Psalms 78:66 — Word Study
WLCוַיַּךְ־ צָרָ֥יו אָח֑וֹר חֶרְפַּ֥ת ע֝וֹלָ֗ם נָ֣תַן לָֽמוֹ׃
BSAHe beatnâkâh▸ backʼâchôwr [struck, smote] His foestsar [enemies, adversaries] He put them tonâthan■ [gave, assigned, a state of] everlastingʻôwlâm [perpetual, forever] shamecherpâh [reproach, disgrace]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיַּךְ־ | and he struck | Verb, Hiphil, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| צָרָ֥יו | opponents his | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| אָח֑וֹר | backwards | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| חֶרְפַּ֥ת | a reproach of | Noun common, feminine singular construct |
| ע֝וֹלָ֗ם | perpetuity | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| נָ֣תַן | he gave | Verb, Qal, perfect third person masculine singular |
| לָֽמוֹ׃ | to them | Preposition, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | He beat back His foes; He put them to everlasting shame. |
| KJV | And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach. |
| ASV | And he smote his adversaries backward: He put them to a perpetual reproach. |
| YLT | And He smiteth His adversaries backward, A reproach age-during He hath put on them, |
| WEB | He struck his adversaries backward. He put them to a perpetual reproach. |
| BBE | His haters were turned back by his blows and shamed for ever. |
Where they part company is חֶרְפָּה — see How Translations Differ.
Two main clauses that detail God's actions and their consequences.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbנָכָה
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 78:66
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 Judgment Against His Enemiesgenerated
Psalms 78:66 describes God's powerful intervention against His enemies, illustrating His might and the consequences for those who oppose Him. This verse is situated within a larger narrative that recounts God's past actions to protect and lead His people, emphasizing His role as a warrior who defends His own.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Samuel 5:6 | Now the hand of the LORD was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity, ravaging them and afflicting them with tumors. |
| 2 | 1 Samuel 6:4 | “What guilt offering should we send back to Him?” asked the Philistines. “Five gold tumors and five gold rats,” they said, “according to the number of rulers of the Philistines, since the same plague has struck both you and your rulers. |
| 3 | Job 40:12 | Look on every proud man and humble him; trample the wicked where they stand. |
| 4 | Jeremiah 23:40 | And I will bring upon you everlasting shame and perpetual humiliation that will never be forgotten.” |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — נָכָה, vai.yakh-generated
The verb נָכָה (nakah) means to strike or smite, indicating a forceful action. It can describe various forms of striking, from a light hit to a lethal blow, and is often associated with divine judgment, as seen in contexts like the plagues of Egypt.
In this verse, the Hiphil form indicates that God actively strikes back at His foes, asserting His power over them. This is not merely a physical action but also signifies God's authority in delivering justice.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse consists of two main clauses connected by a semicolon: the first clause describes God's action of striking His foes, and the second clause states the consequence of that action, which is their everlasting shame.
The structure emphasizes God's decisive action and the resulting state of His enemies, underscoring the finality of their disgrace.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates נָכָה as ἐπάταχεν (epatachen), which means 'He struck.' This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, maintaining the sense of divine intervention.
The word for shame, חֶרְפָּה, is rendered as ὄνειδος (oneidos), which also conveys a sense of reproach and disgrace, reinforcing the theme of judgment against God's enemies.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalms 78:66 tells us that God struck down His enemies and brought them to a state of everlasting shame. This verse shows God's power in defending His people and the consequences for those who oppose Him.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that God actively intervened to defeat His enemies, demonstrating His power and authority.
Everlasting shame indicates a permanent state of disgrace for God's adversaries, emphasizing the seriousness of opposing Him.
This verse reflects God's role as a warrior who defends His people and enacts judgment on those who oppose Him.
We learn about the seriousness of rebellion against God and the assurance that He will defend His people.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How does understanding God's judgment against His enemies affect your view of justice?
- In what ways can you see God's protection in your own life?
