Psalm 78:32-33
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The real shocker here isn't just that they kept sinning, but that they still didn't believe because of God's amazing deeds. It highlights how incredible ingratitude can be: not only were they unthankful, their profound disbelief was actually fueled by the very evidence of God's power meant to inspire faith.
In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe. So he made their days vanish like a breath, and their years in terror.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist recounts Israel's history, highlighting their repeated failure to trust God despite His mighty acts. Even after experiencing miraculous deliverance from Egypt and provision in the wilderness, they continued to rebel. This verse specifically points to their unbelief and sin even after witnessing God's wonders, leading to further divine judgment and their condemnation to wander in the wilderness.
God performs amazing deeds, yet His people keep on sinning. How is this possible, and what does it reveal about the human heart?
This verse hits hard because it describes a pattern that repeats throughout Israel's history, and honestly, within our own lives too. After experiencing God's incredible power – the plagues in Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, provision in the wilderness – you'd expect unwavering trust, right?
But Psalms 78:32 says, 'For all this they sinned still.' The word 'still' is key here. It means 'nevertheless' or 'in spite of.' Despite all the 'wondrous works' God had already done, their hearts remained stubbornly set on sin and unbelief.
This isn't just about Israel; it's a mirror to our own hearts. We see God's faithfulness, His provision, His rescue, and yet, we often turn right back to sin. It’s a cycle of receiving grace and responding with stubbornness, which the commentators rightly point out is a 'monstrous obduracy' and a deep-seated issue that we must recognize in ourselves.
What lies at the core of Israel's repeated failures? The psalm points to a fundamental problem that modern believers still grapple with.
The verse states they 'believed not for his wondrous works.' This isn't just a passive lack of faith; it's an active refusal to trust God based on what He had already done. Unbelief, as the commentators note, was 'at the root of their contumacy.'
Think about it: If you truly believed that the God who parted the Red Sea and provided manna could also handle your current problem, would you still worry? Would you still give in to temptation? Probably not.
Their failure wasn't a lack of evidence; God had provided overwhelming evidence of His power and faithfulness. Their failure was a lack of – a refusal to let that evidence transform their hearts and actions. This deep-seated unbelief allowed them to repeatedly sin, even in the face of God's judgment and mercy.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
pele · Hebrew Noun
Acts of divine power that exceed natural laws, performed by God to reveal His presence, authority, and purpose to His people and the nations.
aman · Hebrew Verb
The foundational spiritual defect of failing to trust in God's word and character, which leads to disobedience and alienation from His covenant promises.
This verse captures the deep tragedy of the Israelites' repeated failures. Even after witnessing God's spectacular power in their deliverance from Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea, and even after facing His judgment by being condemned to wander for forty years, they still struggled with believing and obeying Him. It highlights a persistent human tendency to forget God's past faithfulness when faced with present fear or desire.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
God miraculously delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt through Moses, demonstrating His power with the ten plagues.
c. 1446 BC
Parting of the Red Sea
God parted the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to escape the pursuing Egyptian army, who were then drowned when the waters returned.
c. 1446 BC
Wilderness Wanderings Begin
After reaching the other side of the Red Sea, the Israelites began their journey through the Sinai wilderness.
c. 1445 BC
Spies Sent into Canaan
Moses sent twelve spies into the land of Canaan to scout it out. Ten of them returned with a negative report, instilling fear.
c. 1445 BC— this verse
Israelites Condemned to Wander
Because of their fear and disbelief following the spies' report, God declared that the generation that left Egypt would not enter the Promised Land, instead wandering for 40 years.
c. 1405 BC
Forty Years of Wandering
The Israelites spent forty years in the wilderness, during which time the entire generation that had been enslaved in Egypt perished, except for Joshua and Caleb.
This passage directly parallels the psalm's accusation, showing God's frustration with Israel's repeated disbelief and sin, even after witnessing His powerful interventions.
John 12:37This New Testament passage echoes the sentiment, lamenting that even Jesus's many miracles did not lead many to believe in Him, highlighting a persistent human tendency towards unbelief.
Hebrews 3:12This verse warns believers against falling into the same pattern of 'disbelief in a living God' that characterized the Israelites in the wilderness, directly referencing their history as a cautionary tale.
Psalm 106:7This psalm also recounts Israel's history, specifically mentioning their forefathers' 'rebellion at the Red Sea' despite God's mighty deeds, reinforcing the theme of persistent sin and disbelief in the face of divine power.
clarkePsalms 78:32: "For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works."
For all this they sinned still - How astonishing is this! They were neither drawn by mercies, nor awed by judgments! But we shall cease to wonder at this, if we have a thorough acquaintance with our own hearts.
pulpitPsalms 78:32: "For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works."
Verse 32. - For all this they sinned still. Neither gratitude for favours received (vers. 13-17), nor alarm at punishments inflicted (ver. 31), had any effect on the stiff-necked people; despite of both, they "sinned still" (comp. vers. 40, 41, 56-58). And believed not for his wondrous works. Unbelief was at the root of their contumacy. They could not deny God's mighty works in the past, but they did not ac…
The real shocker here isn't just that they kept sinning, but that they still didn't believe because of God's amazing deeds. It highlights how incredible ingratitude can be: not only were they unthankful, their profound disbelief was actually fueled by the very evidence of God's power meant to inspire faith.
The psalmist recounts Israel's history, highlighting their repeated failure to trust God despite His mighty acts. Even after experiencing miraculous deliverance from Egypt and provision in the wilderness, they continued to rebel. This verse specifically points to their unbelief and sin even after witnessing God's wonders, leading to further divine judgment and their condemnation to wander in the wilderness.
The psalmist recounts Israel's history, highlighting their repeated failure to trust God despite His mighty acts. Even after experiencing miraculous deliverance from Egypt and provision in the wilderness, they continued to rebel. This verse specifically points to their unbelief and sin even after witnessing God's wonders, leading to further divine judgment and their condemnation to wander in the wilderness.
"In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe. So he made their days vanish like a breath, and their years in terror." — The real shocker here isn't just that they kept sinning, but that they still didn't believe because of God's amazing deeds. It highlights how incredible ingratitude can be: not only were they unt…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
