Psalm 78 32

Psalm 78:32 kjv

For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.

Psalm 78:32 nkjv

In spite of this they still sinned, And did not believe in His wondrous works.

Psalm 78:32 niv

In spite of all this, they kept on sinning; in spite of his wonders, they did not believe.

Psalm 78:32 esv

In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe.

Psalm 78:32 nlt

But in spite of this, the people kept sinning.
Despite his wonders, they refused to trust him.

Psalm 78 verses

Psalm 78 32 Meaning

Psalm 78:32 reveals the deep-seated rebellion and unbelief of the Israelites despite abundant evidence of God's power and provision. It highlights their persistent sinfulness even after witnessing divine judgments and receiving miraculous sustenance, demonstrating a fundamental distrust in God's character and His mighty acts. This verse underscores the human propensity for hardening the heart against the Creator, regardless of His faithfulness and awe-inspiring deeds.

Psalm 78 32 Context

Psalm 78 is a Maskil (a didactic or contemplative psalm) attributed to Asaph. It is a historical psalm, recounting God's dealings with Israel from the Exodus through the establishment of David's kingdom. The primary purpose is to teach subsequent generations not to repeat the failures of their ancestors. It highlights God's continuous faithfulness contrasted with Israel's chronic unfaithfulness, rebellion, and unbelief, particularly during their wilderness wanderings. Verses 9-72 detail numerous instances where Israel rebelled despite God's provisions and mighty acts (e.g., manna, water from the rock, quails). Verse 32 specifically follows God's provision of quail, emphasizing that even this miraculous bounty did not lead to repentance or genuine faith, but rather persistent sin and lack of trust in God's power and benevolent intentions. The psalm acts as a cautionary tale, demonstrating the consequences of a hard heart and the danger of failing to learn from past divine instruction and judgment. It serves as a polemic against the complacency of assuming divine favor without obedience and against any human-centric worldview that minimizes God's sovereign power and faithfulness.

Psalm 78 32 Word analysis

• For all this: This phrase acts as a significant connective, pointing back to the immense provisions and even disciplinary actions God had undertaken, such as sending meat (quail) and manna (Ps 78:27-30). It signifies the astonishing persistence of their rebellion despite clear, undeniable divine intervention and experience.
• they sinned: The Hebrew verb is ḥāṭāʾ (חָטָא), meaning "to miss the mark," "to go astray," "to err," or "to transgress." In this context, it speaks of a deliberate act of wrongdoing against God's will and law. The tense implies continued or repeated action.
• still: The Hebrew particle ʿôḏ (עוֹד) translates to "yet," "still," or "again." It conveys persistence, reiteration, or continuation. Its placement here emphasizes the unrelenting nature of their sin, a stubborn refusal to change direction, even in the face of recent divine manifestations and discipline.
• and did not believe: The Hebrew verb is ʾāmán (אָמַן) in the Hiphil stem, meaning "to put one's trust in," "to be firm," "to have faith," "to confirm." The negation wělōʾ heʾĕmînû (וְלֹא הֶאֱמִינוּ) indicates a fundamental absence of faith or trust. This wasn't just doubt; it was an active rejection of faith, a refusal to commit to God or take Him at His word. It highlights the internal, spiritual root of their outward sin.
• in His wondrous works: The Hebrew is bĕniflĕʾōṯāyw (בְּנִפְלְאוֹתָיו), where niflĕʾōṯ (נִפְלָאוֹת) refers to "miracles," "marvels," "wonders," or "extraordinary deeds." These are acts demonstrating God's supernatural power and majesty, especially those accompanying the Exodus and wilderness journey (e.g., manna, water from the rock, deliverance from enemies, the plagues in Egypt). "His" clearly attributes these powerful, beyond-human-capacity actions directly to God. The lack of belief in these tangible proofs was not a lack of factual observation but a lack of trust in the One who performed them. It was a spiritual blindness, a rejection of God's revealed power and character.

Words-group analysis:

• For all this, they sinned still: This phrase underscores the human heart's stubborn resistance. "For all this" indicates that no amount of divine evidence, grace, or judgment was sufficient to break their cycle of sin. It highlights ingratitude and defiance in the face of overwhelming goodness. This persistent sin implies a state of rebellion rooted in an unwillingness to submit to God's authority or acknowledge His benevolent rule, despite experiencing His direct interventions.
• and did not believe in His wondrous works: This part exposes the root cause of their ongoing sin: a fundamental lack of faith. Their unbelief wasn't merely intellectual skepticism about the miracles; it was a deeper distrust in God's character, His power, His promises, and His redemptive plan for them. Their outward sins were a manifestation of this inward spiritual void, a failure to accept God as trustworthy and sovereign. It reveals a pattern of human failing to learn from God's extraordinary deeds.

Psalm 78 32 Bonus section

The context of Psalm 78 reveals a foundational truth concerning God's covenant relationship with humanity: the expectation of trust (belief) as a response to His revelation. When humanity fails in this core area, as Israel did in the wilderness, the consequences are severe, culminating in exclusion from promised blessings, as seen in the generation that died in the desert. The verse highlights that superficial observation of miracles is insufficient; what is required is an internal commitment of faith (Hebrew ʾāmán speaks to trustworthiness, solidity, faithfulness in one's heart toward God). Furthermore, this psalm's recurring theme is not just remembering God's acts but remembering to whom these acts point: a faithful, mighty God. The Israelites failed to connect God's deeds to His reliable character, demonstrating a spiritual amnesia that proved catastrophic.

Psalm 78 32 Commentary

Psalm 78:32 profoundly critiques the spiritual obstinacy of the Israelites. Despite God's sustained display of power and provision through numerous "wondrous works"—acts designed to build trust and obedience—their response was continued sin and profound unbelief. This was not a one-time failure but a persistent state of spiritual hardness, where divine mercy and even divine judgment proved ineffective in cultivating true faith. The verse highlights that unbelief is not merely the absence of belief but often an active rejection or resistance to God and His demonstrated power. It signifies a profound moral failure where the human will chooses defiance over trust, leading to continuous spiritual stumbling. This condition of unbelief serves as a deep chasm separating humanity from the abundant life God desires to provide, demonstrating how even in the face of undeniable truth, hearts can remain hardened. The passage serves as a timeless warning against the human tendency to harden hearts, which alienates us from God and hinders us from experiencing His promised blessings and rest.