- What does it mean to you that God is a warrior who fights for His people?
- How can you respond to the idea of everlasting shame for those who oppose God?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early church fathers often referenced this verse to discuss God's judgment against His enemies. Here is a quotation from Augustine of Hippo, who reflects on the significance of God's actions.
"And He smote His enemies in the hinder parts" [Psalms 78:66]: those, to wit, who were rejoicing that they were able to take His Ark: for they were smitten in their back-parts.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 78 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 78:66 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd he smote his enemies in the hinder parts,.... Not the Israelites, as Kimchi interprets it, but the Philistines, who in another battle were put to flight, and turned their backs, and so were
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 BibleSmote his enemies in the hinder part, with the disease of the emerods, which was both painful and shameful. He caused them to perpetuate their own reproach by sending back the ark of God with their golden emerods, the lasting monuments of their shame.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 78 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 78:66 And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.Ver. 66. And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts] viz. With emerods, 1 Samuel 5:6; 1 Samuel 5:9; 1 Samuel 5:12, infami podicis ignominia affecit illos, he punished them, as we do puny boys on their posteriors.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 78 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(66) He smote.—Possibly an allusion to 1 Samuel 5:9, or else to the repeated defeats of the Philistines under Saul and David.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 78 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 66. He smote his enemies in the hinder part] This refers to the hemorrhoids with which he afflicted the Philistines. See the note on 1 Samuel 5:6-10.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 78 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges66. And he smote &c.] Render with R.V., And he smote his adversaries backward, a general allusion to the victories over the Philistines and other enemies of Israel under Samuel, Saul, and David. The A.V. follows Jewish authorities in seeing a reference to 1 Samuel 5:6 ff.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 78 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleAnd he smote his enemies in the hinder part - From behind; that is, as they fled. There are two ideas here: one, that they fled at his approach, or turned their backs; the other, that as they fled, he smote and destroyed them.
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
He beat back His foes; He put them to everlasting shame.
He struck his adversaries backward. He put them to a perpetual reproach.
He beat back His foes; He put them to everlasting shame.
He drove his enemies back; he made them a permanent target for insults.
Tyndale line
And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.
And he smote his adversaries backward: He put them to a perpetual reproach.
And he smote his adversaries backward: he put them to a perpetual reproach.
And he smote his enemies in the hinder part: he put them to a perpetual reproach.
And smote his enemies in the hinder parts, and put them to a perpetuall shame.
Strictly literal
And he smote his adversaries in the hinder part, and put them to everlasting reproach.
And He smiteth His adversaries backward, A reproach age-during He hath put on them,
And He strikes His adversaries backward, || He has put a continuous reproach on them,
And he smote his enemies backward: a perpetual disgrace on them.
He drove his adversaries back; he put them to everlasting shame.
Simplified
He defeated his enemies, striking them on the back, causing them everlasting shame.
His haters were turned back by his blows and shamed for ever.
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 agree in their rendering of this verse, with all seven words matched. This consistency highlights the shared understanding of God's actions against His foes.
וַיַּךְ־ צָרָ֥יו אָח֑וֹר חֶרְפַּ֥ת ע֝וֹלָ֗ם נָ֣תַן לָֽמוֹ׃
7 of the 7 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 78:66
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.
נָכָה (nakah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to strike or smite, encompassing a range of actions from lightly hitting to fatal blows. It appears in various forms, indicating actions like attacking, punishing, or causing disease. The entries suggest its use in both literal and figurative contexts, including divine judgment and applause. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
[נָכָה] 501 vb. smite (not in Qal)
Niph. and he shall be smitten [struck by weapon in battle] and die
Pu. both be smitten down by the hail
Hiph.
lit., smite (with a single, non-fatal, blow), strike
smite repeatedly, beat a man
and they clapped hands (in applause)
give a thrust (with fork) into pot; strike roots
rarely smite (in battle) so as (merely) to wound
smite, of sun
Smite fatally
Smite = attack, attack and destroy a company
Of God
smite with a plague, disease, etc.
