Psalm 78:37
New International Version
their hearts were not loyal to him, they were not faithful to his covenant.

New Living Translation
Their hearts were not loyal to him. They did not keep his covenant.

English Standard Version
Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not faithful to his covenant.

Berean Standard Bible
Their hearts were disloyal to Him, and they were unfaithful to His covenant.

King James Bible
For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.

New King James Version
For their heart was not steadfast with Him, Nor were they faithful in His covenant.

New American Standard Bible
For their heart was not steadfast toward Him, Nor were they faithful with His covenant.

NASB 1995
For their heart was not steadfast toward Him, Nor were they faithful in His covenant.

NASB 1977
For their heart was not steadfast toward Him, Nor were they faithful in His covenant.

Legacy Standard Bible
For their heart was not prepared to remain with Him, Nor were they faithful in His covenant.

Amplified Bible
For their heart was not steadfast toward Him, Nor were they faithful to His covenant.

Christian Standard Bible
their hearts were insincere toward him, and they were unfaithful to his covenant.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
their hearts were insincere toward Him, and they were unfaithful to His covenant.

American Standard Version
For their heart was not right with him, Neither were they faithful in his covenant.

Contemporary English Version
they were unfaithful and broke their promises.

English Revised Version
For their heart was not right with him, neither were they faithful in his covenant.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Their hearts were not loyal to him. They were not faithful to his promise.

Good News Translation
They were not loyal to him; they were not faithful to their covenant with him.

International Standard Version
For their hearts weren't committed to him, and they weren't faithful to his covenant.

Majority Standard Bible
Their hearts were disloyal to Him, and they were unfaithful to His covenant.

NET Bible
They were not really committed to him, and they were unfaithful to his covenant.

New Heart English Bible
For their heart was not right with him, neither were they faithful in his covenant.

Webster's Bible Translation
For their heart was not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant.

World English Bible
For their heart was not right with him, neither were they faithful in his covenant.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And their heart has not been right with Him, "" And they have not been steadfast in His covenant.

Young's Literal Translation
And their heart hath not been right with Him, And they have not been stedfast in His covenant.

Smith's Literal Translation
And their heart was not right with him, and they were not firm in his covenant.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But their heart was not right with him: nor were they counted faithful in his covenant.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For their heart was not upright with him, nor have they been living faithfully in his covenant.

New American Bible
Their hearts were not constant toward him; they were not faithful to his covenant.

New Revised Standard Version
Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not true to his covenant.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For their hearts were not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Their heart was not made right with him and they did not believe in his covenant.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For their heart was not stedfast with Him, Neither were they faithful in His covenant.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For their heart was not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
I Will Open My Mouth in Parables
36But they deceived Him with their mouths, and lied to Him with their tongues. 37Their hearts were disloyal to Him, and they were unfaithful to His covenant. 38And yet He was compassionate; He forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them. He often restrained His anger and did not unleash His full wrath.…

Cross References
Isaiah 29:13
Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.

Matthew 15:8
‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.

Mark 7:6
Jesus answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.

Ezekiel 33:31
So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain.

Hosea 6:4
What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? For your loyalty is like a morning mist, like the early dew that vanishes.

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.

Isaiah 1:4
Alas, O sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who act corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD; they have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him.

Jeremiah 12:2
You planted them, and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips, but far from their hearts.

Matthew 23:27-28
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. / In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

Luke 6:46
Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do what I say?

James 1:8
He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

1 John 3:18
Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.

1 Samuel 15:29
Moreover, the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind, for He is not a man, that He should change His mind.”

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.

Isaiah 48:1
“Listen to this, O house of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel, who have descended from the line of Judah, who swear by the name of the LORD, who invoke the God of Israel—but not in truth or righteousness—


Treasury of Scripture

For their heart was not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant.

their heart

Psalm 119:80
Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.

Hosea 7:14,16
And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me…

Hosea 10:2
Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.

stedfast

Psalm 78:8
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.

Psalm 44:17,18
All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant…

Deuteronomy 31:20
For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.

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Agreement Covenant Faithful Firm Heart Hearts Loyal Right Steadfast Stedfast True.
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Agreement Covenant Faithful Firm Heart Hearts Loyal Right Steadfast Stedfast True.
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.














Their hearts
The Hebrew word for "hearts" is "לִבָּם" (libbam), which refers to the inner being or the seat of emotions and will. In biblical times, the heart was considered the center of thought and moral decision-making. This phrase indicates a deep-seated issue, not just a superficial or external problem. The heart's condition reflects the true spiritual state of a person, emphasizing the importance of internal devotion over mere outward compliance.

were disloyal
The term "disloyal" comes from the Hebrew "נָכוֹן" (nakon), which means to be unfaithful or treacherous. This word suggests a betrayal of trust and a failure to uphold commitments. In the context of Israel's relationship with God, disloyalty signifies a turning away from the covenantal promises and obligations. Historically, Israel's disloyalty is seen in their repeated idolatry and failure to follow God's commandments, despite His continuous faithfulness.

to Him
The pronoun "Him" refers to God, the covenant-keeping deity of Israel. This highlights the personal nature of the relationship between God and His people. The disloyalty is not just a breach of contract but a personal affront to God, who desires a loving and faithful relationship with His people. The personal nature of this relationship is a recurring theme throughout the Scriptures, where God is depicted as a loving Father or a faithful husband.

and they were unfaithful
The phrase "were unfaithful" is derived from the Hebrew "לֹא נֶאֶמְנוּ" (lo ne'emnu), which means to act treacherously or to break faith. This emphasizes a pattern of behavior rather than a single act. Unfaithfulness in the biblical sense often involves idolatry, injustice, and a failure to live according to God's laws. The historical context of Israel's unfaithfulness includes periods of worshiping foreign gods and neglecting the covenantal laws given through Moses.

to His covenant
The word "covenant" is "בְּרִיתוֹ" (berito) in Hebrew, signifying a solemn agreement or promise between God and His people. The covenant with Israel included promises of blessing for obedience and curses for disobedience, as outlined in the Mosaic Law. This covenant was not merely a legal contract but a relational bond, akin to a marriage, where faithfulness was expected. The historical context of this covenant includes the giving of the Law at Sinai and the repeated renewal of the covenant throughout Israel's history. The unfaithfulness to the covenant reflects a broader theme of human inability to uphold divine standards, pointing to the need for a new covenant, ultimately fulfilled in Christ.

Verse 37. - For their heart was not right with him. It is the worship of the heart alone which God values (see Deuteronomy 10:12; Proverbs 3:1; Proverbs 23:26, etc.). If the heart be not "right with God," our worship is an offence to him. Neither were they steadfast in his covenant (comp. ver. 8).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Their hearts
וְ֭לִבָּם (wə·lib·bām)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

were disloyal
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

to Him,
עִמּ֑וֹ (‘im·mōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

and they were unfaithful
וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

to His covenant.
בִּבְרִיתֽוֹ׃ (biḇ·rî·ṯōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1285: A covenant


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OT Poetry: Psalm 78:37 For their heart was not right (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 78:36
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