Psalm 78 18

Psalm 78:18 kjv

And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.

Psalm 78:18 nkjv

And they tested God in their heart By asking for the food of their fancy.

Psalm 78:18 niv

They willfully put God to the test by demanding the food they craved.

Psalm 78:18 esv

They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved.

Psalm 78:18 nlt

They stubbornly tested God in their hearts,
demanding the foods they craved.

Psalm 78 verses

Psalm 78 18 Meaning

Psalm 78:18 details the internal rebellion of the Israelites against God in the wilderness. They did not simply request food out of need but intentionally challenged and provoked God in their hearts by demanding sustenance that indulged their carnal desires and lacked faith in His benevolent provision. This act stemmed from an inner attitude of discontentment and an ungodly craving, demonstrating their testing of God's character and power despite His earlier miracles.

Psalm 78 18 Context

Psalm 78 is a sweeping didactic poem, a maskil of Asaph, that recounts Israel's long history of rebellion and God's unwavering faithfulness. It serves as a stark warning to future generations not to repeat the sins of their ancestors. The psalm details various episodes from the wilderness wanderings to the establishment of the monarchy, highlighting Israel's stubbornness, idolatry, and forgetfulness of God's mighty acts.

Verse 18 specifically falls within the narrative of the Exodus generation's time in the wilderness. Despite witnessing the miraculous splitting of the sea, the provision of manna, and water from the rock (as mentioned in earlier verses of Psalm 78), the Israelites consistently rebelled. This verse precedes God's further provision of quail (vv. 26-29) but highlights their sin before that provision was given, emphasizing their wicked internal disposition that drove their demand, rather than genuine hunger alone. It reflects a pattern of challenging God's sovereignty and His provision rather than humbly trusting in Him.

Psalm 78 18 Word analysis

• And they tempted (וַיְנַסּוּ - vay'nassu): Derived from the Hebrew root nasah (נסה). This verb means "to test," "to try," or "to prove." In a positive sense, God may test humans (e.g., Gen 22:1, Deut 8:2) to prove their faith. However, when humans "tempt" God, it implies a negative act—a challenging, a provoking, or putting Him to the test with suspicion and a lack of faith in His power or willingness. It suggests they were seeking to determine if God was truly capable or if He would perform according to their terms.

• God (אֵל - 'el): A foundational Hebrew name for God, emphasizing His power, strength, and authority. The act of "tempting El" highlights the audacity and gravity of their sin, challenging the very essence of the Almighty.

• in their heart (בִּלְבָבָם - bil'vavam): The Hebrew levav (heart) is not merely the physical organ but the seat of intellect, will, emotions, and moral character in biblical thought. "In their heart" signifies that this temptation was not a superficial act or an outburst due to sudden hardship alone, but stemmed from a deep-seated inner condition—unbelief, rebellion, and a critical spirit that harbored doubt and discontent towards God. It indicates the source of their sin was internal.

• by asking (לִשְׁאֹל - lish'ol): From the Hebrew root sha'al (שאל), meaning "to ask," "to inquire," or "to demand." While asking is legitimate, in this context, coupled with "tempted" and "for their lust," it implies a demanding or challenging request rather than a humble petition born of trust. It was not an innocent request for help but a challenge, a claim based on their own desire.

• meat (אֹכֶל - 'okhel): General Hebrew term for "food" or "eating." While manna was provided daily (Exod 16), their "asking for meat" (referring to the event in Num 11 concerning quail) went beyond basic sustenance. It signified a specific, desirable form of food, indicating a craving for luxury or variety over simple, sufficient provision.

• for their lust (לְנַפְשָׁם - l'nafsham): The Hebrew nephesh (נפש) is most often translated as "soul," "life," or "person." However, it can also refer to "appetite," "desire," or "throat." Here, it points to an unbridled, sensual craving, an excessive and self-gratifying desire beyond legitimate need. The KJV "lust" captures the morally problematic and insatiable nature of this craving. It wasn't about survival but about indulging a disordered desire.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "They tempted God in their heart": This phrase emphasizes the internal nature of their rebellion. Their hearts, the core of their being, were set against God, questioning His authority and provision. This was a direct, calculated challenge born from unbelief, not just a reaction to hunger.
  • "by asking meat for their lust": This reveals the specific manifestation and underlying motive of their temptation. Their "asking" was not a prayer of faith but a demanding act, fueled by an insatiable and ungodly craving (lust) for specific food (meat) rather than being content with God's miraculous daily provision of manna. It reveals their physical desires dictated their spiritual attitude.

Psalm 78 18 Bonus section

The sin described in Psalm 78:18 is fundamentally an act of presumption and unbelief. It demonstrates a critical posture where humanity attempts to set conditions for God's provision or test His willingness to act. This is distinct from trusting God through trials. The focus on "their heart" indicates that this was not merely an impulsive act but rooted in a developed attitude of rebellion against the Divine order. The "lust" was a perversion of a natural desire (for food) into an obsessive craving that excluded gratitude and contentment, illustrating how legitimate needs can become sinful desires when God is left out of the equation. This particular testing in the wilderness prefigures similar spiritual battles that believers face when immediate desires contend with the call for faithful endurance and trust in God's perfect will and timing.

Psalm 78 18 Commentary

Psalm 78:18 exposes the core problem of Israel's persistent unfaithfulness: it originated in the heart. Their demand for "meat" was not born of genuine hunger for survival but from a deeper, faithless discontent and an unholy craving for self-indulgence. This "lust" led them to "tempt God," a grave offense that revealed a suspicion about His goodness and ability to provide, despite the unparalleled miracles they had already witnessed. Their "asking" became a defiant challenge, implying they believed God either couldn't or wouldn't provide to their extravagant desires, thereby putting His character and power to the test. This spiritual disease in their hearts made them resistant to God's patient guidance and ultimately led to severe consequences. The verse serves as a timeless reminder that genuine faith involves trusting God's provision and being content with His wisdom, rather than allowing base desires to dictate our relationship with Him and provoke His just anger.