Psalms 78:58
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 verse isn't just listing sins; it highlights God's personal reaction. He wasn't merely displeased; He was provoked to anger by their "high places" and moved to jealousy by their idols, framing idolatry as a profound betrayal of His covenant relationship with them.
This psalm recounts Israel's repeated cycles of rebellion and God's faithfulness, even after they settled in the promised land. Despite God's past wonders and provision, they fell back into idolatry, setting up forbidden worship sites and idols. This pattern of unfaithfulness led to God's judgment and rejection, culminating in the devastating loss of the Ark and the destruction of Shiloh, their place of worship.
Understand the original words
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 verse speaks to the recurring pattern of Israel's faithlessness during the era of the Judges, a time when they repeatedly turned from God to follow the idolatrous practices of the Canaanite nations they were supposed to have driven out.
c. 1406 BC
Israel Enters Canaan
After 40 years in the wilderness, the Israelites cross the Jordan River and begin conquering the land promised to Abraham. This marks the start of their settlement.
c. 1400-1076 BC— this verse
Period of the Judges
A turbulent era where Israel experienced cycles of disobedience, oppression by surrounding nations, repentance, and deliverance under various leaders called 'judges.'
c. 1076 BC
Shiloh Destroyed
The Ark of the Covenant is captured by the Philistines, and the sanctuary at Shiloh, a central place of worship, is destroyed, marking a low point in Israel's history.
c. 1046 BC
David Anointed King
David is anointed king, eventually uniting the tribes and establishing Jerusalem as the capital, ushering in a more stable and centralized period.
This passage defines God as a 'jealous God' who will not tolerate rivals, directly connecting to the 'moving him to jealousy' language used for idolatry in Psalm 78:58.
Deuteronomy 32:16This verse describes Israel provoking God to jealousy with foreign gods and abominations, echoing the core theme of Psalm 78:58 about religious unfaithfulness leading to divine anger.
1 Kings 14:23Here, high places are explicitly condemned as places where 'they built altars for themselves and made Asherah poles and images and worshiped the host of heaven,' showing the direct link between high places and idolatry that provoked God.
Jeremiah 7:30-31The prophet condemns the 'high places that are in the valley of the son of Hinnom' and the 'abominations that they committed' which 'grieved my heart,' demonstrating the historical continuity of this type of provocation against God.
Romans 11:11Though speaking of spiritual Israel, Paul uses the concept of 'provoking to jealousy' in relation to God's people turning away from Him, showing how this deep-seated human tendency to stray from God's faithfulness persists across covenants.
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…
calvinPsalms 78:52-58: "But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock."
- And he made his people to go forth like sheep, and led them in the wilderness like a flock. 53. And he conducted them in safety, and they were not afraid: and the sea covered their enemies. 54. And he brought them to his holy border, [literally to the border of his holiness,] this mountain, [353] which his right hand acquired. [354] 55. He expelled the heathen from before them;…
The verse isn't just listing sins; it highlights God's personal reaction. He wasn't merely displeased; He was provoked to anger by their "high places" and moved to jealousy by their idols, framing idolatry as a profound betrayal of His covenant relationship with them.
This psalm recounts Israel's repeated cycles of rebellion and God's faithfulness, even after they settled in the promised land. Despite God's past wonders and provision, they fell back into idolatry, setting up forbidden worship sites and idols. This pattern of unfaithfulness led to God's judgment and rejection, culminating in the devastating loss of the Ark and the destruction of Shiloh, their place of worship.
This psalm recounts Israel's repeated cycles of rebellion and God's faithfulness, even after they settled in the promised land. Despite God's past wonders and provision, they fell back into idolatry, setting up forbidden worship sites and idols. This pattern of unfaithfulness led to God's judgment and rejection, culminating in the devastating loss of the Ark and the destruction of Shiloh, their place of worship.
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"For they provoked him to anger with their high places; they moved him to jealousy with their idols." — The verse isn't just listing sins; it highlights God's personal reaction. He wasn't merely displeased; He was provoked to anger by their "high places" and moved to jealousy by their idols, framin…
