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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 78:57 They turned back and were faithless like their fathers, twisted like a faulty bow.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/psalms/78-57.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/17/19_Psa_078_057.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Psalm 78:57 - I Will Open My Mouth in Parables" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="They turned back and were faithless like their fathers, twisted like a faulty bow." /><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'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/psalms/78-57.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/psalms/78-57.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/psalms/">Psalms</a> > <a href="/psalms/78.htm">Chapter 78</a> > Verse 57</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad17.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/psalms/78-56.htm" title="Psalm 78:56">◄</a> Psalm 78:57 <a href="/psalms/78-58.htm" title="Psalm 78:58">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/psalms/78.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/psalms/78.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Like their ancestors they were disloyal and faithless, as unreliable as a faulty bow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/psalms/78.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />They turned back and were as faithless as their parents. They were as undependable as a crooked bow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/psalms/78.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />but turned away and acted treacherously like their fathers; they twisted like a deceitful bow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/psalms/78.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />They turned back and were faithless like their fathers, twisted like a faulty bow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/psalms/78.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/psalms/78.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />But turned back and acted unfaithfully like their fathers; They were turned aside like a deceitful bow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/psalms/78.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />But turned back and acted treacherously like their fathers; They turned aside like a treacherous bow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/psalms/78.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />But turned back and acted treacherously like their fathers; They turned aside like a treacherous bow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/psalms/78.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />But turned back and acted treacherously like their fathers; They turned aside like a treacherous bow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/psalms/78.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />But turned back and acted treacherously like their fathers; They turned aside like a treacherous bow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/psalms/78.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />They turned back and acted unfaithfully like their fathers; They were twisted like a warped bow [that will not respond to the archer’s aim].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/psalms/78.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />They treacherously turned away like their ancestors; they became warped like a faulty bow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/psalms/78.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />They treacherously turned away like their fathers; they became warped like a faulty bow. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/psalms/78.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />But turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers: They were turned aside like a deceitful bow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/psalms/78.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />They were as unfaithful as their ancestors, and they were as crooked as a twisted arrow. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/psalms/78.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />But turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/psalms/78.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />They were disloyal and treacherous like their ancestors. They were like arrows shot from a defective bow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/psalms/78.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />but were rebellious and disloyal like their ancestors, unreliable as a crooked arrow. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/psalms/78.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />They fell away and were as disloyal as their ancestors. They became unreliable, like a defective bow;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/psalms/78.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />They turned back and were faithless like their fathers, twisted like a faulty bow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/psalms/78.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />They were unfaithful and acted as treacherously as their ancestors; they were as unreliable as a malfunctioning bow. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/psalms/78.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />but turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers. They were turned aside like a deceitful bow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/psalms/78.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/psalms/78.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />but turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers. They were twisted like a deceitful bow. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/psalms/78.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And they turn back, "" And deal treacherously like their fathers, "" They have been turned like a deceitful bow,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/psalms/78.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And they turn back, And deal treacherously like their fathers, They have been turned like a deceitful bow,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/psalms/78.