Psalm 78:65-66
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The verse uses the image of God "awakening" not just from sleep, but like a warrior invigorated by wine, ready to charge into battle. This isn't about God being drunk, but rather portraying His sudden, powerful intervention after a period where He seemed inactive, highlighting His fierce zeal for His people and His name.
Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, like a strong man shouting because of wine. And he put his adversaries to rout; he put them to everlasting shame.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After recounting Israel's repeated faithlessness and God's subsequent judgment, including the devastating loss of the Ark of the Covenant and the destruction of Shiloh, this verse describes God's powerful intervention. He rises up, no longer appearing passive but like a mighty warrior energized by wine, ready to strike down his enemies and deliver his people. This dramatic shift signals a turning point from Israel's deep suffering to God's decisive action on their behalf.
Ever feel like God is asleep when you're in the middle of a storm? This psalm captures that agonizing feeling and how God responds.
God's Apparent Indifference
The psalm recounts Israel's history, highlighting their repeated failures and God's subsequent judgments. During the devastating loss of the Ark of the Covenant to the Philistines, God seemed absent, even asleep. This wasn't because God was asleep, but because His people's actions and the ensuing calamity made it appear that way.
What does it mean for God to be like a warrior fueled by wine? It's not about drunkenness, but about fierce, unstoppable power!
A Warrior's Imminent Victory
The imagery of God shouting 'like a strong man shouting because of wine' is powerful and often misunderstood. It's not about God being out of control like a drunkard, but about a warrior stirred to action.
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Understand the original words
Adonai · Hebrew Noun
The Hebrew title for the Sovereign God (Adonai), emphasizing His authority, majesty, and supreme rule over all creation and humanity.
tsarah · Hebrew Noun
A general term for those who oppose God or His people, often characterized by hostility, enmity, and active resistance to the divine will and kingdom.
kelimmah · Hebrew Noun
A state of deep humiliation, disgrace, or loss of honor. Biblically, it is often the result of judgment for sin or opposition to God, representing the final reversal of human pride.
The imagery in this verse powerfully describes God's intervention after a period where His presence and power seemed absent, particularly during the tragic loss and subsequent journey of the Ark of the Covenant.
c. 1050 BC— this verse
Philistines capture the Ark
During the time of Eli the priest, the Israelites suffered a devastating defeat against the Philistines, and the Ark of God was captured and taken to Ashdod.
c. 1050 BC
Philistines struck by plague
The Philistines suffered plagues and afflictions wherever the Ark was placed, leading them to return it to Israel.
c. 1050 BC
Ark returned to Beth Shemesh
The Ark was returned to Beth Shemesh, where many Israelites were struck down for looking into it.
c. 1040 BC
Ark moved to Kiriath Jearim
The Ark of the Covenant was eventually moved to Kiriath Jearim, where it remained for many years.
c. 1010 BC
David brings Ark to Jerusalem
King David finally brought the Ark to Jerusalem, establishing it as the center of worship and a symbol of God's presence.
This passage directly echoes the idea of God appearing to be asleep or unaware of His people's suffering, which sets the stage for the 'awakening' described in Psalm 78:65.
Isaiah 42:13Similar to Psalm 78:65, this verse uses the powerful imagery of God as a warrior who shouts and roars when He goes forth to battle, highlighting His forceful intervention.
1 Samuel 4:10-11This historical account depicts the tragic loss of the Ark of the Covenant to the Philistines, a situation where God's people perceived Him as absent or asleep, directly preceding the events and God's subsequent intervention described in Psalm 78.
Zechariah 10:7This verse describes Ephraim (representing Israel) becoming like heroes in wine, a parallel to the 'mighty man shouting because of wine' in Psalm 78:65, suggesting a powerful, perhaps even boisterous, divine display of strength.
pulpitPsalms 78:65: "Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine."
Verse 65. - Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep (comp. Psalm 7:6; Psalm 35:23; Psalm 73:20). God is said to "awake," when, after a time of inaction, he suddenly exerts his Almighty power, to the discomfiture of his enemies. That God never really slept was the profound conviction of the Israelites generally (see 2 Kings 18:27; Psalm 121:3, 4). And like a mighty man that shouteth…
clarkePsalms 78:65: "Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine."
Then the Lord awaked - He seemed as if he had totally disregarded what was done to his people, and the reproach that seemed to fall on himself and his worship by the capture of the ark. Like a mighty man - כגבור kegibbor, like a hero that shouteth by reason of wine. One who, going forth to meet his enemy, having taken a sufficiency of wine to refresh himself, and become a proper sti…
The verse uses the image of God "awakening" not just from sleep, but like a warrior invigorated by wine, ready to charge into battle. This isn't about God being drunk, but rather portraying His sudden, powerful intervention after a period where He seemed inactive, highlighting His fierce zeal for His people and His name.
After recounting Israel's repeated faithlessness and God's subsequent judgment, including the devastating loss of the Ark of the Covenant and the destruction of Shiloh, this verse describes God's powerful intervention. He rises up, no longer appearing passive but like a mighty warrior energized by wine, ready to strike down his enemies and deliver his people. This dramatic shift signals a turning point from Israel's deep suffering to God's decisive action on their behalf.
After recounting Israel's repeated faithlessness and God's subsequent judgment, including the devastating loss of the Ark of the Covenant and the destruction of Shiloh, this verse describes God's powerful intervention. He rises up, no longer appearing passive but like a mighty warrior energized by wine, ready to strike down his enemies and deliver his people. This dramatic shift signals a turning point from Israel's deep suffering to God's decisive action on their behalf.
"Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, like a strong man shouting because of wine. And he put his adversaries to rout; he put them to everlasting shame." — The verse uses the image of God "awakening" not just from sleep, but like a warrior invigorated by wine, ready to charge into battle. This isn't about God being drunk, but rather portraying His sudde…
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Last reviewed October 2026
