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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Psalm 78:64 His priests fell by the sword, but their widows could not lament.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/psalms/78-64.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/5/19_Psa_078_064.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Psalm 78:64 - I Will Open My Mouth in Parables" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="His priests fell by the sword, but their widows could not lament." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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and their widows made no lamentation.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/psalms/78.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Their priests fell by the sword, And their widows made no lamentation.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/psalms/78.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />His priests fell by the sword, And His widows could not weep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/psalms/78.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />His priests fell by the sword, And His widows could not weep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/psalms/78.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />His priests fell by the sword; And His widows could not weep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/psalms/78.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />His priests fell by the sword, And His widows could not weep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/psalms/78.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />His priests [Hophni and Phinehas] fell by the sword, And His widows could not weep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/psalms/78.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />His priests fell by the sword, and the widows could not lament.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/psalms/78.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />His priests fell by the sword, but the widows could not lament. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/psalms/78.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Their priests fell by the sword; And their widows made no lamentation.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/psalms/78.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Priests died violent deaths, but their widows were not allowed to mourn. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/psalms/78.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/psalms/78.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />His priests were cut down with swords. The widows [of his priests] could not even weep [for them].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/psalms/78.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Priests died by violence, and their widows were not allowed to mourn. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/psalms/78.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />The priests fell by the sword, yet their widows couldn't weep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/psalms/78.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />His priests fell by the sword, but their widows could not lament.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/psalms/78.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Their priests fell by the sword, but their widows did not weep. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/psalms/78.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows couldn't weep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/psalms/78.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/psalms/78.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows couldn’t weep. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/psalms/78.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />His priests have fallen by the sword, "" And their widows do not weep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/psalms/78.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> His priests by the sword have fallen, And their widows weep not.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/psalms/78.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />His priests fell by the sword, and his widows wept not.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/psalms/78.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Their priests fell by the sword: and their widows did not mourn. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/psalms/78.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 77:64>Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows did not weep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/psalms/78.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Their priests fell by the sword; their widows made no lamentation. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/psalms/78.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows made no lamentation.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/psalms/78.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/psalms/78.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />The priests fell by the sword and their widows did not weep.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/psalms/78.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Their priests fell by the sword; And their widows made no lamentation.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/psalms/78.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows shall not be wept for.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/psalms/78-64.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nFaD2oDhKPc?start=9891" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/psalms/78.htm">I Will Open My Mouth in Parables</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">63</span>Fire consumed His young men, and their maidens were left without wedding songs. <span class="reftext">64</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3548.htm" title="3548: kō·hă·nāw (N-mpc:: 3ms) -- Priest. Active participle of kahan; literally, one officiating, a priest; also an acting priest.">His priests</a> <a href="/hebrew/5307.htm" title="5307: nā·p̄ā·lū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- To fall, lie. A primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications.">fell</a> <a href="/hebrew/2719.htm" title="2719: ba·ḥe·reḇ (Prep-b, Art:: N-fs) -- A sword. From charab; drought; also a cutting instrument, as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement.">by the sword,</a> <a href="/hebrew/490.htm" title="490: wə·’al·mə·nō·ṯāw (Conj-w:: N-fpc:: 3ms) -- A widow. Fem of 'alman; a widow; also a desolate place.">but their widows</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">could not</a> <a href="/hebrew/1058.htm" title="1058: ṯiḇ·ke·nāh (V-Qal-Imperf-3fp) -- To weep, bewail. A primitive root; to weep; generally to bemoan.">lament.