Psalm 78 36

Psalm 78:36 kjv

Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.

Psalm 78:36 nkjv

Nevertheless they flattered Him with their mouth, And they lied to Him with their tongue;

Psalm 78:36 niv

But then they would flatter him with their mouths, lying to him with their tongues;

Psalm 78:36 esv

But they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues.

Psalm 78:36 nlt

But all they gave him was lip service;
they lied to him with their tongues.

Psalm 78 verses

Psalm 78 36 Meaning

Psalm 78:36 describes the superficial and deceitful nature of the Israelites' interactions with God during their time in the wilderness. It reveals their outward show of reverence and submission—flattering Him with their mouths and lying to Him with their tongues—while their hearts remained far from Him and their intentions were not genuinely committed to His ways. This verse highlights the deep-seated hypocrisy and lack of sincere devotion that characterized their repeated rebellions against the Almighty, despite His constant provision and patience.

Psalm 78 36 Context

Psalm 78 is a "Maskil," a didactic or wisdom psalm, designed to instruct Israel by recounting their history with God. The psalmist, Asaph, vividly portrays God's unfailing faithfulness and miraculous provisions juxtaposed with Israel's persistent unfaithfulness, rebellion, and short-term memory. Verses 34-35 describe a moment of fleeting repentance: when God afflicted them due to their disobedience, they would turn and seek Him, remembering Him as their Rock and Redeemer. However, verse 36 exposes the true nature of this turning. It was not born of genuine contrition or loyalty but was a shallow, crisis-driven response—an attempt to manipulate God rather than sincerely commit to Him. The historical context is the period of the wilderness wandering, where the generation delivered from Egypt repeatedly tested and provoked God, despite experiencing His power and presence directly. Their verbal expressions of loyalty did not match their heart's intent or subsequent actions.

Psalm 78 36 Word analysis

• Nevertheless: This term, though implied by context rather than a direct Hebrew word at the beginning of the verse, signifies a sharp contrast. It points to the immediate return to their faithless nature despite their recent distress and their temporary turning to God described in the preceding verses. It highlights the deeply ingrained unfaithfulness in their character.
• they flattered Him: The Hebrew word is pata (פָּתָה), meaning "to persuade," "to entice," "to deceive," or "to allure." Here, it conveys an attempt to placate or manipulate God with smooth talk, akin to a seductive persuasion. It implies a feigned affection or respect, not sincere worship. This flattery was an act of deception, aimed at receiving favor without genuine change.
• with their mouth: The Hebrew peh (פֶּה) signifies the literal opening for speech, but metaphorically it represents the entirety of their verbal expressions. This phrase emphasizes that their professed loyalty and repentance were confined merely to words spoken from the lips, devoid of accompanying integrity from the heart. It points to a purely external and superficial demonstration.
• And they lied to Him: The Hebrew word is kachash (כָּחַשׁ), which means "to deny," "to deal falsely with," "to lie," "to disown," or "to show oneself untrue." This is a stronger accusation than "flattered," indicating outright falsehood and betrayal. It's an active concealment of truth and a disowning of true loyalty, revealing a heart set against God's will.
• with their tongues: The Hebrew lashon (לָשׁוֹן) refers to the tongue, the instrument of speech. This parallelism with "mouth" reinforces the focus on verbal deceit and double-dealing. The tongue is often associated with the ability to twist words, to spread falsehoods, or to express malice, signifying a calculated and deliberate act of misrepresentation.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Nevertheless they flattered Him with their mouth": This phrase captures the immediate consequence of their crisis-driven repentance. Their 'turning' was superficial. They presented words designed to appease God, attempting to curry favor or divert divine judgment without any authentic change in their character or allegiance. It speaks to a cunning effort to use sweet talk to deceive.
• "And they lied to Him with their tongues": This second part intensifies the first, demonstrating that their flattering words were not merely empty but actively deceptive. The use of "tongues" in parallel with "mouth" underscores the premeditated and deep-seated nature of their deceit. Their speech was a weapon of falsehood against God, a profound betrayal of covenant loyalty expressed through calculated insincerity. The two phrases together emphasize that their outward verbal expressions were entirely dislocated from the inner truth of their hearts and their subsequent rebellious actions.

Psalm 78 36 Bonus section

The verbs pata (flattered) and kachash (lied) highlight two distinct but related aspects of their insincerity. Pata often implies seduction or enticement, suggesting they attempted to charm God into overlooking their true intentions. Kachash, however, implies a direct falsehood or denial of truth and loyalty, signifying a deeper betrayal. This dual description emphasizes that their insincerity was not just passive indifference but an active, calculated dissimulation, attempting to circumvent true obedience. The entire Psalm serves as a cautionary tale: God's mercy and power are great, but His desire for truth and a loyal heart is equally paramount. True worship is not about outward performance but inward transformation and steadfast allegiance.

Psalm 78 36 Commentary

Psalm 78:36 lays bare the stark reality of insincere faith, a critical theme woven throughout biblical narrative. It portrays a people who, under duress, offered outward expressions of piety—"flattering Him with their mouth" and "lying to Him with their tongues"—but whose hearts remained hardened and distant from God. This was not a simple mistake but a deliberate act of deception; they sought to placate God with superficial words, hoping to avoid punishment or regain favor without true repentance or heartfelt submission.

The psalmist reveals that God cannot be fooled by mere lip service. He looks beyond the spoken word to the true condition of the heart. The repetition of "mouth" and "tongues" underscores the deliberate and pervasive nature of their verbal deceit, highlighting how their speech became an instrument of unfaithfulness rather than sincere praise or confession. This historical account serves as a timeless warning against hypocrisy in our own worship and walk, reminding believers that genuine faith requires congruence between our words, actions, and the innermost convictions of our hearts. God desires truth in the inward parts, not just external compliance.

Practical usage:

• Self-reflection: Does my verbal confession of faith align with my actions and heart's desires, or do I flatter God with my mouth while my lifestyle suggests otherwise?
• Worship: Is my praise merely a ritualistic utterance, or does it flow from a heart genuinely surrendered to Him?
• Prayer: Am I truly communing with God, or am I offering formulaic prayers while my mind is distant or manipulative?