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Psalm 78:61

and delivered his strength into captivity, his glory into the adversary’s hand.

59When God heard this, he was angry, and greatly abhorred Israel,
60so that he abandoned the tent of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men,
61and delivered his strength into captivity, his glory into the adversary’s hand.
62He also gave his people over to the sword, and was angry with his inheritance.
63Fire devoured their young men. Their virgins had no wedding song.
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← Psalm 78:60Psalm 78:62 →
Notice

“His glory” passes into an enemy’s hand, a stark account of judgment that unsettles any assumption that holy things guarantee safety.

Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.

What troubles you about God delivering his own glory into an adversary’s hand?

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How does the anger described in the surrounding verses shape your reading of this captivity?

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How does this account challenge your assumptions about holy things and safety?

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Connect

Where else Scripture says this

11 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.

This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
1 Chronicles 16:11Seek the LORD and his strength. Seek his face forever more.Both passages speak of God’s strength: Chronicles urges seeking it, while the psalm recounts God delivering his strength into captivity.
1 Samuel 4:21She named the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel!” because God’s ark was taken, and because of her father-in-law and her husband.The naming of Ichabod links Israel’s departed glory with the captured ark, clarifying the psalm’s language of glory handed over.
Psalm 132:8Arise, LORD, into your resting place, you, and the ark of your strength.Psalm 132 associates God’s strength with the ark at rest, while Psalm 78 describes his strength delivered into captivity.
Judges 18:30The children of Dan set up for themselves the engraved image; and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his sons were priests to the tribe of the …Both mention captivity, though Judges describes Dan’s image and priesthood, while the psalm speaks of God handing over his glory.
1 Samuel 4:17He who brought the news answered, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been also a great slaughter among the people. Your two sons also, …Samuel reports the ark’s capture amid Israel’s defeat, the event Psalm 78 describes as God delivering his glory to the adversary.
1 Samuel 6:1The LORD’s ark was in the country of the Philistines seven months.The ark’s seven months among the Philistines give concrete duration to the captivity recalled in the psalm.
Psalm 63:2So I have seen you in the sanctuary, watching your power and your glory.Both associate God’s glory with his might, though Psalm 63 describes sanctuary worship and Psalm 78 describes captivity.
Psalm 24:7Lift up your heads, you gates! Be lifted up, you everlasting doors, and the King of glory will come in.Glory belongs to God in both passages, whether the King is entering or his glory is handed to an adversary.
2 Chronicles 6:41“Now therefore arise, LORD God, into your resting place, you, and the ark of your strength. Let your priests, LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let your …Chronicles names the ark with God’s strength and seeks its rest; the psalm recounts that strength being delivered into captivity.
Exodus 40:34Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the LORD’s glory filled the tabernacle.Exodus describes God’s glory filling the tabernacle; the psalm recounts that glory being delivered into an adversary’s hand.
Romans 9:4who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service, and the promises;Romans names glory among Israel’s gifts, while the psalm recounts God handing his glory over to an adversary.
Where this verse fits

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One step

Something small to carry out of this verse

Read Psalm 78:61 alongside 1 Samuel 4:17

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Encouragement

Israel’s loss here has a stated setting: God’s anger toward his people. The verse gives no basis for treating every loss you face as the same judgment.

Now put it in your words.

Start an entry on Psalm 78:61. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.

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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).