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And they will draw back, and they will transgress as their fathers: they were turned as a bow of deceit.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/psalms/78.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And they turned away, and kept not the covenant: even like their fathers they were turned aside as a crooked bow. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/psalms/78.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 77:57>And they turned themselves aside, and they did not serve the covenant. In the same manner as their fathers, they were turned backwards, like a crooked bow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/psalms/78.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />They turned disloyal, faithless like their ancestors; they proved false like a slack bow. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/psalms/78.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />but turned away and were faithless like their ancestors; they twisted like a treacherous bow.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/psalms/78.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />But turned back and dealt deceitfully like their fathers; they were crooked like a twisted bow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/psalms/78.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />They turned back and they lied like their fathers and they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/psalms/78.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />But turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers; They were turned aside like a deceitful bow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/psalms/78.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And they turned back, and broke covenant, even as also their fathers: they became like a crooked bow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/psalms/78-57.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=9847" 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">56</span>But they tested and disobeyed God Most High, for they did not keep His decrees. <span class="reftext">57</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/5472.htm" title="5472: way·yis·sō·ḡū (Conj-w:: V-Nifal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To move away, backslide. A primitive root; properly, to flinch, i.e. to go back, literally or figuratively.">They turned back</a> <a href="/hebrew/898.htm" title="898: way·yiḇ·gə·ḏū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To act or deal treacherously. A primitive root; to cover; figuratively, to act covertly; by implication, to pillage.">and were faithless</a> <a href="/hebrew/1.htm" title="1: ka·’ă·ḇō·w·ṯām (Prep-k:: N-mpc:: 3mp) -- Father. A primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application).">like their fathers,</a> <a href="/hebrew/2015.htm" title="2015: neh·pə·ḵū (V-Nifal-Perf-3cp) -- To turn, overturn. A primitive root; to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert.">twisted</a> <a href="/hebrew/7423.htm" title="7423: rə·mî·yāh (N-fs) -- Remissness, treachery. From ramah; remissness, treachery.">like a faulty</a> <a href="/hebrew/7198.htm" title="7198: kə·qe·šeṯ (Prep-k:: N-fsc) -- A bow. From qashah in the original sense of bending: a bow, for shooting or the iris.">bow.</a> </span><span class="reftext">58</span>They enraged Him with their high places and provoked His jealousy with their idols.…<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="/judges/2-17.htm">Judges 2:17</a></span><br />Israel, however, did not listen to their judges. Instead, they prostituted themselves with other gods and bowed down to them. They quickly turned from the way of their fathers, who had walked in obedience to the LORD’s commandments; they did not do as their fathers had done.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/7-16.htm">Hosea 7:16</a></span><br />They turn, but not to the Most High; they are like a faulty bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword for the cursing of their tongue; for this they will be ridiculed in the land of Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/3-6.htm">Jeremiah 3:6-10</a></span><br />Now in the days of King Josiah, the LORD said to me, “Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every green tree to prostitute herself there. / I thought that after she had done all these things, she would return to Me. But she did not return, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it. / She saw that because faithless Israel had committed adultery, I gave her a certificate of divorce and sent her away. Yet that unfaithful sister Judah had no fear and prostituted herself as well. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/1-4.htm">Isaiah 1:4</a></span><br />Alas, O sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who act corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD; they have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/20-21.htm">Ezekiel 20:21</a></span><br />But the children rebelled against Me. They did not walk in My statutes or carefully observe My ordinances—though the man who does these things will live by them—and they profaned My Sabbaths. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the wilderness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/32-15.htm">Deuteronomy 32:15</a></span><br />But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked—becoming fat, bloated, and gorged. He abandoned the God who made him and scorned the Rock of his salvation.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/17-15.htm">2 Kings 17:15</a></span><br />They rejected His statutes and the covenant He had made with their fathers, as well as the decrees He had given them. They pursued worthless idols and became worthless themselves, going after the surrounding nations that the LORD had commanded them not to imitate.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/36-14.htm">2 Chronicles 36:14</a></span><br />Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people multiplied their unfaithful deeds, following all the abominations of the nations, and they defiled the house of the LORD, which He had consecrated in Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/30-9.htm">Isaiah 30:9</a></span><br />These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to obey the LORD’s instruction.