Psalm 78 56

Psalm 78:56 kjv

Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies:

Psalm 78:56 nkjv

Yet they tested and provoked the Most High God, And did not keep His testimonies,

Psalm 78:56 niv

But they put God to the test and rebelled against the Most High; they did not keep his statutes.

Psalm 78:56 esv

Yet they tested and rebelled against the Most High God and did not keep his testimonies,

Psalm 78:56 nlt

But they kept testing and rebelling against God Most High.
They did not obey his laws.

Psalm 78 verses

Psalm 78 56 Meaning

Psalm 78:56 succinctly states that despite God's covenant faithfulness and redemptive acts, the Israelites, specifically referring to the rebellious generations during the wilderness and judges periods, actively challenged God's power and sovereignty. They deliberately resisted His divine authority and failed to uphold the commands and precepts that He had graciously given them for their guidance and well-being. This verse highlights their chronic disobedience and rebellion against the Most High God.

Psalm 78 56 Context

Psalm 78 is a Maskil, an instructional Psalm by Asaph, a chief musician and seer in David's time. It recounts the history of Israel from the Exodus through the time of the Judges up to David's kingship, serving as a cautionary tale. The Psalm primarily emphasizes God's consistent faithfulness, power, and patience juxtaposed against Israel's recurring rebellion, forgetfulness, and disobedience. Verse 56 falls within a section detailing how, even after being miraculously delivered from Egypt, led through the wilderness, and brought into the promised land by God, the Israelites (particularly highlighted as Ephraim in previous verses) repeatedly failed to honor their covenant with the Lord. It captures a deep-seated pattern of challenging God's authority and neglecting His divine instructions despite receiving immense favor and guidance.

Psalm 78 56 Word analysis

• Yet: (וַיַּסּוּ, vayassu) An adversative conjunction, indicating a continuation of disobedient actions despite previous divine goodness and discipline. It sets up a strong contrast with God's sustained faithfulness described earlier in the Psalm.
• they: Refers collectively to the descendants of Ephraim, representing the unfaithful northern tribes of Israel, and more broadly, the entire nation of Israel throughout the historical period described (wilderness to judges). Their identity is clearly established earlier in Ps 78:9-11 as those who turned back in battle despite God's arm.
• tested: (נָסוּ, nasu from נָסָה, nasah). To put to the test, try, or tempt. This is not a sincere seeking for knowledge but an active challenge, questioning God's presence, power, or goodness. It implies provocation, unbelief, and presumptuous demands for divine demonstration, rather than humble faith. It is often linked to the events at Massah and Meribah.
• and rebelled: (מָרוּ, maru from מָרָה, marah). To be rebellious, disobedient, contumacious; to resist stubbornly or defiantly. This word denotes a strong, bitter opposition to authority. It goes beyond simple disobedience, suggesting an attitude of insolence and defiance against the divine will.
• against the Most High God: (אֵל עֶלְיוֹן, El Elyon). This title emphasizes God's supreme sovereignty, transcendence, and exalted nature. He is the Creator and Owner of all, superior to all other deities or powers. To test and rebel against this God signifies the profound gravity of their sin, as it is an affront to absolute power and ultimate authority.
• and did not keep: (וְעֵדֹותָיו לֹא שָׁמָרוּ, v'edotayv lo shamaru). The negative "lo" (לֹא) directly negates "kept" (שָׁמָרוּ, shamaru). To "keep" means to guard, observe, watch over, heed, or obey diligently. This phrase implies not just accidental oversight but a deliberate refusal or negligence to guard and obey God's commands, showing a conscious rejection of His covenant terms.
• His testimonies: (עֵדֹותָיו, edotayv from עֵדָה, edah or עֵדוּת, edut). Refers to God's divine decrees, precepts, statutes, or warnings. These are His self-revelations and covenant stipulations, bearing witness to His character and His will. They were intended as guidance and boundaries for their lives. The plural emphasizes the comprehensive nature of God's instructions.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Yet they tested and rebelled": This phrase emphasizes the persistent, active, and intentional nature of their defiance. It is not passive error but an aggressive posture of unbelief and resistance. The testing and rebellion often stem from a lack of trust in God's provision or a challenge to His authority in challenging circumstances.
• "against the Most High God and did not keep His testimonies": This pairing highlights the profound chasm between God's absolute holiness and supreme authority (El Elyon) and the people's contempt for His revealed will. Their failure to "keep" His "testimonies" reveals a rejection of the very framework God established for their life and blessing, effectively spurning the covenant with the omnipotent Creator.

Psalm 78 56 Bonus section

The chronic testing and rebellion described in this verse align closely with the concept of "stiff-necked" Israel, a term used repeatedly in the Torah and Prophets (e.g., Ex 32:9; Dt 9:6) to denote their inherent obstinacy and refusal to bend to God's will. Psalm 78, particularly through verses like 56, aims to instruct future generations to avoid these same pitfalls. The Maskil nature of the Psalm emphasizes its didactic purpose, to teach a wise understanding derived from observing past failures. The repeated failure to "keep" God's "testimonies" foreshadows the need for a new covenant (Jer 31:31-34) where God would write His law on the hearts of His people, providing inward transformation and enabling true obedience, which ultimately finds its fulfillment in Christ and the Spirit-enabled life.

Psalm 78 56 Commentary

Psalm 78:56 serves as a powerful summation of Israel's chronic spiritual pathology. It captures the repeated cycle of divine deliverance followed by human faithlessness. Despite God's awesome displays of power and grace as the "Most High God" and His clear communication of "His testimonies," the Israelites consistently challenged His character and rebelled against His righteous rule. This verse is not merely a historical account but a profound theological statement on human depravity and the persistent temptation to distrust and disobey God, even after experiencing His goodness. Their testing and rebellion demonstrate a preference for self-will over divine wisdom, underscoring the vital lesson for all believers: that genuine faith requires not only acknowledgment of God's power but also obedient submission to His revealed word.