smite = chastise, or send judgment upon
of God’s destroying palaces
Hoph. be smitten
base
H5221 נָכָה smite (not in Qal) . and he shall be smitten [struck by weapon in battle] and die
. both be smitten down by the hail
. . . lit., smite (with a single, non-fatal, blow), strike
. smite repeatedly, beat a man
. and they clapped hands (in applause)
. give a thrust (with fork) into pot; strike roots
. rarely smite (in battle) so as (merely) to wound
. smite, of sun
. Smite fatally
. Smite = attack, attack and destroy a company
. Of God . smite with a plague, disease, etc.
. smite = chastise, or send judgment upon
. of God’s destroying palaces
. be smitten
5221 nakah naw-kaw'
a primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally
or figuratively):--beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), X
go forward, X indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer,
punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike,
be stricken, (give) stripes, X surely, wound.
נָכָה (na.khah) — to smite.
1) to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill
1a)(Niphal) to be stricken or smitten
1b) (Pual) to be stricken or smitten
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to smite, strike, beat, scourge, clap, applaud, give a thrust
1c2) to smite, kill, slay (man or beast)
1c3) to smite, attack, attack and destroy, conquer, subjugate, ravage
1c4) to smite, chastise, send judgment upon, punish, destroy
1d) (Hophal) to be smitten
1d1) to receive a blow
1d2) to be wounded
1d3) to be beaten
1d4) to be (fatally) smitten, be killed, be slain
1d5) to be attacked and captured
1d6) to be smitten (with disease)
1d7) to be blighted (of plants)
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vhw3ms
The Hebrew word צַר (tsar) is built from the root meaning 'narrow' or 'tight.' It encompasses a range of meanings including 'distress,' 'adversary,' and 'hard pebble' or 'flint.' The term can refer to physical tightness or metaphorical trouble, as well as an enemy or foe. It appears in contexts of anguish and tribulation, with a specific verse reference in Isaiah 5:28.
צַר adj. narrow, tight
base
צַר n.[m.] straits, distress
base
צַר 68 n.m. adversary, foe
base
צַר n.[m.] hard pebble, flint;—Is 5:28
ref
H6862a צַר narrow, tight H6862b צַר straits, distress H6862c צַר adversary, foe H6862d צַר hard pebble, flint
6862 tsar tsar
or tsar {tsawr}; from 6887; narrow; (as a noun) a tight place
(usually figuratively, i.e. trouble); also a pebble (as in
6864); (transitive) an opponent (as crowding):--adversary,
afflicted(-tion), anguish, close, distress, enemy, flint, foe,
narrow, small, sorrow, strait, tribulation, trouble.
see HEBREW for 06887
see HEBREW for 06864
צַר (tsar) — narrow.
narrow, tight
צַר (tsar) — distress.
straits, distress
צַר (tsar) — enemy.
adversary, foe, enemy, oppressor
צַר (tsar) — hard.
hard pebble, flint
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp3ms
אָחוֹר (achowr) refers to the hinder side or back part of something. It can also imply a direction, meaning backward or behind, and has temporal uses, indicating a time to come or hereafter. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to be behind' and encompasses various contexts, including physical and temporal references.
אָחוֹר 41 subst. the hinder side, back part
base
H268 אָחוֹר the hinder side, back part
268 'achowr aw-khore'
or (shortened) achor {aw-khore'}; from 299; the hinder part;
hence (adverb) behind, backward; also (as facing north) the
West:--after(-ward), back (part, -side, -ward), hereafter,
(be-)hind(-er part), time to come, without.
see HEBREW for 0299
אָחוֹר (a.chor) — back.
1) the back side, the rear
1a) backwards
1b) hereafter (of time)
1c) behind
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
חֶרְפָּה (cherpah) means reproach or taunt, often associated with shame or disgrace. It can refer to the condition of being reproached or the object of reproach itself. The word is derived from חָרַף (charaf), which relates to scorn or rebuke.