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/7-24.htm">Jeremiah 7:24</a></span><br />Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but they followed the stubborn inclinations of their own evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/23-37.htm">Matthew 23:37</a></span><br />O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/7-6.htm">Mark 7:6-7</a></span><br />Jesus answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. / They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/1-21.htm">Romans 1:21-23</a></span><br />For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/3-12.htm">Hebrews 3:12</a></span><br />See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_timothy/3-8.htm">2 Timothy 3:8</a></span><br />Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth. They are depraved in mind and disqualified from the faith.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.</p><p class="hdg">but</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/78-41.htm">Psalm 78:41</a></b></br> Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/judges/3-5.htm">Judges 3:5-7,12</a></b></br> And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites: … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/20-27.htm">Ezekiel 20:27,28</a></b></br> Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me… </p><p class="hdg">they were</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/78-8.htm">Psalm 78:8,10-37</a></b></br> And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation <i>that</i> set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hosea/7-16.htm">Hosea 7:16</a></b></br> They return, <i>but</i> not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this <i>shall be</i> their derision in the land of Egypt.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/psalms/68-28.htm">Acted</a> <a href="/psalms/78-9.htm">Bow</a> <a href="/psalms/75-4.htm">Deal</a> <a href="/psalms/73-15.htm">Dealt</a> <a href="/psalms/55-23.htm">Deceitful</a> <a href="/psalms/73-15.htm">Faithless</a> <a href="/psalms/78-12.htm">Fathers</a> <a href="/2_samuel/14-13.htm">Faulty</a> <a href="/psalms/78-37.htm">Hearts</a> <a href="/psalms/78-13.htm">Side</a> <a href="/psalms/59-5.htm">Treacherous</a> <a href="/psalms/73-15.htm">Treacherously</a> <a href="/psalms/78-41.htm">Turn</a> <a href="/psalms/78-44.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/job/18-10.htm">Twisted</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-27.htm">Unfaithfully</a> <a href="/jeremiah/15-18.htm">Unreliable</a> <a href="/psalms/78-36.htm">Untrue</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/psalms/106-6.htm">Acted</a> <a href="/psalms/81-9.htm">Bow</a> <a href="/psalms/83-9.htm">Deal</a> <a href="/psalms/103-10.htm">Dealt</a> <a href="/psalms/109-2.htm">Deceitful</a> <a href="/psalms/101-3.htm">Faithless</a> <a href="/psalms/79-8.htm">Fathers</a> <a href="/hosea/7-16.htm">Faulty</a> <a href="/psalms/81-12.htm">Hearts</a> <a href="/psalms/78-67.htm">Side</a> <a href="/psalms/119-158.htm">Treacherous</a> <a href="/psalms/119-158.htm">Treacherously</a> <a href="/psalms/79-12.htm">Turn</a> <a href="/psalms/78-66.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/proverbs/8-8.htm">Twisted</a> <a href="/ezekiel/15-8.htm">Unfaithfully</a> <a href="/jeremiah/15-18.htm">Unreliable</a> <a href="/psalms/119-158.htm">Untrue</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>They turned back</b><br>This phrase indicates a reversal or regression in behavior or faith. In the context of Israel's history, it often refers to the people's tendency to revert to disobedience and idolatry after periods of faithfulness. This pattern is seen throughout the Old Testament, such as in the Book of Judges, where Israel repeatedly falls away from God after being delivered from their enemies. The act of turning back suggests a conscious decision to abandon the covenant relationship with God.<p><b>and were faithless like their fathers,</b><br>The reference to "their fathers" points to the previous generations of Israelites who also struggled with faithfulness. This includes the generation that wandered in the wilderness for 40 years due to their lack of trust in God's promises (<a href="/numbers/14-33.htm">Numbers 14:33-34</a>). The term "faithless" underscores a breach of trust and loyalty, highlighting a recurring theme of spiritual infidelity. This pattern of behavior serves as a warning and a lesson for future generations, emphasizing the importance of steadfast faith.<p><b>twisted like a faulty bow.</b><br>A faulty bow is one that does not shoot arrows straight, symbolizing unreliability and ineffectiveness. In ancient warfare, a dependable bow was crucial for survival and success in battle. This metaphor illustrates the Israelites' spiritual unreliability and their failure to fulfill their purpose as God's chosen people. The imagery of a twisted bow can also be connected to the idea of moral and spiritual crookedness, contrasting with the straight and narrow path of righteousness. This metaphor is echoed in other scriptures, such as <a href="/hosea/7-16.htm">Hosea 7:16</a>, where Israel is described as a "deceitful bow," further emphasizing their unfaithfulness and the consequences of their actions.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The primary audience and subject of <a href="/bsb/psalms/78.htm">Psalm 78</a>, representing God's chosen people who repeatedly turned away from Him.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/f/fathers/ancestors.htm">Fathers/Ancestors</a></b><br>Refers to the previous generations of Israelites who were unfaithful to God, particularly during the wilderness wanderings.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The central figure who remains faithful despite the Israelites' repeated unfaithfulness.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/w/wilderness_wanderings.htm">Wilderness Wanderings</a></b><br>The period after the Exodus when the Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years due to their disobedience.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/f/faulty_bow.htm">Faulty Bow</a></b><br>A metaphor used to describe the Israelites' unreliability and failure to fulfill their purpose.