Psalm 78:57-58
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This verse reveals that Israel's betrayal wasn't just a simple turning away, but a treacherous mimicking of their ancestors' failures. The image of a "deceitful bow" powerfully shows that they, like a faulty weapon, failed to aim true and consistently missed God's intended mark, causing their arrows (actions and allegiances) to fly wide.
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)
This passage reflects on the repeated cycle of Israel's unfaithfulness to God, even after experiencing His mighty acts and receiving His promises. The psalmist recounts their history, highlighting how, despite divine provision and protection, they consistently turned away from God and followed the sins of previous generations. This specific verse describes their treacherous departure from faithfulness, comparing them to a bow that cannot be relied upon.
Why does this psalm spend so much time recounting ancient history? It's not just a dry retelling of events, but a powerful tool for understanding the present.
This psalm is a "Maschil," a teaching psalm, designed to instruct and edify.
Why compare God's people to a bow that doesn't shoot straight? This ancient imagery reveals a profound truth about their unreliability.
The image of a "deceitful bow" is a powerful metaphor for unfaithfulness.
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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.
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.
This psalm looks back on Israel's repeated failures to be faithful, even after experiencing God's mighty acts. The image of a 'deceitful bow' captures how they consistently missed the mark, failing to fulfill God's purpose for them, much like their ancestors who rebelled in the wilderness and during the period of the Judges.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
God delivers the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, a foundational event of their national identity and faith.
c. 1446-1406 BC
Wilderness Wanderings
The Israelites journey through the desert for 40 years, marked by frequent rebellion and God's continued provision and discipline.
c. 1406 BC
Entry into Canaan
The Israelites, under Joshua's leadership, conquer and settle in the Promised Land, driving out the existing inhabitants.
c. 1406-1077 BC— this verse
Period of the Judges
A turbulent era characterized by cycles of Israelite disobedience, oppression by foreign nations, and divine deliverance through judges.
c. 1077 BC
Establishment of the Monarchy
Saul is anointed king, marking the end of the Judges period and the beginning of a unified kingdom under a human ruler.
c. 1047 BC
David becomes King
David is established as king, leading to a golden age for Israel and the consolidation of the kingdom, with Jerusalem as its capital.
This passage directly uses the imagery of a 'deceitful bow' to describe Israel's unfaithfulness and their turning away from God, mirroring the verse in Psalms.
Jeremiah 9:3Similar to the Psalmist, Jeremiah condemns the people for their treacherous hearts, comparing them to a deceitful bow, highlighting the persistent theme of unreliability and spiritual wandering.
2 Samuel 1:22In contrast to the 'deceitful bow,' Jonathan's bow is praised for being steadfast ('did not turn back'), offering a powerful counter-example of true faithfulness that the people in Psalms had failed to embody.
Galatians 5:7This New Testament verse speaks to the idea of being hindered or turned aside from the path of obedience, echoing the sense of being derailed from God's intended path, much like a faulty bow misses its mark.
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…
This verse reveals that Israel's betrayal wasn't just a simple turning away, but a treacherous mimicking of their ancestors' failures. The image of a "deceitful bow" powerfully shows that they, like a faulty weapon, failed to aim true and consistently missed God's intended mark, causing their arrows (actions and allegiances) to fly wide.
This passage reflects on the repeated cycle of Israel's unfaithfulness to God, even after experiencing His mighty acts and receiving His promises. The psalmist recounts their history, highlighting how, despite divine provision and protection, they consistently turned away from God and followed the sins of previous generations. This specific verse describes their treacherous departure from faithfulness, comparing them to a bow that cannot be relied upon.
This passage reflects on the repeated cycle of Israel's unfaithfulness to God, even after experiencing His mighty acts and receiving His promises. The psalmist recounts their history, highlighting how, despite divine provision and protection, they consistently turned away from God and followed the sins of previous generations. This specific verse describes their treacherous departure from faithfulness, comparing them to a bow that cannot be relied upon.
"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." — This verse reveals that Israel's betrayal wasn't just a simple turning away, but a treacherous mimicking of their ancestors' failures. The image of a "deceitful bow" powerfully shows that they, like…
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Last reviewed October 2026
