Psalms 78:58
For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Deuteronomy 32:21They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.Leviticus 26:30And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you.1 Corinthians 10:22Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?Deuteronomy 12:2Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree:1 Kings 11:7Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.1 Kings 12:31And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.
Historical Context
Throughout the judges and monarchy periods, Israel struggled with Baal and Asherah worship, often integrating pagan practices with Yahweh worship. The high places remained a snare even under some godly kings (1 Kings 15:14, 22:43). God's jealousy eventually expressed itself in Assyrian (722 BC) and Babylonian (586 BC) exile.
Questions for Reflection
- What modern 'high places' (culturally acceptable idolatries) tempt believers to syncretistic worship?
- How should understanding God's jealousy as marital devotion rather than petty envy affect your worship?
- What heart idols (career, comfort, approval) might you need to 'cast out' from your personal 'high places'?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images. The causative For explains Israel's treachery—idolatry, the ultimate covenant violation. High places (bamot, בָּמוֹת) were elevated worship sites, often Canaanite shrines Israel adopted for syncretistic worship. They provoked him to anger (vakhi'isuhu, וַיַּכְעִיסוּהוּ), using vocabulary of intense emotional response to betrayal.
Moved him to jealousy (yakni'uhu, יַקְנִיאוּהוּ) employs marital language—God's jealousy isn't petty envy but righteous zeal for exclusive relationship. He is 'a jealous God' (El kanna, אֵל קַנָּא, Exodus 20:5) who refuses to share affection with idols. Graven images (pesilim, פְּסִילִים) were carved idols, direct violations of the second commandment.
This verse exposes idolatry's heinousness—it's spiritual adultery against a faithful husband. Israel took God's gifts (the land, prosperity) and used them to worship other deities. Paul later identifies covetousness as idolatry (Colossians 3:5), showing that any rival affection provokes divine jealousy.