Bible Strands
Psalms 78:41
Again and again they tested God and provoked the Holy One of Israel.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses Israel, recounting their repeated rebellion during the wilderness wanderings immediately after describing their disobedience and grief of God in the desert.
The words — וַ/יְנַסּ֣וּ (va/y.na.Su) literally means "and they put to the test," while הִתְווּ (hit.vu) conveys "they pained" or provoked.
The thread — This pattern of testing God in the wilderness recurs in Numbers 14:22, is cited as a warning in Hebrews 3:8, and is summarized as a heart turning back to Egypt in Acts 7:39.
Why it lands — The text records that Israel repeatedly challenged God's authority and caused Him distress, demanding that readers recognize the danger of treating divine patience as a license for repeated rebellion.
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
Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.
Cross-references
- Numbers 14:22 not one of the men who have seen My glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness—yet have tested Me and disobeyed Me these ten times—
- Hebrews 3:8 do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness,
- Acts 7:39 But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.
- Deuteronomy 6:16 Do not test the LORD your God as you tested Him at Massah.
- Numbers 14:4 So they said to one another, “Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt.”
- Psalms 78:19 They spoke against God, saying, “Can God really prepare a table in the wilderness?
- 2 Peter 2:21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then to turn away from the holy commandment passed on to them.
- 2 Kings 19:22 Whom have you taunted and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel!
- Psalms 89:18 Surely our shield belongs to the LORD, and our king to the Holy One of Israel.
- Mark 5:35 While He was still speaking, messengers from the house of Jairus arrived and said, “Your daughter is dead; why bother the Teacher anymore?”