Psalms 78:32
in Psalms 78In spite of all this, they kept on sinning; despite His wonderful works, they did not believe.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For all this they sinned still, And believed not in his wondrous works.
KJV
For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.
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This verse in Psalms 78
Commentary
8 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
they kept on sinning
on Psalms 78:32-39
They kept on sinning, and when He slew them they sought Him, then remembered that God was their Rock. Their repentance reached the mouth and stopped, and their hearts stayed disloyal to His covenant. He forgave them anyway, remembering they were flesh.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
But the generation crooked and embittering, "in all these things sinned yet more, and they believed not in His wonderful works." "And in their days failed in vanity." Though they might, if they had believed have had days in truth without failing, with Him to whom hath been said, "Thy years shall not fail." Therefore, "their days failed in vanity, and their years with haste." For the whole life of mortal men is hastening, and that which seemeth to be longer is but a vapour of somewhat longer duration.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
For all this they sinned still,....
Those hearts are hard indeed that will neither be melted by the mercies of God nor broken by his judgments. They persisting in their sins, God proceeded in his judgments, but they were judgments of another nature, which wrought not suddenly, but slowly.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
For all this they sinned still. Judgments moved them no more than mercies. They defied the wrath of God. Though death was in the cup of their iniquity, yet they would not put it away, but continued to quaff it as if it were a healthful potion. How truly might these words be applied to ungodly men who have been often afflicted, laid upon a sick bed, broken in spirit, and impoverished in estate, and yet have persevered in their evil ways, unmoved by terrors, unswayed by threatenings. And believed not for his wondrous works.
For all this they sinned still. Judgments moved them no more than mercies. They defied the wrath of God. Though death was in the cup of their iniquity, yet they would not put it away, but continued to quaff it as if it were a healthful potion. How truly might these words be applied to ungodly men who have been often afflicted, laid upon a sick bed, broken in spirit, and impoverished in estate, and yet have persevered in their evil ways, unmoved by terrors, unswayed by threatenings. And believed not for his wondrous works. Their unbelief was chronic and incurable. Miracles both of mercy and judgment were unavailing. They might be made to wonder, but they could not be taught to believe. Continuance in sin and in unbelief go together. Had they believed they would not have sinned, had they not have been blinded by sin they would have believed. There is a reflex action between faith and character. How can the lover of sin believe? How, on the other hand, can the unbeliever cease from sin? God's ways with us in providence are in themselves both convincing and converting, but unrenewed nature refuses to be either convicted or converted by them.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
For all this they sinned still - How astonishing is this! They were neither drawn by mercies, nor awed by judgments! But we shall cease to wonder at this, if we have a thorough acquaintance with our own hearts.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For all this they sinned still - Even this did not reclaim them, and prevent their sinning. Heavy judgments do not always restrain men from sin. Not unfrequently they take occasion from such judgments to sin the more. And believed not for his wondrous works - They did not trust in His wondrous works; or, those works did not have the effect of producing faith. See Psa 78:22-23. The same thing occurred in the life of the Saviour. Joh 12:37.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| בְּכָל־ | bekhol | in all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| זֹ֭את | zot | this | H2063 → | 603 times |
| חָֽטְאוּ־ | chateu- | they sinned | H2398 → | 238 times |
| ע֑וֹד | od | again | H5750 → | 490 times |
| וְלֹֽא־ | velo'- | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| הֶ֝אֱמִ֗ינוּ | heeminu | they believed | H539 → | 106 times |
| בְּנִפְלְאוֹתָֽיו׃ | benifleotav | in wonders his | H6381 → | 71 times |
בְּכָל־in all
bekholH3605 →5413 times
זֹ֭אתthis
zotH2063 →603 times
חָֽטְאוּ־they sinned
chateu-H2398 →238 times
ע֑וֹדagain
odH5750 →490 times
וְלֹֽא־and not
velo'-H3808 →5168 times
הֶ֝אֱמִ֗ינוּthey believed
heeminuH539 →106 times
בְּנִפְלְאוֹתָֽיו׃in wonders his
benifleotavH6381 →71 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Luke 16:31Then Abraham said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 4:3
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
- Acts 28:23
So they set a day to meet with Paul, and many people came to the place he was staying. He expounded to them from morning to evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and…
- John 11:43–53
After Jesus had said this, He called out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
- 2 Corinthians 4:3
Through
Ezekiel 20:13Yet the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not follow My statutes and they rejected My ordinances—though the man who does these things will live by them—and they utterly…
it leads to
- Ezekiel 20:21
But the children rebelled against Me. They did not walk in My statutes or carefully observe My ordinances—though the man who does these things will live by them—and they profaned My Sabbaths. So I…
- Ezekiel 20:8
But they rebelled against Me and refused to listen. None of them cast away the abominations before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I resolved to pour out…
- Ezekiel 20:21
Through
Psalms 78:22because they did not believe God or rely on His salvation.
it leads to
- Hebrews 3:18–19
And to whom did He swear that they would never enter His rest? Was it not to those who disobeyed?
- Jude 1:5
Although you are fully aware of this, I want to remind you that after Jesus had delivered His people out of the land of Egypt, He destroyed those who did not believe.
- Hebrews 3:18–19
Through
John 12:37Although Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still did not believe in Him.
it leads to
- Luke 16:31
Then Abraham said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”
- Luke 16:31
Where this verse is studied
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About Psalms
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 78; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 3; John Calvin, Commentary on the Book of Psalms; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.