Psalms 78:36

36 And -- they deceive Him with their mouth, And with their tongue do lie to Him,

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.

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Psalms 78:36 In-Context

34 If He slew them, then they sought Him, And turned back, and sought God earnestly,

35 And they remember that God [is] their rock, And God Most High their redeemer.

36 And -- they deceive Him with their mouth, And with their tongue do lie to Him,

37 And their heart hath not been right with Him, And they have not been stedfast in His covenant.

38 And He -- the Merciful One, Pardoneth iniquity, and destroyeth not, And hath often turned back His anger, And waketh not up all His fury.