Bible Strands
Psalms 78:37
Their hearts were disloyal to Him, and they were unfaithful to His covenant.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses Israel while recounting the nation’s historical pattern of rebellion, positioned between a description of their deceptive speech and a declaration of God’s restraining mercy.
The words — The Hebrew לֹא־נָכֹן (lo'- na.Khon) translates literally as “not steadfast,” and נֶאֶמְנוּ (ne.'em.Nu) means “they were faithful,” anchoring the verse in the language of covenant loyalty.
The thread — The same concern for heart alignment appears in Psalms 78:8, which identifies a stubborn generation whose heart was not loyal, and Acts 8:21, which states a heart not right before God forfeits any share in ministry.
Why it lands — The text reports that Israel’s hearts were disloyal and unfaithful to His covenant, demanding that readers evaluate whether their own allegiance corresponds to the covenant obligations they profess.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.
Cross-references
- Psalms 78:8 Then they will not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose heart was not loyal, whose spirit was not faithful to God.
- Acts 8:21 You have no part or share in our ministry, because your heart is not right before God.
- Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
- Deuteronomy 31:20 When I have brought them into the land that I swore to give their fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey, they will eat their fill and prosper. Then they will turn to other gods and worship them, and they will reject Me and break My covenant.
- Psalms 119:80 May my heart be blameless in Your statutes, that I may not be put to shame.
- Hosea 7:14 They do not cry out to Me from their hearts when they wail upon their beds. They slash themselves for grain and new wine, but turn away from Me.
- Hosea 7:16 They turn, but not to the Most High; they are like a faulty bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword for the cursing of their tongue; for this they will be ridiculed in the land of Egypt.
- Hosea 10:2 Their hearts are devious; now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will break down their altars and demolish their sacred pillars.
- Psalms 44:17 All this has come upon us, though we have not forgotten You or betrayed Your covenant.