Psalms 78:34

34 Whenever God slew them, they would seek him; they eagerly turned to him again.

Psalms 78:34 in Other Translations

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

34 When he killed them, they sought him; they repented and sought God earnestly.

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

34 When he cut them down, they came running for help; they turned and pled for mercy.

34 When He killed [some of] them, [the rest] began to seek Him; they repented and searched for God.

Psalms 78:34 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 78:34

When he slew them
Some of them, the spies particularly; or when he threatened to slay them, or was about to do it:

then they sought him;
that is, those who either survived the slain, or were threatened with destruction; these sought the Lord by prayer and supplication, that he would not destroy them; the Targum is,

``they repented and sought him;''

see ( Numbers 14:37 Numbers 14:39 Numbers 14:40 ) ,

and they returned;
from their evil ways, and by repentance, at least in show and appearance:

and inquired early after God;
but not earnestly, and with their whole hearts and spirits; the Targum is,

``they prayed before God;''

which is often done, by carnal professors, in trouble; see ( Isaiah 26:16 ) ( Hosea 5:15 ) .

Psalms 78:34 In-Context

32 In spite of all this, they kept on sinning; in spite of his wonders, they did not believe.

33 So he ended their days in futility and their years in terror.

34 Whenever God slew them, they would seek him; they eagerly turned to him again.

35 They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer.

36 But then they would flatter him with their mouths, lying to him with their tongues;

Cross References

• 1. S Deuteronomy 4:29; Hosea 5:15