The Meaning of Psalms 78:63 Explained

Psalms 78:63

KJV: The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage.

YLT: His young men hath fire consumed, And His virgins have not been praised.

Darby: The fire consumed their young men, and their maidens were not praised in nuptial song;

ASV: Fire devoured their young men; And their virgins had no marriage-song.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The fire  consumed  their young men;  and their maidens  were not given to marriage. 

What does Psalms 78:63 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 78:59-72 - God Raises Up His Shepherd David
This paragraph continues the history of the Judges, and tells the story of what befell after the battle in which Eli's sons were slain. See 1 Samuel 4:1-22. It is difficult to estimate the despair which that disaster caused, because Israel seemed the light-bearer of the world. What hope was there for mankind, if its lamp of testimony was extinguished!
It inspires great confidence, however, to read in Psalms 78:65 of God's awakening. The language, of course, is highly metaphorical, because He neither slumbers nor sleeps. But there have been many times in the history of the Church when He has seemed to be indifferent. Sin and evil have held undisputed sway. Then a time of revival has suddenly set in. Some David or Daniel, some Athanasius or Augustine, some Wycliffe or Luther, some Spurgeon or Moody, has been brought from an obscure family-"one of the least of the thousands of Judah"-and he has led the host of God with unerring accuracy and success. Even at this hour, amid the sheepfolds or the far-spreading acres of the Western world, God is probably training the ardently looked-for leaders of His Church. [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 78:63 mean?

Their young men consumed the fire and their maidens not were given in marriage
בַּחוּרָ֥יו אָֽכְלָה־ אֵ֑שׁ וּ֝בְתוּלֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א הוּלָּֽלוּ

בַּחוּרָ֥יו  Their  young  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּחוּר 
Sense: youth, young man.
אָֽכְלָה־  consumed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
אֵ֑שׁ  the  fire 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: אֵשׁ  
Sense: fire.
וּ֝בְתוּלֹתָ֗יו  and  their  maidens 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בְּתוּלָה  
Sense: virgin.
הוּלָּֽלוּ  were  given  in  marriage 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: הָלַל 
Sense: to shine.