Psalms 78:36 (KJV)

What does Psalms 78:36 mean?

Psalms 78:36 says that the people tried to flatter God with their words, but in reality, they were not sincere and lied to Him with what they said. The verse highlights a gap between what they said and what was truly in their hearts.

In this psalm, Asaph is speaking about the Israelites and their history with God. He is describing times when, despite God’s help and mercy, the people responded with empty words rather than true faithfulness. The verse points out that their praise and promises were not genuine, but only spoken to appear faithful or to gain favor.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 78:36

• "flatter" (פָּתָה, pathah): This word often means to entice or deceive, not just to praise. Here, it suggests the people were trying to manipulate God with their words, not just compliment Him.
• "mouth" (פֶּה, peh): This word simply means "mouth," emphasizing that their actions were only verbal, not heartfelt.
• "lied" (כָּזַב, kazav): This word means to lie or be false. It shows that their words were not just empty but actually deceptive.
• "tongues" (לָשׁוֹן, lashon): This word means "tongue," pointing again to speech. The verse stresses that their dishonesty was in what they said, not what they truly believed.

Why Psalms 78:36 matters

• This verse helps clear up the idea that saying the right things to God is enough; it shows that God sees through empty words and values sincerity.
• The verse connects to the larger theme of Psalm 78, which is a warning against repeating the mistakes of the past by being outwardly religious but inwardly unfaithful.
• It highlights the difference between genuine devotion and superficial speech, reminding readers that true relationship with God involves honesty, not just words.