Psalm 78 8

Psalm 78:8 kjv

And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

Psalm 78:8 nkjv

And may not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not set its heart aright, And whose spirit was not faithful to God.

Psalm 78:8 niv

They would not be like their ancestors? a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him.

Psalm 78:8 esv

and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.

Psalm 78:8 nlt

Then they will not be like their ancestors ?
stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful,
refusing to give their hearts to God.

Psalm 78 verses

Psalm 78 8 Meaning

Psalm 78:8 expresses a fervent prayer and a cautionary historical lesson for future generations. It pleads that the current and successive generations would not emulate the profound failures of their forefathers, who were characterized by an ingrained rebellion against God's will. The core of their historical sin was a deep-seated spiritual deficiency: they did not commit their intellect, will, and affections fully to God, nor did they maintain steadfast loyalty and trust in Him. This verse highlights the spiritual root of their outward disobedience, serving as a solemn warning against such internal spiritual neglect.

Psalm 78 8 Context

Psalm 78 is a maskil (didactic or instructional psalm) of Asaph, a historical psalm recounting God's steadfastness and Israel's recurrent rebellion from the time of the Exodus to David's reign. The psalm aims to teach subsequent generations through the vivid historical narrative of God's miraculous provisions and judgment, alongside Israel's chronic disobedience. Verse 8 serves as a pivotal point, explicitly stating the intended outcome of this historical recital: to warn the "coming generation" (Ps 78:6) against repeating the "stubborn and rebellious" nature of their "fathers." The surrounding verses (Ps 78:1-7) establish the purpose of the psalm: that children would know the glorious deeds of the Lord and "not forget the works of God" but "keep His commandments," thereby placing their hope firmly in Him. The historical failures detailed in the rest of the psalm underscore the crucial warning of verse 8. The cultural context emphasizes the importance of oral tradition and generational transmission of spiritual lessons, particularly regarding the covenant relationship between Yahweh and His people.

Psalm 78 8 Word analysis

• and might not be like their fathers (וְלֹא יִהְיוּ כַּאֲבוֹתָם, welo yihyu ka'avotam):

  • וְלֹא (welo): "and not." Conveys a strong prohibition or warning, highlighting the desired contrast.
  • יִהְיוּ (yihyu): "they might be." Jussive verb form, expressing a desire or command, underscoring the purpose of the preceding instruction.
  • כַּאֲבוֹתָם (ka'avotam): "like their fathers." Refers to previous generations of Israelites, especially those who lived in the wilderness. The implication is to avoid their pattern of sin.

• a stubborn and rebellious generation (דּוֹר סוֹרֵר וּמוֹרֶה, dor sorer umoreh):

  • דּוֹר (dor): "generation." In Hebrew thought, this term can describe not merely a period of time or group of people, but often encapsulates their defining moral or spiritual character. It refers to the collective identity of a particular era or group within Israel's history.
  • סוֹרֵר (sorer): "stubborn, rebellious, wayward." From the root sur, meaning "to turn aside, deviate." It depicts one who actively deviates from a prescribed path, implying resistance and intractability, especially against divine authority or law (cf. Dt 21:18, 20).
  • וּמוֹרֶה (umoreh): "and rebellious, disobedient, defiant." From the root marah, meaning "to be rebellious, disobedient." This term emphasizes open defiance and contention. It is often used to describe Israel's direct acts of rebellion against God, as when Moses struck the rock out of morah (Num 20:24). The pairing of sorer and moreh vividly portrays a double characteristic of willful resistance and active disobedience.

• a generation that did not prepare its heart (דּוֹר לֹא־הֵכִין לְבָבוֹ, dor lo-hechin levavo):

  • לֹא־הֵכִין (lo-hechin): "did not prepare/establish/direct." The Hebrew verb kun (root of hechin) means "to be firm, to stand erect, to be ready, established." In the Hiphil (causative) stem, it means "to prepare, make ready, establish, direct." This phrase suggests a failure of deliberate intent, resolve, or dedication. It wasn't an accidental oversight but an intentional lack of proper alignment or resolve.
  • לְבָבוֹ (levavo): "its heart." In biblical Hebrew, the "heart" (levav or lev) is not merely the seat of emotion but primarily the center of intellect, will, reason, and moral choice. It signifies the inner person, the seat of understanding and decision-making. Thus, "not preparing its heart" means a failure to properly direct one's inner being—mind, will, affections—towards God.

