Psalm 78:34
New International Version
Whenever God slew them, they would seek him; they eagerly turned to him again.

New Living Translation
When God began killing them, they finally sought him. They repented and took God seriously.

English Standard Version
When he killed them, they sought him; they repented and sought God earnestly.

Berean Standard Bible
When He slew them, they would seek Him; they repented and searched for God.

King James Bible
When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and inquired early after God.

New King James Version
When He slew them, then they sought Him; And they returned and sought earnestly for God.

New American Standard Bible
When He killed them, then they sought Him, And they returned and searched diligently for God;

NASB 1995
When He killed them, then they sought Him, And returned and searched diligently for God;

NASB 1977
When He killed them, then they sought Him, And returned and searched diligently for God;

Legacy Standard Bible
When He killed them, then they sought Him, And returned and sought earnestly for God;

Amplified Bible
When He killed [some of] them, then those remaining sought Him, And they returned [to Him] and searched diligently for God [for a time].

Christian Standard Bible
When he killed some of them, the rest began to seek him; they repented and searched for God.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When He killed some of them, the rest began to seek Him; they repented and searched for God.

American Standard Version
When he slew them, then they inquired after him; And they returned and sought God earnestly.

Contemporary English Version
After he killed some of them, the others turned to him with all their hearts.

English Revised Version
When he slew them, then they inquired after him: and they returned and sought God early.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When he killed [some of] them, [the rest] searched for him. They turned from their sins and eagerly looked for God.

Good News Translation
Whenever he killed some of them, the rest would turn to him; they would repent and pray earnestly to him.

International Standard Version
When he struck them, they sought him; they repented, and eagerly sought God.

Majority Standard Bible
When He slew them, they would seek Him; they repented and searched for God.

NET Bible
When he struck them down, they sought his favor; they turned back and longed for God.

New Heart English Bible
When he killed them, then they inquired after him. They returned and sought God earnestly.

Webster's Bible Translation
When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and inquired early after God.

World English Bible
When he killed them, then they inquired after him. They returned and sought God earnestly.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
If He slew them, then they sought Him, "" And turned back, and earnestly sought God,

Young's Literal Translation
If He slew them, then they sought Him, And turned back, and sought God earnestly,

Smith's Literal Translation
When he slew them and they sought him, and they turned back and sought for God.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned, and came to him early in the morning.

Catholic Public Domain Version
When he slew them, then they sought him. And they returned, and they drew near to him in the early morning.

New American Bible
When he slew them, they began to seek him; they again looked for God.

New Revised Standard Version
When he killed them, they sought for him; they repented and sought God earnestly.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
When he slew them, then they sought him; and they returned and drew nearer to him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
When he was killing them they were seeking him; they were returning and coming before his presence.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
When He slew them, then they would inquire after Him, And turn back and seek God earnestly.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
When he slew them, they sought him: and they returned and called betimes upon God.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
I Will Open My Mouth in Parables
33So He ended their days in futility, and their years in sudden terror. 34When He slew them, they would seek Him; they repented and searched for God. 35And they remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer.…

Cross References
Hosea 5:15
Then I will return to My place until they admit their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.”

Isaiah 26:9
My soul longs for You in the night; indeed, my spirit seeks You at dawn. For when Your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.

Jeremiah 2:27
say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’ They have turned their backs to Me and not their faces. Yet in the time of trouble, they say, ‘Rise up and save us!’

Hosea 6:1
Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us to pieces, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bind up our wounds.

Deuteronomy 4:30
When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and listen to His voice.

2 Chronicles 7:13-14
If I close the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send a plague among My people, / and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

Jeremiah 3:10
Yet in spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to Me with all her heart, but only in pretense,” declares the LORD.

Ezekiel 33:11
Say to them: ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked should turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’

Amos 4:6-10
“I afflicted all your cities with cleanness of teeth and all your towns with lack of bread, yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD. / “I also withheld the rain from you when the harvest was three months away. I sent rain on one city but withheld it from another. One field received rain; another without rain withered. / People staggered from city to city for water to drink, but they were not satisfied; yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD. ...

Job 36:8-10
And if men are bound with chains, caught in cords of affliction, / then He tells them their deeds and how arrogantly they have transgressed. / He opens their ears to correction and commands that they turn from iniquity.

1 Kings 8:33-34
When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and they return to You and confess Your name, praying and pleading with You in this temple, / then may You hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel. May You restore them to the land You gave to their fathers.

Isaiah 55:6-7
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. / Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.

Jeremiah 29:12-13
Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. / You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Joel 2:12-13
“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” / So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster.

Zechariah 1:3
So tell the people that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Return to Me, declares the LORD of Hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of Hosts.’


Treasury of Scripture

When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and inquired early after God.

Numbers 21:7
Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.

Judges 3:8,9,12-15
Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years…

Judges 4:3
And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.

