The Meaning of Psalms 78:8 Explained

Psalms 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.

YLT: And they are not like their fathers, A generation apostate and rebellious, A generation! it hath not prepared its heart, Nor stedfast with God is its spirit.

Darby: And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that prepared not their heart, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

ASV: 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.

Discover Psalms 78:8

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Psalms 78:8?

MEANING: What does Psalms 78:8 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Psalms 78:8 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Psalms 78:8?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Psalms 78:8 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 78:1-12 - Learning From The Fathers
This psalm is said to have arisen, from a strong controversy between Judah and Ephraim as to the location of God's sanctuary, and its final transfer within the limits of the tribe of Judah. The psalmist enumerates the moral and spiritual considerations that led to the choice. See Psalms 78:67-68. The great message of the psalm is the inconstancy of the people, which so often manifested itself. Whose spirit was not stedfast with God, Psalms 78:8. They turned back in battle, Psalms 78:9. See also Psalms 78:17; Psalms 78:37; Psalms 78:41; Psalms 78:57. It may be that the psalmist implies that these failures were for the most part Ephraim's, and that therefore Judah was chosen. Surely, however, there was not much to choose between them, and whatever favor was shown to either of them was wholly attributable to God's unchanging mercy.
This hymn was probably intended to be learned by the children in the Hebrew home, that they might set their hearts on God and not forget His works. It is a good practice to store the fresh memories of the young with the words of Scripture, which will often return in afterlife in hours of temptation and distress. The memorizing of the Word of God is a most valuable habit. The wheels of the mind and heart must grind-let them grind wheat. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 78

1  An exhortation both to learn and to preach, the law of God
9  The story of God's wrath against the incredulous and disobedient
67  The Israelites being rejected, God chose Judah, Zion, and David

What do the individual words in Psalms 78:8 mean?

And not may be like their fathers a generation stubborn and rebellious a generation not [that] did set aright its heart and not was faithful to God whose spirit
וְלֹ֤א יִהְי֨וּ ׀ כַּאֲבוֹתָ֗ם דּוֹר֮ סוֹרֵ֪ר וּמֹ֫רֶ֥ה דּ֭וֹר לֹא־ הֵכִ֣ין לִבּ֑וֹ וְלֹא־ נֶאֶמְנָ֖ה אֶת־ אֵ֣ל רוּחֽוֹ

וְלֹ֤א  And  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יִהְי֨וּ ׀  may  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
כַּאֲבוֹתָ֗ם  like  their  fathers 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
דּוֹר֮  a  generation 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: דֹּור 
Sense: period, generation, habitation, dwelling.
סוֹרֵ֪ר  stubborn 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: סָרַר  
Sense: to rebel, be stubborn, be rebellious, be refractory.
וּמֹ֫רֶ֥ה  and  rebellious 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: מָרָה  
Sense: to be contentious, be rebellious, be refractory, be disobedient towards, be rebellious against.
דּ֭וֹר  a  generation 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: דֹּור 
Sense: period, generation, habitation, dwelling.
הֵכִ֣ין  [that]  did  set  aright 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כּוּן 
Sense: to be firm, be stable, be established.
לִבּ֑וֹ  its  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
וְלֹא־  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
נֶאֶמְנָ֖ה  was  faithful 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: אָמַן 
Sense: to support, confirm, be faithful.
אֵ֣ל  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵל 
Sense: god, god-like one, mighty one.
רוּחֽוֹ  whose  spirit 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.

What are the major concepts related to Psalms 78:8?

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Similar Scriptures for Psalms 78:8

Psalms 78:37 [8]
Exodus 32:9 [6]
Deuteronomy 31:27 [5]
Ezekiel 20:18 [4]
Acts 7:51 [3]
2 Chronicles 30:7 [3]
2 Kings 17:14 [3]
Exodus 33:3 [3]
Ezekiel 20:8 [2]
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Psalms 68:6 [2]
Deuteronomy 4:4 [2]
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