנַן] vb. give a ringing cry
Qal
in joy, exultation
in distress
cry aloud, in summons, exhortation (of wisdom)
Pi. give a ringing cry, in joy, exultation
Pu. no ringing cry shall be given
Hiph. cause to ring out for joy
base
H7442a רוּן overcome H7442b רָנַן give a ringing cry .. in joy, exultation
. in distress
. cry aloud, in summons, exhortation (of wisdom)
. give a ringing cry, in joy, exultation
. no ringing cry shall be given
. cause to ring out for joy
7442 ranan raw-nan'
a primitive root; properly, to creak (or emit a stridulous
sound), i.e. to shout (usually for joy):--aloud for joy, cry
out, be joyful (greatly, make to) rejoice, (cause to) shout
(for joy), (cause to) sing (aloud, for joy, out), triumph.
רוּן (run) — to overcome.
1) to overcome
1a) (Hithpolel) to be overcome
רָנַן (ra.nan) — to sing.
1) to cry out, shout for joy, give a ringing cry
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to give a ringing cry (in joy, exaltation, distress)
1a2) to cry aloud (in summons, exhortation of wisdom)
1b) (Piel) to give a ringing cry (in joy, exultation, praise
1c) (Pual) ringing cry, singing out (passive)
1d) (Hiphil) to cause to ring or sing out (for joy)
1e) (Hithpolel) rejoicing (participle)
Also means: ran.nen (רַנֵּן "to sing" H7444)
V-r — Verb · Hithpael · participle (active) masculine singularHVtrmsa
יַ֫יִן (yayin) means 'wine' and is associated with fermentation and intoxication. It appears in various contexts, including banqueting. The word is derived from an unused root that suggests the idea of effervescence.
יַ֫יִן 141 n.m. wine
base
H3196 יַ֫יִן wine
3196 yayin yah'-yin
from an unused root meaning to effervesce; wine (as
fermented); by implication, intoxication:--banqueting, wine,
wine(-bibber).
יַ֫יִן (ya.yin) — wine.
wine
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
Wine
The common Hebrew word for wine is yayin, from a root meaning “to boil up,” “to be in a ferment.” Others derive it from a root meaning “to tread out,” and hence the juice of the grape trodden out. The Greek word for wine is oinos_, and the Latin _vinun. But besides this common Hebrew word, there are several others which are thus rendered.
(1.) Ashishah (2 Sam. 6:19; 1 Chr. 16:3; Cant. 2:5; Hos. 3:1), which, however, rather denotes a solid cake of pressed grapes, or, as in the Revised Version, a cake of raisins.
(2.) ‘Asis, “sweet wine,” or “new wine,” the product of the same year (Cant. 8:2;
The manufacture of wine is carried back in the Bible to the age of Noah, (Genesis 9:20,21) to whom the discovery of the process is apparently, though not explicitly, attributed. The natural history and culture of the vine are described under a separate head. [VINE] The only other plant whose fruit is noticed as having been converted into wine was the pomegranate. (Solomon 8:2) In Palestine the vintage takes place in September, and is celebrated with great rejoicing. The ripe fruit was gathered in baskets, (Jeremiah 6:9) as represented in Egyptian paintings, and was carried to the wine-press. It was then placed in the upper one of the two vats or receptacles of which the winepress was formed, and was subjected to the process of "treading," which has prevailed in all ages in Oriental…
The vine being natural to the soil of Canaan and its vicinity, wine was much used as a beverage, especially at festivals, Es 1:7 5:6 Da 5:1-4 Joh 2:3. As one of the staple products of the Holy Land, it was employed for drink-offerings in the temple service, Ex 20:26 Nu 15:4-10; it was included among the "first-fruits," De 18:4, and was used in the celebration of the Passover, and subsequently of the Lord’s supper, Mt 26:27-29. Together with corn and oil it denoted all temporal supplies,