• nor make its spirit faithful to God (וְלֹא נֶאֶמְנָה אֶת־אֵל רוּחֹו, velo ne'emnah et-El rucho):

  • וְלֹא נֶאֶמְנָה (velo ne'emnah): "and nor was it made faithful / nor did it prove faithful." From the root aman, meaning "to be firm, trustworthy, reliable, secure." The Niphal (passive/reflexive) stem often implies "to be firm, trustworthy, established, proven true, believing." Here, it denotes a failure to demonstrate loyalty or reliability towards God. Their spirit did not exhibit fidelity or trustworthiness.
  • אֶת־אֵל (et-El): "to God / toward God." The general divine name El here points to the Most High God, emphasizing their failure to be faithful specifically to Him.
  • רוּחֹו (rucho): "its spirit." Ruach typically refers to "wind, breath," but also the human spirit, disposition, or life-force. Here, it denotes the inner disposition, attitude, resolve, or the seat of spiritual life. Failure to make their "spirit faithful" refers to a lack of steadfast resolve, loyal devotion, and consistent inner trust in God.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "and might not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation": This grouping directly links the warning to avoid the characteristics of previous generations. It points to a pervasive issue, a societal failure to submit to God, rather than isolated acts of disobedience. It is a cautionary tale of generational pattern-breaking.

• "a generation that did not prepare its heart": This phrase explains the inner mechanism of their "stubbornness" and "rebellion." The lack of external obedience stemmed from a lack of internal readiness or deliberate intention to follow God. Their hearts, the core of their being and decision-making, were not set, aligned, or dedicated to Him. This indicates a deep-seated unwillingness, not merely a misunderstanding or inability.

• "nor make its spirit faithful to God": This further clarifies the nature of their inner deficiency, emphasizing a failure in trust and loyalty. "Faithful" implies a relationship of reliability and constancy. Their spirit, their very inner disposition and character, failed to consistently lean upon and commit to God. This dual expression ("heart" and "spirit") underscores a comprehensive failure of the inner person to properly relate to and obey God.

Psalm 78 8 Bonus section

The consistent use of "generation" (dor) throughout Psalm 78 (Ps 78:4, 6, 8) underscores the psalm's intergenerational focus. It's not just about individuals, but about the collective character and moral direction of a group of people living through a specific era, with an emphasis on the transmission of faith—or unfaith—from one age to the next. The repetition highlights the cycle of faith and unfaithfulness that plagued Israel's history. This cyclical nature is a central theme in many historical books, notably Judges, where "every man did what was right in his own eyes" because of the absence of prepared hearts and faithful spirits. The psalm implicitly encourages proactive discipleship and spiritual formation within families and communities to break these historical patterns, demonstrating that divine instruction must penetrate beyond the intellect into the core of one's will and disposition. This call to inward transformation foreshadows the New Covenant promise of a new heart and spirit (Ezek 36:26-27), where God Himself writes His law upon the heart, enabling true fidelity.

Psalm 78 8 Commentary

Psalm 78:8 acts as a crucial ethical hinge in this didactic psalm, presenting a profound warning to the listeners: do not repeat the mistakes of the past. The "fathers" represent the Israelites who continually rebelled against God despite His manifold signs and provisions during the wilderness journey. Their "stubbornness" (sorer) speaks to a deep-seated resistance and unwillingness to be guided or corrected, a rigid obstinacy of will. Their "rebelliousness" (moreh) describes outright defiance and disloyalty to the One who had rescued and sustained them.

The psalm attributes this pervasive disobedience not merely to external circumstances but to a fundamental internal failure: they did "not prepare its heart" and did "nor make its spirit faithful to God." The "heart" in biblical anthropology represents the core of one's being—the mind, will, and emotions. "Not preparing the heart" means they lacked a firm resolve, a fixed purpose, or an intentional commitment to God. It was a failure of devotion, a lack of steadfastness in their innermost being. The "spirit" (ruach) signifies one's inner disposition, character, and resolve. To "not make its spirit faithful" means they failed to live out their trust and loyalty to God consistently and reliably. They lacked the inward fidelity and steady determination to remain true to Him, leading to their repeated cycles of disobedience and idolatry.

This verse reveals that true obedience begins not with outward actions alone, but with an inner alignment and unwavering loyalty to God. It highlights that rebellion is often a symptom of an unprepared heart and an unfaithful spirit. The psalm thus warns subsequent generations that merely knowing God's mighty acts is insufficient; without a corresponding transformation of heart and spirit, the pattern of their "fathers'" failures will inevitably recur.