Psalms 78:31

God’s anger flared against them, and He put to death their strongest and subdued the young men of Israel.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The psalmist narrates God’s judgment against the Israelites during their wilderness journey, striking them at the precise moment they were still consuming the food they greedily demanded.

The words — The Hebrew אֱלֹהִים עָלָה ('E.lo.Him 'a.Lah) literally means "God went up," depicting the sudden ascent of divine anger, while בְּמִשְׁמַנֵּי הֶם (bə.mish.ma.nei he.m) translates to "among their fat ones," identifying the strongest or most vigorous individuals.

The thread — This motif of judgment targeting the elite of a rebellious nation recurs in Isaiah 10:16, where the Lord sends a wasting disease among Assyria’s stout warriors.

Why it lands — The text states that God killed their strongest and subdued Israel's young men, requiring the reader to acknowledge that material provision never nullifies accountability for persistent rebellion.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְאַ֤ףve./'Afand/ [the] anger of אֱלֹהִ֨ים׀'E.lo.HimGod עָ֘לָ֤ה'a.Lahit went upבָהֶ֗םva./Hemin/ themוַֽ֭יַּהֲרֹגVa/i.ya.ha.rogand/ he killed בְּמִשְׁמַנֵּיהֶ֑םbe./mish.ma.nei./Hemamong/ vigorous ones/ their וּבַחוּרֵ֖יu./va.chu.Reiand/ [the] young men of יִשְׂרָאֵ֣לYis.ra.'ElIsrael הִכְרִֽיעַ׃hikh.Ri.a'he made bow down

King James Version

The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.

Cross-references

Isaiah 10:16 Therefore the Lord GOD of Hosts will send a wasting disease among Assyria’s stout warriors, and under his pomp will be kindled a fire like a burning flame.