חֶרְפָּה n.f. reproach
taunt of enemy
reproach which rests upon one, condition of shame, disgrace
a reproach, the object of reproach, the person or thing reproached
base
H2781 חֶרְפָּה reproach . taunt of enemy
. reproach which rests upon one, condition of shame, disgrace
. a reproach, the object of reproach, the person or thing reproached
2781 cherpah kher-paw'
from 2778; contumely, disgrace, the pudenda:--rebuke,
reproach(-fully), shame.
see HEBREW for 02778
חֶרְפָּה (cher.pah) — reproach.
1) reproach, scorn
1a) taunt, scorn (upon enemy)
1b) reproach (resting upon condition of shame, disgrace)
1c) a reproach (an object)
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular constructHNcfsc
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…
עוֹלָם (owlam) refers to concepts of long duration, antiquity, and futurity, encompassing meanings like eternity and perpetual existence. It is derived from a root meaning 'concealed' or 'the vanishing point.' The term is used to describe both ancient times and an indefinite future, indicating continuity and everlastingness.
עוֹלָם 439 n.m. long duration, antiquity, futurity
base
H5769 עוֹלָם long duration, antiquity, futurity
5769 `owlam o-lawm'
or lolam {o-lawm'}; from 5956; properly, concealed, i.e. the
vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future),
i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial
(especially with prepositional prefix) always:--alway(-s),
ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for,
(n-))ever(-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of)
old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world
(+ without end). Compare 5331, 5703.
see HEBREW for 05956
see HEBREW for 05331
see HEBREW for 05703
עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: enduring.
: enduring/eternal
1) long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world
1a) ancient time, long time (of past)
1b) (of future)
1b1) for ever, always
1b2) continuous existence, perpetual
1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity
עוֹלָם (o.lam) — Everlasting.
This name means long duration, everlasting, perpetual
Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: any time.
: any_time
1) long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world
1a) ancient time, long time (of past)
1b) (of future)
1b1) for ever, always
1b2) continuous existence, perpetual
1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity
עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: antiquity.
: old/ancient
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
The Hebrew word נָתַן (natan) means 'to give' and encompasses a wide range of applications such as putting, setting, and making. It can also indicate actions like bestowing, delivering, and assigning. The entries describe its use in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Hophal, but do not present any significant disagreements among lexicons.
נָתַן 2007 vb. give, put, set
Qal 1917
give
Put, set
Make, constitute
Niph.
82be given
Be put, set
Hoph.
be given, bestowed
= be given to one for wife
be put upon
base
H5414 נָתַן give, put, set .. give
. Put, set
. Make, constitute
. . be given
. Be put, set
. . . be given, bestowed
. = be given to one for wife
. be put upon
5414 nathan naw-than'
a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of
application (put, make, etc.):--add, apply, appoint, ascribe,
assign, X avenge, X be ((healed)), bestow, bring (forth,
hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, +
cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, X doubtless, X
without fail, fasten, frame, X get, give (forth, over, up),
grant, hang (up), X have, X indeed, lay (unto charge, up),
(give) leave, lend, let (out), + lie, lift up, make, + O that,
occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, X
pull , put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send
(out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), + sing, + slander,
strike, (sub-)mit, suffer, X surely, X take, thrust, trade,
turn, utter, + weep, + willingly, + withdraw, + would (to)
God, yield.
נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: give.
: give/deliver/send/produce
1) to give, put, set
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend
1a2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate
1a3) to make, constitute
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned
1b2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be given, be bestowed, be given up, be delivered up
1c2) to be put upon
נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: put.
: put/set/apppoint
1) to give, put, set
1a) (Qal)
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singularHVqp3ms
הֶם (hem) — them.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine plural
HR/Sp3mp — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp3mp