</a> </span><span class="reftext">65</span>Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, like a mighty warrior overcome by wine.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/4-17.htm">1 Samuel 4:17-22</a></span><br />The messenger answered, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been a great slaughter among the people. Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are both dead, and the ark of God has been captured.” / As soon as the ark of God was mentioned, Eli fell backward from his chair by the city gate, and being old and heavy, he broke his neck and died. And Eli had judged Israel forty years. / Now Eli’s daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and about to give birth. When she heard the news of the capture of God’s ark and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband, she collapsed and gave birth, for her labor pains overtook her. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/2-32.htm">1 Samuel 2:32-36</a></span><br />You will see distress in My dwelling place. Despite all that is good in Israel, no one in your house will ever again reach old age. / And every one of you that I do not cut off from My altar, I will cause your eyes to fail and your heart to grieve. All your descendants will die by the sword of men. / And this sign shall come to you concerning your two sons Hophni and Phinehas: They will both die on the same day. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/22-18.htm">1 Samuel 22:18-19</a></span><br />So the king ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests!” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests himself. On that day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. / He also put to the sword Nob, the city of the priests, with its men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/3-11.htm">1 Samuel 3:11-14</a></span><br />Then the LORD said to Samuel, “I am about to do something in Israel at which the ears of all who hear it will tingle. / On that day I will carry out against Eli everything I have spoken about his house, from beginning to end. / I told him that I would judge his house forever for the iniquity of which he knows, because his sons blasphemed God and he did not restrain them. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/4-10.htm">1 Samuel 4:10-11</a></span><br />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. / The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/2-30.htm">1 Samuel 2:30-31</a></span><br />Therefore, the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever. But now the LORD declares: Far be it from Me! For I will honor those who honor Me, but those who despise Me will be disdained. / Behold, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father’s house, so that no one in it will reach old age.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/4-19.htm">1 Samuel 4:19-21</a></span><br />Now Eli’s daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and about to give birth. When she heard the news of the capture of God’s ark and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband, she collapsed and gave birth, for her labor pains overtook her. / As she was dying, the women attending to her said, “Do not be afraid, for you have given birth to a son!” But she did not respond or pay any heed. / And she named the boy Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel,” because the ark of God had been captured and her father-in-law and her husband had been killed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/2-12.htm">1 Samuel 2:12-17</a></span><br />Now the sons of Eli were wicked men; they had no regard for the LORD / or for the custom of the priests with the people. When any man offered a sacrifice, the servant of the priest would come with a three-pronged meat fork while the meat was boiling / and plunge it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or cooking pot. And the priest would claim for himself whatever the meat fork brought up. This is how they treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/2-22.htm">1 Samuel 2:22-25</a></span><br />Now Eli was very old, and he heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they were sleeping with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. / “Why are you doing these things?” Eli said to his sons. “I hear about your wicked deeds from all these people. / No, my sons; it is not a good report I hear circulating among the LORD’s people. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/2-27.htm">1 Samuel 2:27-29</a></span><br />Then a man of God came to Eli and told him, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Did I not clearly reveal Myself to your father’s house when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh’s house? / And out of all the tribes of Israel I selected your father to be My priest, to offer sacrifices on My altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in My presence. I also gave to the house of your father all the food offerings of the Israelites. / Why then do you kick at My sacrifice and offering that I have prescribed for My dwelling place? You have honored your sons more than Me by fattening yourselves with the best of all the offerings of My people Israel.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/2-34.htm">1 Samuel 2:34</a></span><br />And this sign shall come to you concerning your two sons Hophni and Phinehas: They will both die on the same day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/4-1.htm">1 Samuel 4:1-2</a></span><br />Thus the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now the Israelites went out to meet the Philistines in battle and camped at Ebenezer, while the Philistines camped at Aphek. / The Philistines arrayed themselves against Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who struck down about four thousand men on the battlefield.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/4-3.htm">1 Samuel 4:3-4</a></span><br />When the troops returned to the camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why has the LORD brought defeat on us before the Philistines today? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh, so that it may go with us to save us from the hand of our enemies.” / So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Hosts, who sits enthroned between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/4-5.htm">1 Samuel 4:5-9</a></span><br />When the ark of the covenant of the LORD entered the camp, all the Israelites raised such a great shout that the ground shook. / On hearing the noise of the shout, the Philistines asked, “What is this loud shouting in the camp of the Hebrews?” And when they realized that the ark of the LORD had entered the camp, / the Philistines were afraid. “The gods have entered their camp!” they said. “Woe to us, for nothing like this has happened before. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/4-12.htm">1 Samuel 4:12-18</a></span><br />That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line all the way to Shiloh, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. / When he arrived, there was Eli, sitting on his chair beside the road and watching, because his heart trembled for the ark of God. When the man entered the city to give a report, the whole city cried out. / Eli heard the outcry and asked, “Why this commotion?” So the man hurried over and reported to Eli. ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.</p><p class="hdg">priests</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/2-33.htm">1 Samuel 2:33,34</a></b></br> And the man of thine, <i>whom</i> I shall not cut off from mine altar, <i>shall be</i> to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/4-11.htm">1 Samuel 4:11,17</a></b></br> And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/22-18.htm">1 Samuel 22:18,19</a></b></br> And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod… </p><p class="hdg">widows</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/4-19.htm">1 Samuel 4:19,20</a></b></br> And his daughter in law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, <i>near</i> to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/27-15.htm">Job 27:15</a></b></br> Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: and his widows shall not weep.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/24-23.htm">Ezekiel 24:23</a></b></br> And your tires <i>shall be</i> upon your heads, and your shoes upon your feet: ye shall not mourn nor weep; but ye shall pine away for your iniquities, and mourn one toward another.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/job/4-16.htm">Couldn't</a> <a href="/psalms/78-50.htm">Death</a> <a href="/psalms/69-9.htm">Fallen</a> <a href="/psalms/68-14.htm">Fell</a> <a href="/job/27-15.htm">Lamentation</a> <a href="/job/12-19.htm">Priests</a> <a href="/psalms/78-62.htm">Sword</a> <a href="/psalms/69-10.htm">Weep</a> <a href="/psalms/69-10.htm">Weeping</a> <a href="/psalms/68-5.htm">Widows</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/isaiah/33-23.htm">Couldn't</a> <a href="/psalms/79-11.htm">Death</a> <a href="/psalms/105-38.htm">Fallen</a> <a href="/psalms/105-38.htm">Fell</a> <a href="/isaiah/22-12.htm">Lamentation</a> <a href="/psalms/99-6.htm">Priests</a> <a href="/psalms/89-43.htm">Sword</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/3-4.htm">Weep</a> <a href="/psalms/80-5.htm">Weeping</a> <a href="/isaiah/9-17.htm">Widows</a><div class="vheading2">Psalm 78</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/78-1.htm">An exhortation both to learn and to preach, the law of God</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/78-9.htm">The story of God's wrath against the incredulous and disobedient</a></span><br><span class="reftext">67. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/78-67.htm">The Israelites being rejected, God chose Judah, Zion, and David.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/78.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/psalms/78.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>His priests fell by the sword</b><br>This phrase refers to the tragic events where the priests of Israel were killed in battle. Historically, this can be connected to the events described in <a href="/1_samuel/4.htm">1 Samuel 4</a>, where the Israelites were defeated by the Philistines, and the Ark of the Covenant was captured. The priests Hophni and Phinehas, sons of Eli, died in this battle. This event signifies a moment of judgment upon the house of Eli, as prophesied in <a href="/1_samuel/2-31.htm">1 Samuel 2:31-34</a>. The fall of the priests symbolizes a spiritual decline and the consequences of disobedience to God’s commands. It also foreshadows the ultimate priestly sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who, unlike these priests, was sinless and offered Himself willingly for the redemption of humanity.<p><b>but their widows could not lament</b><br>In ancient Israel, mourning and lamentation were significant cultural practices, often involving public displays of grief. The inability of the widows to lament suggests a situation of overwhelming defeat and despair, where the normal customs of mourning could not be observed, possibly due to the chaos and fear following the battle. This could also imply a divine judgment where the usual expressions of grief were suppressed, highlighting the severity of the situation. Theologically, it underscores the theme of divine justice and the consequences of turning away from God. This phrase can be contrasted with the hope found in Christ, who provides comfort and restoration, as seen in passages like <a href="/matthew/5-4.htm">Matthew 5:4</a>, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/p/priests.htm">Priests</a></b><br>The religious leaders of Israel who were responsible for performing sacrifices and maintaining the spiritual welfare of the people. In this verse, they are described as falling by the sword, indicating a time of judgment and calamity.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/w/widows.htm">Widows</a></b><br>The wives of the priests who were left without husbands. The verse notes that they could not lament, suggesting a profound level of despair or a situation where mourning was not possible or permitted.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/s/sword.htm">Sword</a></b><br>Symbolic of warfare and divine judgment. The priests falling by the sword indicates a violent and tragic event, likely a battle or invasion.