Jump to Previous
Care Death Diligently Eagerly Early Earnestly Enquired Inquire Inquired Killed Repented Search Searched Seek Slew Sought Turn Turned Turning Whenever
Jump to Next
Care Death Diligently Eagerly Early Earnestly Enquired Inquire Inquired Killed Repented Search Searched Seek Slew Sought Turn Turned Turning Whenever
Psalm 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.














When He slew them
This phrase refers to God's judgment upon the Israelites, often seen throughout their history when they turned away from Him. The context of Psalm 78 is a recounting of Israel's repeated disobedience and God's corresponding acts of discipline. The "slaying" can be understood as divine retribution, which is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, such as in the plagues of Egypt (Exodus 7-12) or the punishment of the Israelites in the wilderness (Numbers 14:29-35). This demonstrates God's holiness and justice, emphasizing that sin has consequences.

they would seek Him
In times of distress and judgment, the Israelites often turned back to God, seeking His mercy and deliverance. This pattern of behavior is seen throughout the book of Judges, where the Israelites repeatedly fall into sin, face oppression, cry out to God, and are delivered by a judge. Seeking God in times of trouble is a common biblical theme, highlighting human dependency on divine intervention. It also reflects the covenant relationship between God and Israel, where God remains faithful even when His people are not.

they repented
Repentance here involves a change of heart and a turning back to God. In the Hebrew context, repentance (teshuvah) is not merely feeling sorry but involves a complete transformation and return to God's ways. This is seen in the prophetic calls to repentance, such as in the messages of Isaiah and Jeremiah, where the prophets urge Israel to return to God to avoid impending judgment. Repentance is a key aspect of the covenant, where God promises restoration and forgiveness if His people return to Him.

and searched for God
This phrase indicates a deeper, more earnest pursuit of God, beyond mere ritualistic practices. Searching for God implies a sincere desire to know Him and align with His will. This is echoed in other scriptures, such as Jeremiah 29:13, "You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." It suggests a relational aspect of faith, where God desires a genuine connection with His people. This pursuit of God is ultimately fulfilled in the New Testament through Jesus Christ, who provides the way to a restored relationship with God.

Persons / Places / Events
1. God
The central figure in this verse, God is depicted as the one who disciplines His people, leading them to repentance.

2. The Israelites
The people of Israel, who are the recipients of God's discipline and who respond by seeking Him.

3. Repentance
The act of turning back to God, which is a key theme in this verse.

4. Divine Discipline
The event of God "slaying" or disciplining His people to bring them back to Him.

5. Seeking God
The response of the Israelites to God's discipline, indicating a return to faithfulness.
Teaching Points
The Purpose of Divine Discipline
God's discipline is not punitive but redemptive, aimed at bringing His people back to a right relationship with Him.

The Heart of Repentance
True repentance involves a sincere turning back to God, not just a temporary change in behavior.

Seeking God in Times of Trouble
Difficult circumstances can be opportunities to seek God more earnestly and deepen our relationship with Him.

The Faithfulness of God
Even when we stray, God remains faithful, using discipline to draw us back to Him.

The Role of Community in Repentance
As a community of believers, we can support one another in the journey of repentance and seeking God.Verse 34. - When he slew them, then they sought him (comp. Exodus 32:28, 35; Exodus 33:4, 10; Numbers 11:33; Numbers 16:48, 49, etc.). The repentance is not always noticed in the Mosaic narrative, being, as it was, short-lived, if not even feigned (ver. 36). But, no doubt, after each outpouring of the Divine vengeance, there was at least some show of repentance, as noted in Exodus 33:4. And they returned - i.e. turned back from their evil courses - and inquired early after God; rather, earnestly (Cheyne, Canon Cook).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
When
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

He slew them,
הֲרָגָ֥ם (hă·rā·ḡām)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 2026: To smite with deadly intent

they would seek Him;
וּדְרָשׁ֑וּהוּ (ū·ḏə·rā·šū·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1875: To tread, frequent, to follow, to seek, ask, to worship

they repented
וְ֝שָׁ֗בוּ (wə·šā·ḇū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

and searched for
וְשִֽׁחֲרוּ־ (wə·ši·ḥă·rū-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7836: To dawn, be, early at any task, to search for

God.
אֵֽל׃ (’êl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 410: Strength -- as adjective, mighty, the Almighty


Links
Psalm 78:34 NIV
Psalm 78:34 NLT
Psalm 78:34 ESV
Psalm 78:34 NASB
Psalm 78:34 KJV

Psalm 78:34 BibleApps.com
Psalm 78:34 Biblia Paralela
Psalm 78:34 Chinese Bible
Psalm 78:34 French Bible
Psalm 78:34 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Psalm 78:34 When he killed them then they inquired (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 78:33
Top of Page
Top of Page