Bible Strands
Psalms 78:61
He delivered His strength to captivity, and His splendor to the hand of the adversary.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses Israel while recounting God’s historical judgments immediately after the abandonment of the tabernacle at Shiloh. This statement records the direct consequence of that abandonment before detailing the subsequent military defeat.
The words — עֻזּ֑/וֹ (u.Z/o) translates literally as “his strength,” and צָֽר\׃ (Tzar) means “the opponent.” These terms anchor the verse in the physical transfer of divine power and the rise of hostile forces.
The thread — The theme of divine strength being captured or displaced runs through 1 Samuel 4:17 during the Philistine conquest and is recalled in Psalms 132:8 as a plea to restore that strength. The loss of sacred authority parallels the priestly corruption and idolatry described in Judges 18:30.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to acknowledge that God’s judgment involves actively relinquishing His manifested presence and power to hostile forces when His covenant people rebel. It establishes a direct causal link between abandoned worship and national vulnerability.
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
King James Version
And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy’s hand.
Cross-references
- Psalms 132:8 Arise, O LORD, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength.
- Judges 18:30 The Danites set up idols for themselves, and Jonathan son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.
- 1 Samuel 4:17 The messenger answered, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been a great slaughter among the people. Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are both dead, and the ark of God has been captured.”
- 1 Samuel 4:21 And she named the boy Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel,” because the ark of God had been captured and her father-in-law and her husband had been killed.
- Exodus 40:34 Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
- 2 Chronicles 6:41 Now therefore, arise, O LORD God, and enter Your resting place, You and the ark of Your might. May Your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and may Your godly ones rejoice in goodness.
- Psalms 24:7 Lift up your heads, O gates! Be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of Glory may enter!
- Psalms 63:2 So I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and glory.