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/i/israel.htm">Israel</a></b><br>The nation to whom this Psalm is addressed, often experiencing cycles of faithfulness and rebellion against God.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/j/judgment.htm">Judgment</a></b><br>The broader context of this verse is a recounting of Israel's history, highlighting times when God allowed judgment due to their disobedience.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_disobedience.htm">The Consequences of Disobedience</a></b><br>The fall of the priests by the sword serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of turning away from God. It underscores the importance of faithfulness and obedience to God's commands.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_spiritual_leaders.htm">The Role of Spiritual Leaders</a></b><br>The death of the priests highlights the critical role of spiritual leaders in guiding and protecting the community. It calls for prayer and support for those in spiritual leadership today.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_depth_of_despair.htm">The Depth of Despair</a></b><br>The inability of the widows to lament reflects a deep level of despair and hopelessness. It encourages believers to seek God even in the darkest times and to support those who are grieving.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_judgment.htm">God's Sovereignty in Judgment</a></b><br>This verse reminds us of God's sovereignty and justice. It challenges us to trust in His righteous judgment and to seek His mercy.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_psalm_78.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 78</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_truth_according_to_the_bible.htm">What does the Bible teach about money?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_there_proof_david_wrote_psalm_64.htm">What proof exists that David truly authored Psalm 64, given the lack of concrete historical records to confirm its original context?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_psalm_78_align_with_archaeology.htm">How do the events recounted in Psalm 78 compare with archaeological findings regarding the Israelites' wilderness journey?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_poverty_persist_despite_psalm_113.htm">(Psalm 113:7-8) Despite the claim that God 'raises the poor' and seats them 'with princes,' how do we explain the ongoing existence of poverty with little evidence of divine intervention?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/psalms/78.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(64) <span class= "bld">And their widows . . .</span>--Undoubtedly referring to the fact that the wife of Phinehas died in premature labour, and so could not attend the funeral of her husband with the customary lamentations, which in Oriental countries are so loud and marked. The Prayer-Book version, therefore, gives the right feeling--"there were no widows to make lamentations."<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/psalms/78.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 64.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Their priests fell by the sword.</span> As Hophni and Phinehas at the taking of the ark (<a href="/1_samuel/4-11.htm">1 Samuel 4:11</a>), and, no doubt, many others on other occasions. <span class="cmt_word">And their widows made no lamentation.</span> The solemn funeral dirge could not take place, since the bodies remained on the battlefield. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/psalms/78-64.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">His priests</span><br /><span class="heb">כֹּ֭הֲנָיו</span> <span class="translit">(kō·hă·nāw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3548.htm">Strong's 3548: </a> </span><span class="str2">Priest</span><br /><br /><span class="word">fell</span><br /><span class="heb">נָפָ֑לוּ</span> <span class="translit">(nā·p̄ā·lū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5307.htm">Strong's 5307: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall, lie</span><br /><br /><span class="word">by the sword,</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּחֶ֣רֶב</span> <span class="translit">(ba·ḥe·reḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2719.htm">Strong's 2719: </a> </span><span class="str2">Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword</span><br /><br /><span class="word">but His widows</span><br /><span class="heb">וְ֝אַלְמְנֹתָ֗יו</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’al·mə·nō·ṯāw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_490.htm">Strong's 490: </a> </span><span class="str2">A widow, a desolate place</span><br /><br /><span class="word">could not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹ֣א</span> <span class="translit">(lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">lament.</span><br /><span class="heb">תִבְכֶּֽינָה׃</span> <span class="translit">(ṯiḇ·ke·nāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1058.htm">Strong's 1058: </a> </span><span class="str2">To weep, to bemoan</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/psalms/78-64.htm">Psalm 78:64 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/psalms/78-64.htm">Psalm 78:64 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/psalms/78-64.htm">Psalm 78:64 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/psalms/78-64.htm">Psalm 78:64 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/psalms/78-64.htm">Psalm 78:64 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/psalms/78-64.htm">Psalm 78:64 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/psalms/78-64.htm">Psalm 78:64 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/psalms/78-64.htm">Psalm 78:64 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/psalms/78-64.htm">Psalm 78:64 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/psalms/78-64.htm">Psalm 78:64 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/psalms/78-64.htm">OT Poetry: Psalm 78:64 Their priests fell by the sword (Psalm Ps Psa.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/psalms/78-63.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Psalm 78:63"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Psalm 78:63" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/psalms/78-65.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Psalm 78:65"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Psalm 78:65" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>