The Meaning of Psalms 78:9 Explained

Psalms 78:9

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

YLT: Sons of Ephraim -- armed bearers of bow, Have turned in a day of conflict.

Darby: The sons of Ephraim, armed bowmen, turned back in the day of battle.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Psalms 78:9 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 78:1-12 - Learning From The Fathers
This psalm is said to have arisen, from a strong controversy between Judah and Ephraim as to the location of God's sanctuary, and its final transfer within the limits of the tribe of Judah. The psalmist enumerates the moral and spiritual considerations that led to the choice. See Psalms 78:67-68. The great message of the psalm is the inconstancy of the people, which so often manifested itself. Whose spirit was not stedfast with God, Psalms 78:8. They turned back in battle, Psalms 78:9. See also Psalms 78:17; Psalms 78:37; Psalms 78:41; Psalms 78:57. It may be that the psalmist implies that these failures were for the most part Ephraim's, and that therefore Judah was chosen. Surely, however, there was not much to choose between them, and whatever favor was shown to either of them was wholly attributable to God's unchanging mercy.
This hymn was probably intended to be learned by the children in the Hebrew home, that they might set their hearts on God and not forget His works. It is a good practice to store the fresh memories of the young with the words of Scripture, which will often return in afterlife in hours of temptation and distress. The memorizing of the Word of God is a most valuable habit. The wheels of the mind and heart must grind-let them grind wheat. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 78

1  An exhortation both to learn and to preach, the law of God
9  The story of God's wrath against the incredulous and disobedient
67  The Israelites being rejected, God chose Judah, Zion, and David

What do the individual words in Psalms 78:9 mean?

The sons of Ephraim [being] armed [and] carrying bows Turned back in the day of battle
בְּֽנֵי־ אֶפְרַ֗יִם נוֹשְׁקֵ֥י רוֹמֵי־ קָ֑שֶׁת הָ֝פְכ֗וּ בְּי֣וֹם קְרָֽב

בְּֽנֵי־  The  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אֶפְרַ֗יִם  of  Ephraim 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֶפְרַיִם  
Sense: second son of Joseph, blessed by him and given preference over first son, Manasseh.
נוֹשְׁקֵ֥י  [being]  armed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: נָשַׁק 
Sense: to put together, kiss.
רוֹמֵי־  [and]  carrying 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: רָמָה 
Sense: to cast, shoot, hurl.
קָ֑שֶׁת  bows 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: קֶשֶׁת  
Sense: bow.
הָ֝פְכ֗וּ  Turned  back 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: הָפַךְ  
Sense: to turn, overthrow, overturn.
בְּי֣וֹם  in  the  day 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
קְרָֽב  of  battle 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קְרָב  
Sense: battle, war.