The Meaning of Psalms 78:58 Explained

Psalms 78:58

KJV: For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.

YLT: And make Him angry with their high places, And with their graven images make Him zealous,

Darby: And they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.

ASV: For they provoked him to anger with their high places, And moved him to jealousy with their graven images.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For they provoked him to anger  with their high places,  and moved him to jealousy  with their graven images. 

What does Psalms 78:58 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 78:49-58 - Safely Led, Yet Bent On Wandering
This section of the psalm deals largely with the books of Joshua and Judges. The failures that had characterized the Wilderness crossed the Jordan with the Chosen People, and were the reason of their sufferings and captivities in what might otherwise have been a period of uninterrupted blessedness. In fact, the sins of the Land of Promise were even more disastrous. The Israelites were intended to be to Jehovah what the bow is to the huntsman or warrior; but they absolutely failed Him. They were turned aside like a deceitful bow, Psalms 78:57.
The lesson for older believers is very searching. Some readers of these words may recall that, at a notable period in the past, they crossed the river of death to sin and life unto God. Jordan stands for consecration. It should be remembered, however, that no matter how rich and lofty have been the experiences of past blessing, we cannot be immune from failures, unless we watch and pray and live in abiding fellowship with Jesus Christ. The soul which has passed the Jordan is attacked by the principalities and powers in the heavenlies, Ephesians 6:12, and has an even harder time of it. The nearer the Captain, the more perilous the position. [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 78:58 mean?

For they provoked Him to anger with their high places and with their carved images moved Him to jealousy
וַיַּכְעִיס֥וּהוּ בְּבָמוֹתָ֑ם וּ֝בִפְסִילֵיהֶ֗ם יַקְנִיאֽוּהוּ

וַיַּכְעִיס֥וּהוּ  For  they  provoked  Him  to  anger 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּעַס  
Sense: to be angry, be vexed, be indignant, be wroth, be grieved, provoke to anger and wrath.
בְּבָמוֹתָ֑ם  with  their  high  places 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: בָּמָה  
Sense: high place, ridge, height, bamah (technical name for cultic platform).
וּ֝בִפְסִילֵיהֶ֗ם  and  with  their  carved  images 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: פָּסִיל  
Sense: image, idol, graven image.
יַקְנִיאֽוּהוּ  moved  Him  to  jealousy 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, third person masculine singular
Root: קָנָא  
Sense: to envy, be jealous, be envious, be zealous.