Psalms 78:57

57 But turned back and acted unfaithfully like their fathers; They were turned aside like a deceitful bow.

Psalms 78:57 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 78:57

But turned back
From God and his worship, apostatized from the true religion, and turned to idols:

and dealt unfaithfully, like their fathers;
in the wilderness; see ( Psalms 78:8 Psalms 78:36 Psalms 78:37 ) ,

they were turned aside like a deceitful bow;
that promises well to carry the arrow right, but drops it at the feet of the archer; or carries it another way, so that it misses the mark, The Targum is,

``as a bow casting arrows;''

to the ground, and not to the mark; see ( Hosea 7:16 ) , or being too much stretched is suddenly broken, and kills the archer; or returns to its own nature; so Arama.

Psalms 78:57 In-Context

55 He also drove out the nations before them, Allotted them an inheritance by survey, And made the tribes of Israel dwell in their tents.

56 Yet they tested and provoked the Most High God, And did not keep His testimonies,

57 But turned back and acted unfaithfully like their fathers; They were turned aside like a deceitful bow.

58 For they provoked Him to anger with their high places, And moved Him to jealousy with their carved images.

59 When God heard this, He was furious, And greatly abhorred Israel,