Psalm 78:63-64
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The phrase "their young women had no marriage song" isn't just about a lack of celebration; it points to a profound societal disruption. It highlights the devastating impact of lost young men—not only their lives are gone but the very future of their families and the continuation of the community through marriage and children is extinguished.
Fire devoured their young men, and their young women had no marriage song. Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows made no lamentation.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm recounts Israel's history, highlighting their repeated unfaithfulness to God despite His mighty acts. Following the catastrophic loss of the Ark of the Covenant and the devastation of Shiloh, the nation suffered immense loss. The text describes the destruction of their young men, leading to a profound societal impact where young women were left without the prospect of marriage and the joy of wedding songs.
The Bible often speaks of 'fire' consuming people. What does this intense imagery really mean in Psalm 78?
The 'fire' in Psalm 78:63 isn't necessarily a literal blaze. It's a powerful metaphor for the destructive force of God's anger against sin and rebellion.
Imagine a wedding day filled with music and celebration. Psalm 78 describes the chilling opposite – a profound silence.
The second part of the verse, 'their young women had no marriage song,' speaks volumes about a community’s brokenness.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
esh · Hebrew Noun
Often symbolic of God's judgment or destructive power that consumes the wicked or purifies the rebellious.
kohen · Hebrew Noun
Those ordained by God to serve in the sanctuary and mediate between God and the people through offerings and intercession.
This verse powerfully evokes the devastation of war and God's judgment, specifically referencing the calamitous loss of the Ark of the Covenant and the subsequent military defeat by the Philistines. The destruction of young men in battle and the resulting social imbalance meant that many young women would never experience marriage or the joyous songs that accompanied it, highlighting a profound national sorrow and loss.
c. 1050 BC— this verse
Ark of the Covenant Captured
During a battle with the Philistines, the Israelites suffered a devastating defeat, and the Ark of the Covenant, representing God's presence, was captured. This event led to the abandonment of Shiloh as the religious center.
c. 1100-1050 BC
Eli's Corrupt Priesthood
The priest Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were wicked and dishonored God and the priestly office. Their corruption contributed to the spiritual and moral decline of Israel.
c. 1050 BC
Fall of Shiloh
Following the capture of the Ark, the tabernacle at Shiloh was destroyed or abandoned, symbolizing God's departure from His people due to their unfaithfulness.
c. 1050 BC
Death of Eli and his Sons
Upon hearing of the Ark's capture and the deaths of his sons, the elderly Eli fell backward and died. His sons also perished in the battle.
c. 1040 BC
Philistine Oppression
After the capture of the Ark, the Philistines gained dominance over Israel, inflicting hardship and oppression on the people for an extended period.
c. 1010 BC
David Anointed King
Samuel, a prophet and judge, eventually anoints David as king, marking a turning point towards restoration and the eventual establishment of Jerusalem as the capital.
This passage speaks to the abandonment of God's dwelling place in Shiloh due to the people's wickedness, mirroring the desolation described in Psalms 78:63 where the consequences of sin led to a loss of joy and future generations.
Lamentations 1:4This verse describes the sorrow and devastation in Jerusalem following its destruction, echoing the profound grief and absence of celebration mentioned in Psalms 78:63, where the young were lost and marriage songs were silenced.
Isaiah 4:1This prophecy foretells a time of extreme scarcity of men, where women will cling to one man for marriage, highlighting the severe demographic imbalance and loss of potential families that is a consequence of judgment, similar to the scene in Psalms 78:63.
Ezekiel 24:16Here, God tells Ezekiel not to mourn his wife's death, symbolizing his withdrawal and the impending judgment on Jerusalem. This speaks to a divine silencing of normal expressions of joy and sorrow, paralleling the absence of marriage songs in Psalms 78:63 due to overwhelming calamity.
1 Samuel 4:10-11This historical account details the defeat of Israel by the Philistines and the capture of the Ark of the Covenant, the direct event that likely inspired Psalms 78:63, illustrating the loss of God's presence and the devastating impact on the people.
clarkePsalms 78:63: "The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage."
Their maidens were not given to marriage - הוללו hullalu, were not celebrated with marriage songs. It is considered a calamity in the east if a maiden arrives at the age of twelve years without being sought or given in marriage.
pulpitPsalms 78:63: "The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage."
Verse 63. - The fire consumed their young men. The reference is not to such passages as Leviticus 10:2; Numbers 11:1; Numbers 16:35, where a literal fire seems to be spoken of, but rather to the fire of war (Numbers 21:28; Isaiah 26:11; Jeremiah 48:45), or more generally to the fire of the Divine anger (Isaiah 10:16-18; Isaiah 47:14, etc.). And their maidens were not given to marriage; literally, we…
The phrase "their young women had no marriage song" isn't just about a lack of celebration; it points to a profound societal disruption. It highlights the devastating impact of lost young men—not only their lives are gone but the very future of their families and the continuation of the community through marriage and children is extinguished.
This psalm recounts Israel's history, highlighting their repeated unfaithfulness to God despite His mighty acts. Following the catastrophic loss of the Ark of the Covenant and the devastation of Shiloh, the nation suffered immense loss. The text describes the destruction of their young men, leading to a profound societal impact where young women were left without the prospect of marriage and the joy of wedding songs.
This psalm recounts Israel's history, highlighting their repeated unfaithfulness to God despite His mighty acts. Following the catastrophic loss of the Ark of the Covenant and the devastation of Shiloh, the nation suffered immense loss. The text describes the destruction of their young men, leading to a profound societal impact where young women were left without the prospect of marriage and the joy of wedding songs.
"Fire devoured their young men, and their young women had no marriage song. Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows made no lamentation." — The phrase "their young women had no marriage song" isn't just about a lack of celebration; it points to a profound societal disruption. It highlights the devastating impact of lost young men—not onl…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
