New English Translation
Psalms 78:34
34When he struck them down, they sought his favor; they turned back and longed for God.
Psalms 78:34 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.
- New International Version (NIV)Whenever God slew them, they would seek him; they eagerly turned to him again.
- English Standard Version (ESV)When he killed them, they sought him; they repented and sought God earnestly.
- New King James Version (NKJV)When He slew them, then they sought Him; And they returned and sought earnestly for God.
Context of Psalms 78:34
32Despite all this, they continued to sin, and did not trust him to do amazing things. 33So he caused them to die unsatisfied and filled with terror. When he struck them down, they sought his favor; they turned back and longed for God. 35They remembered that God was their protector, and that the sovereign God was their deliverer. 36But they deceived him with their words, and lied to him.
Read all of Psalms 78Psalms 78:34 word by word
אִם־הֲרָגָ֥ם וּדְרָשׁ֑וּהוּ וְ֝שָׁ֗בוּ וְשִֽׁחֲרוּ־אֵֽל׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 78:34
- Numbers 21:7Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord that he would take away the snakes from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
- Judges 3:8The Lord was furious with Israel and turned them over to King Cushan-Rishathaim of Aram-Naharaim. They were Cushan-Rishathaim’s subjects for eight years.
- Judges 4:3The Israelites cried out for help to the Lord, because Sisera had nine hundred chariots with iron-rimmed wheels, and he cruelly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years.
- Judges 10:7The Lord was furious with Israel and turned them over to the Philistines and Ammonites.
- Isaiah 26:6It is trampled underfoot by the feet of the oppressed, by the soles of the poor.”
- Jeremiah 22:23You may feel as secure as a bird nesting in the cedars of Lebanon. But oh how you will groan when the pains of judgment come on you. They will be like those of a woman giving birth to a baby.
- Hosea 5:15Then I will return again to my lair until they have suffered their punishment. Then they will seek me; in their distress they will earnestly seek me.
- Hosea 7:14They do not pray to me, but howl in distress on their beds; They slash themselves for grain and new wine, but turn away from me.
Commentaries on Psalms 78:34
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 34When he slew them - While his judgments were upon them, then they began to humble themselves, and deprecate his wrath. When they saw some fall, the rest began to tremble.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 34When he slew them - When he came forth in his wrath and cut them down by the plague, by fiery serpents, or by their enemies. Then they sought him - Their calamities had the effect of producing temporary reformation. They became professedly penitent; they manifested a wish to know God, and expressed a purpose to serve him. It was, however, a temporary and hollow, not a deep and real reformation. This often occurs. In times of affliction, in sickness, in…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-39Verses 9-39 Sin dispirits men, and takes away the heart. Forgetfulness of God's works is the cause of disobedience to his laws. This narrative relates a struggle between God's goodness and man's badness. The Lord hears all our murmurings and distrusts, and is much displeased. Those that will not believe the power of God's mercy, shall feel the fire of his indignation. Those cannot be said to trust in God's salvation as their happiness at last, who can not…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 34they repented: This strong show of effort was not sincere.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33-3933-39. Though there were partial reformations after chastisement, and God, in pity, withdrew His hand for a time, yet their general conduct was rebellious, and He was thus provoked to waste and destroy them, by long and fruitless wandering in the desert.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 78:34
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 78
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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