Psalms 78:31 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

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

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

God's anger fell upon them, and he killed the strongest among them and struck down the best young men of Israel.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

This verse describes God's judgment falling on the Israelites, taking the lives of their strongest and most promising people as consequences for their disobedience.

📚 Historical Context

Psalms 78 is a historical psalm attributed to Asaph that recounts Israel's repeated rebellions against God during their wilderness journey, emphasizing His miraculous provisions like manna and water. In this verse, it specifically refers to the incident in Numbers 11 where the Israelites complained about their food, prompting God to send quail in abundance but then unleash a plague as judgment for their greed and lack of faith. This event highlights God's holiness and the serious consequences of ingratitude toward His care.

Explore Similar Verses

Psalms 105:36

He struck down all the firstborn in their land, the best and strongest of all their people.

Psalms 78:51

And he struck down all the firstborn sons in Egypt; the strongest and best of their families in the land of Ham.

Psalms 76:5

The proud and arrogant have been defeated and stripped of their power; they have fallen into the sleep of death, and none of the mighty warriors can even lift their hands to fight.

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📚 Historical Context

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