Psalm 78:9

Translations

Modern

The archers of Ephraim turned back on the day of battle.

Traditional

The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.

Literal

The sons of Ephraim, handling and shooting the bow, turned back on the day of battle.

Latin

Filii Ephrem, intendentes et mittentes arcum, conversi sunt in die belli.

Original

Hebrew

English

The archers of Ephraim turned back on the day of battle.

Notes

Psalms 78:9–11

Ephraim was the second son of Joseph. He received a special blessing from Jacob (Genesis 48:15–20; 49:22–26; Deuteronomy 33:13–17). His descendants inherited land with fertile valleys and important roads (Judges 8:2). However, the people of Ephraim did not follow God's covenant.

Psalms 78:1–72

This wisdom psalm urges people to learn wisdom and share it faithfully.

Theme notes and profiles

God’s Instructions Wisdom Psalms

Related verses

1 Samuel 31:1
Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa.
Deuteronomy 1:41–44
“We have sinned against the LORD,” you replied. “We will go up and fight, as the LORD our God has commanded us.” Then each of you put on his weapons of war, thinking it easy to go up into the hill country.
Psalm 78:57
They turned back and were faithless like their fathers, twisted like a faulty bow.
Joshua 17:16–18
“The hill country is not enough for us,” they replied, “and all the Canaanites who live in the valley have iron chariots, both in Beth-shean with its towns and in the Valley of Jezreel.”
Judges 20:39
…the men of Israel would turn in the battle. When the Benjamites had begun to strike them down, killing about thirty men of Israel, they said, “They are defeated before us as in the first battle.”
1 Samuel 4:10
So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great—thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell.
Judges 9:28
Then Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is not Zebul his officer? You are to serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem. Why should we serve Abimelech?
1 Chronicles 12:2
…they were archers using both the right and left hands to sling stones and shoot arrows; and they were Saul’s kinsmen from Benjamin):
Judges 9:38–40
“Where is your gloating now?” Zebul replied. “You said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Are these not the people you ridiculed? Go out now and fight them!”
Luke 22:33
“Lord,” said Peter, “I am ready to go with You even to prison and to death.”

Parallels

Matthew 13:34–35

People

Ephraim: Second son of Joseph, and a tribe of Israel

Glossary

Asaph Music Psalms, Book of Song of Moses Zoan

Topics

Cowardice: Ephraimites God: Mercy of Wicked (People): Punishment of

Psalm 78:9

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