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/f/faithfulness_to_god.htm">Faithfulness to God</a></b><br>Just as the Israelites were called to be faithful, we are called to remain steadfast in our relationship with God, avoiding the pitfalls of turning back to old ways.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/learning_from_the_past.htm">Learning from the Past</a></b><br>The history of the Israelites serves as a warning. We should learn from their mistakes and strive to live in obedience to God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_unreliability.htm">The Danger of Unreliability</a></b><br>Like a faulty bow, being unreliable in our faith can lead to missing the mark. We must aim to be consistent and dependable in our walk with God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/generational_influence.htm">Generational Influence</a></b><br>The actions of one generation can influence the next. We should strive to set a godly example for future generations, breaking cycles of unfaithfulness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/repentance_and_return.htm">Repentance and Return</a></b><br>When we find ourselves turning away from God, it is crucial to repent and return to Him, seeking His forgiveness and guidance.<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_defines_a_christian_family.htm">What defines a Christian family?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_guidance_for_christian_fathers.htm">What guidance does the Bible give to Christian fathers?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_psalm_40_7-8_and_nt_views_on_jesus_align.htm">Psalm 40:7-8 - The psalmist speaks of fulfilling what is written in the scroll; how does this align--or conflict--with later New Testament interpretations that apply these verses to Jesus?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_to_reconcile_zophar_with_psalm_73.htm">How do we reconcile Zophar's rigid cause-and-effect theology in Job 20 with other biblical passages (like Psalm 73) that acknowledge the prosperity of the wicked without immediate judgment?</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>(57) <span class= "bld">Turned aside . . .</span>--Better, <span class= "ital">turned like a relaxed bow. </span>(See Note to <a href="/psalms/78-9.htm" title="The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.">Psalm 78:9</a>.) The bows of the Hebrews, like those of other ancient nations, were probably, when unstrung, bent the reverse way to that assumed when strung, which makes the figure more expressive of the disposition which cannot be relied upon in the moment of need.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/psalms/78.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 57.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers</span> (comp. ver. 8, end the comment <span class="accented">ad</span> <span class="accented">loc</span>.). <span class="cmt_word">They were turned aside like a deceitful bow</span> (comp. <a href="/hosea/7-16.htm">Hosea 7:16</a>). A "deceitful bow" is one that fails in the hour of need, either breaking, or losing its strength, or sending its arrows wide of the mark. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/psalms/78-57.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">They turned back</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּסֹּ֣גוּ</span> <span class="translit">(way·yis·sō·ḡū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5472.htm">Strong's 5472: </a> </span><span class="str2">To move away, backslide</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and were faithless</span><br /><span class="heb">וַֽ֭יִּבְגְּדוּ</span> <span class="translit">(way·yiḇ·gə·ḏū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_898.htm">Strong's 898: </a> </span><span class="str2">To cover, to act covertly, to pillage</span><br /><br /><span class="word">like their fathers,</span><br /><span class="heb">כַּאֲבוֹתָ֑ם</span> <span class="translit">(ka·’ă·ḇō·w·ṯām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-k | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1.htm">Strong's 1: </a> </span><span class="str2">Father</span><br /><br /><span class="word">twisted</span><br /><span class="heb">נֶ֝הְפְּכ֗וּ</span> <span class="translit">(neh·pə·ḵū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2015.htm">Strong's 2015: </a> </span><span class="str2">To turn about, over, to change, overturn, return, pervert</span><br /><br /><span class="word">like a faulty</span><br /><span class="heb">רְמִיָּֽה׃</span> <span class="translit">(rə·mî·yāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7423.htm">Strong's 7423: </a> </span><span class="str2">Remissness, treachery</span><br /><br /><span class="word">bow.</span><br /><span class="heb">כְּקֶ֣שֶׁת</span> <span class="translit">(kə·qe·šeṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7198.htm">Strong's 7198: </a> </span><span class="str2">A bow, for, shooting, the iris</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/psalms/78-57.htm">Psalm 78:57 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/psalms/78-57.htm">Psalm 78:57 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/psalms/78-57.htm">Psalm 78:57 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/psalms/78-57.htm">Psalm 78:57 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/psalms/78-57.htm">Psalm 78:57 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/psalms/78-57.htm">Psalm 78:57 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/psalms/78-57.htm">Psalm 78:57 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/psalms/78-57.htm">Psalm 78:57 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/psalms/78-57.htm">Psalm 78:57 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/psalms/78-57.htm">Psalm 78:57 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/psalms/78-57.htm">OT Poetry: Psalm 78:57 But turned back and dealt treacherously like (Psalm Ps Psa.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/psalms/78-56.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Psalm 78:56"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Psalm 78:56" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/psalms/78-58.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Psalm 78:58"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Psalm 78:58" /></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>