Bible Strands
Psalms 78:36
But they deceived Him with their mouths, and lied to Him with their tongues.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Asaph records Israel's wilderness history, placing this verse immediately after they briefly remembered God as their Rock and Redeemer. The words — The text states they deceived Him with their mouths and lied with their tongues, using the Hebrew יְכַזְּבוּ (ye.kha.ze.vu, "they lied") and וַ/יְפַתּ֥וּ/הוּ (va/y.fa.Tu./hu, "they deceived him"). The thread — This verbal hypocrisy runs through Isaiah 29:13, Ezekiel 33:31, and stands in direct contrast to the genuine approval God gives in Deuteronomy 5:28. Why it lands — The passage requires readers to verify that their spoken commitments align with their internal loyalty, demonstrating that proximity in speech does not equal covenant faithfulness.
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The Hebrew words
King James Version
Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 29:13 Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.
- Ezekiel 33:31 So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain.
- Deuteronomy 5:28 And the LORD heard the words you spoke to me, and He said to me, “I have heard the words that these people have spoken to you. They have done well in all that they have spoken.
- Psalms 18:44 When they hear me, they obey me; foreigners cower before me.
- Psalms 106:12 Then they believed His promises and sang His praise.
- Isaiah 57:11 Whom have you dreaded and feared, so that you lied and failed to remember Me or take this to heart? Is it not because I have long been silent that you do not fear Me?
- Hosea 11:12 Ephraim surrounds Me with lies, the house of Israel with deceit; but Judah still walks with God and is faithful to the Holy One.