Psalms 78:36

36 But they didn't mean it when they praised him. They lied to him when they spoke.

Psalms 78:36 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 78:36

Nevertheless, they did flatter him with their mouth
In prayer to him, they only drew nigh to him with their mouths, and honoured him with their lips; they showed much love to him and his ways and ordinances hereby; but their hearts were not with him, but after their lusts; they made fine speeches and fair promises, but their hearts and mouths did not agree; they spoke with a double heart, thinking and endeavouring to "deceive" the Lord, as the word ^F2 here used signifies; but he is not to be deceived, nor will he be mocked; the Targum is,

``they allured (or persuaded) him, with their mouth;''

they attempted to do so; the Syriac and Arabic versions are, "they loved him with their mouth"; professed great love and sincere affection to him, when they had none:

and they lied unto him with their tongues;
to lie unto men is bad, but to God is worse; and it is a most vain and foolish thing, since there is not a word in the tongue of any but is known to him.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F2 (whwtpyw) "quamvis conarentur eum decipere", Junius & Tremellius; "attamen decipiebant eum", Cocceius.

Psalms 78:36 In-Context

34 Every time God killed some of them, the others would look to him. They gladly turned back to him again.

35 They remembered that God was their Rock. They remembered that God Most High had set them free.

36 But they didn't mean it when they praised him. They lied to him when they spoke.

37 Their hearts were not true to him. They weren't faithful to the covenant he had made with them.

38 But he was full of tender love. He forgave their sins and didn't destroy his people. Time after time he held back his anger. He didn't let all of his burning anger blaze out.