Psalms 78:57-58
but turned away and acted treacherously like their fathers; they twisted like a deceitful bow. For they provoked him to anger with their high places; they moved him to jealousy with their idols.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The image of a "deceitful bow" isn't just about unreliability; it highlights a profound perversion of purpose. Like a bow meant to aim true but instead springs back or shoots erratically, Israel, designed to reflect God's glory, twisted away, failing to fulfill their intended purpose and ultimately harming themselves.
This psalm recounts Israel's history, highlighting their repeated unfaithfulness despite God's mighty acts of deliverance and provision. After God led them out of Egypt, protected them in the wilderness, and gave them the promised land, they continued to rebel and forget His commands. This verse describes how, even after experiencing God's faithfulness, they lapsed into the same treacherous patterns as their ancestors, proving unreliable like a faulty bow.
What happens when a weapon fails to do what it's designed for? This verse paints a vivid, yet disturbing, picture of God's people acting like a faulty tool.
The psalmist uses the powerful image of a "deceitful bow" to describe Israel's betrayal of God.
A Bow's Purpose
A bow's entire function is to accurately send an arrow to its target when drawn and released. It must be reliable and true.
Israel's Failure
But this bow is "deceitful." It might look like it's ready for action, but when the moment comes, it fails. It might snap, or its aim will be wildly off.
This mirrors Israel's behavior: they were God's chosen people, set apart for a purpose – to reflect His character and will to the nations. Yet, time and again, they "turned back" and acted "treacherously," just like their ancestors. They were meant to be instruments of God's truth, but they proved unreliable, missing the mark of faithfulness.
Generations pass, but some patterns repeat. This verse points to a painful truth about how sin can be passed down.
The phrase "like their fathers" is crucial here. It highlights a deeply ingrained pattern of unfaithfulness that plagued Israel.
A Legacy of Disobedience
The psalm is tracing Israel's history, showing a recurring theme: God's immense faithfulness met with human ingratitude and betrayal. They didn't just stray once; they actively "turned back" and acted "treacherously."
Echoes of the Past
This "treachery" wasn't original to this generation. They were mimicking the very same sins their fathers had committed. It’s a somber reminder that sin can become a family legacy, a cultural habit, or a personal tendency that we must consciously fight against. The psalm warns that repeating the sins of the past leads to repeating the consequences.
Understand the original words
bagad · Hebrew Verb
To behave unfaithfully or act with treachery. It often implies a breach of trust, particularly in the context of covenant relationship or marriage.
ka'as · Hebrew Verb
To incite, irritate, or goad someone to emotional reaction. In Scripture, it is frequently used to describe human behavior that moves God to righteous indignation.
bamah · Hebrew Noun
Sites of unauthorized worship, typically built on elevated ground, often associated with pagan practices and the setting up of idols that competed with the worship of Yahweh.
pesel · Hebrew Noun
A human representation of a deity. Biblically, these are inanimate objects or images that are sinful to worship because they replace the true God and cannot save.
The psalm contrasts God's faithfulness throughout Israel's history with their persistent unfaithfulness, likening their recurring betrayal to a faulty bow that fails to perform as expected, particularly during the turbulent period of the Judges when they repeatedly turned from God despite His past deliverances.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
God miraculously delivers the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, a foundational event of their national identity and faith.
c. 1446-1406 BC
Wilderness Wanderings
After the Exodus, the Israelites wander in the desert for 40 years, experiencing God's provision and their own repeated disobedience.
c. 1406 BC
Entry into Canaan
The Israelites finally enter the Promised Land, conquering its inhabitants and settling in assigned territories.
c. 1406-1046 BC— this verse
Period of the Judges
A tumultuous era marked by cycles of Israelite disobedience, oppression by surrounding nations, and God's deliverance through various judges.
This passage uses the same imagery of a 'deceitful bow' to describe the people's unfaithfulness and tendency to turn away from God, highlighting a consistent pattern of rebellion throughout Israel's history.
Jeremiah 9:3Similar to the Psalm, Jeremiah laments the people's treachery and deceitfulness, likening them to a 'deceitful bow,' emphasizing how their actions consistently missed the mark of God's will.
2 Samuel 1:22This verse provides a contrast, describing Jonathan's bow as one that 'did not turn back,' implying a steadfastness and reliability that the unfaithful Israelites in Psalm 78 lacked.
Hebrews 3:12This New Testament passage warns against 'an evil, unbelieving heart' that turns away from the living God, echoing the persistent unfaithfulness and treacherous nature of the people described in the Psalm.
clarkePsalms 78:57: "But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow."
They were turned aside like a deceitful bow - The eastern bow, which when at rest is in the form of a [curved figure], 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,…
expositorsPsalms 78:1-72: "Maschil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth."
Psalm 78:1-72 THIS psalm is closely related to Psalm 105:1-45 ; Psalm 106:1-48 ; Psalm 107:1-43 . Like them, it treats the history of Israel, and especially the Exodus and wilderness wanderings, for purposes of edification, rebuke, and encouragement. The past is held up as a mirror to the present generation. It has been one long succession of miracles of mercy met by equally continu…
The image of a "deceitful bow" isn't just about unreliability; it highlights a profound perversion of purpose. Like a bow meant to aim true but instead springs back or shoots erratically, Israel, designed to reflect God's glory, twisted away, failing to fulfill their intended purpose and ultimately harming themselves.
This psalm recounts Israel's history, highlighting their repeated unfaithfulness despite God's mighty acts of deliverance and provision. After God led them out of Egypt, protected them in the wilderness, and gave them the promised land, they continued to rebel and forget His commands. This verse describes how, even after experiencing God's faithfulness, they lapsed into the same treacherous patterns as their ancestors, proving unreliable like a faulty bow.
This psalm recounts Israel's history, highlighting their repeated unfaithfulness despite God's mighty acts of deliverance and provision. After God led them out of Egypt, protected them in the wilderness, and gave them the promised land, they continued to rebel and forget His commands. This verse describes how, even after experiencing God's faithfulness, they lapsed into the same treacherous patterns as their ancestors, proving unreliable like a faulty bow.
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qin'ah · Hebrew Noun
A term denoting God’s intense, protective, and exclusive love for His covenant people, which is ignited when His people offer the devotion rightfully His to false gods.
c. 1050 BC
Establishment of the Monarchy
Israel demands a king, leading to the anointing of Saul and later David, establishing a centralized monarchy.
"but turned away and acted treacherously like their fathers; they twisted like a deceitful bow. For they provoked him to anger with their high places; they moved him to jealousy with their idols." — The image of a "deceitful bow" isn't just about unreliability; it highlights a profound perversion of purpose. Like a bow meant to aim true but instead springs back or shoots erratically, Israel, des…
