The anger of God rose against them And killed some of their strongest ones, And subdued the choice men of Israel.
Parallel translations
- WEB when the anger of God went up against them, killed some of their fattest, and struck down the young men of Israel.
- KJV The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.
- BSB God’s anger flared against them, and He put to death their strongest and subdued the young men of Israel.
- NKJV The wrath of God came against them, And slew the stoutest of them, And struck down the choice men of Israel.
- NLT the anger of God rose against them, and he killed their strongest men. He struck down the finest of Israel’s young men.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God's anger fell and struck down many of the strongest among them. Granted cravings turned into judgment.
Overview
In the very moment of indulgence, God's wrath killed 'the fattest' and the young men. This recalls the plague at Kibroth-hattaavah (Numbers 11), where craving brought death. It sobers readers to the truth that God's gifts misused under unbelief can become instruments of judgment, underscoring our need for the mercy found in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 1
- Isa 10:16Therefore the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, will send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory a burning will be kindled like the burning of fire.
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The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 78:31 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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