But they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Despite experiencing God's powerful interventions, their words were empty promises; they flattered Him, meaning they tried to trick or coax God with their lips, not genuinely confessing their sins or committing to change. This wasn't just telling a fib; it was a deliberate attempt to deceive God with hollow pronouncements, revealing their heart remained unchanged.
But they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist is recounting Israel's history as a lesson, highlighting their constant cycle of unfaithfulness despite God's powerful interventions. After detailing God's miracles like parting the Red Sea and providing for them in the wilderness, the text turns to their outward expressions of devotion during times of distress, which were ultimately insincere. This sets the stage for understanding their repentance as superficial, driven by fear rather than genuine transformation.
Have you ever said something you didn't quite mean, maybe to get out of trouble or smooth things over? This verse talks about that, but on a much deeper, spiritual level.
The people in Psalm 78 weren't just being a little forgetful; they were actively deceiving God. They 'flattered him with their mouth' and 'lied to him with their tongues.' This wasn't about a genuine desire to change, but a performance. It was an attempt to trick God, as if He could be fooled by nice words while their hearts remained far away.
Think about it: God knows the truth. He sees the intentions behind our words. True worship and confession come from a heart that's truly repentant and desires to follow Him. Anything less is just noise, an empty show. It’s like saying 'I love you' while planning to walk away – the words are hollow.
Life throws curveballs, and when we're in a tough spot, we often make big promises. But what happens when the storm passes?
Psalm 78:36 describes a pattern: when Israel faced God's judgment or hardship, they'd suddenly become very religious. They'd promise God anything and everything to get Him to back off. This wasn't born out of a deep understanding of God or a true love for Him, but out of fear and a desire to escape the immediate pain.
As the commentaries note, their 'love' was only with their mouth. They'd 'flatter' God, trying to 'persuade' or 'beguile' Him. Once the danger passed, however, their promises were forgotten. Their hearts weren't 'right before Him,' and they weren't 'faithful in His covenant.' This is a stark reminder that our promises to God should stem from a transformed heart, not just a panicked reaction.
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Understand the original words
pathah · Hebrew Verb
To express insincere praise or admiration, often with ulterior motives or deceptive intent, lacking true commitment or loyalty.
This psalm reflects on Israel's long history of repeated disobedience, even after experiencing God's powerful interventions and promises. The verse highlights their empty words and insincere devotion during times of distress, a pattern evident throughout their journey from Egypt and into the Promised Land.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
God miraculously delivers the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, leading them through the Red Sea.
c. 1446-1406 BC— this verse
Wilderness Wanderings
Following their deliverance, the Israelites repeatedly disobey God, murmuring and sinning in the wilderness, leading to a generation's demise.
c. 1406 BC
Entry into the Promised Land
The new generation of Israelites, having survived the wilderness, enters and begins to conquer the land of Canaan.
c. 1400-1050 BC
Period of the Judges
Israel experiences cycles of disobedience, oppression, and deliverance, marked by continued unfaithfulness.
c. 1050 BC
Establishment of the Monarchy
Saul is anointed king, followed by David, marking a significant shift in Israel's leadership and national structure.
This passage describes Israel's outward religious actions and vows that were not matched by their inward devotion, a direct parallel to the 'lip service' and insincere promises mentioned in Psalms 78:36.
Matthew 15:8Jesus quotes Isaiah here, describing people who honor God with their lips but whose hearts are far from Him, highlighting the same theme of superficial worship and deception found in the verse.
Hosea 7:11This verse speaks of Israel's lack of sincerity, calling out their 'empty' or 'vain' cries to God, which mirrors the hollow flattery and lies of the tongue mentioned in Psalms 78:36.
Isaiah 29:13This prophecy directly addresses people who draw near to God with their mouths and honor Him with their lips, but whose hearts are far away, mirroring the insincere 'flattery' and 'lies' of Psalms 78:36.
clarkePsalms 78:36: "Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues."
Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth - What idea could such people have of God, whom they supposed they could thus deceive? They promised well, they called him their God, and their fathers' God; and told him how good, and kind, and merciful he had been to them. Thus, their mouth flattered him. And they said that, whatever the Lord their God commanded them to do, they woul…
pulpitPsalms 78:36: "Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues."
Verse 36. - Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth. The Revised Version is simpler and better, But they flattered him with their mouth. All that they said or did when alarmed by some judgment of God's was a mere pretence - an attempt to "flatter" and cozen God, and so win his favour. And they lied unto him with their tongues. They offered him a lip service, which was a "lie…
Despite experiencing God's powerful interventions, their words were empty promises; they flattered Him, meaning they tried to trick or coax God with their lips, not genuinely confessing their sins or committing to change. This wasn't just telling a fib; it was a deliberate attempt to deceive God with hollow pronouncements, revealing their heart remained unchanged.
The psalmist is recounting Israel's history as a lesson, highlighting their constant cycle of unfaithfulness despite God's powerful interventions. After detailing God's miracles like parting the Red Sea and providing for them in the wilderness, the text turns to their outward expressions of devotion during times of distress, which were ultimately insincere. This sets the stage for understanding their repentance as superficial, driven by fear rather than genuine transformation.
The psalmist is recounting Israel's history as a lesson, highlighting their constant cycle of unfaithfulness despite God's powerful interventions. After detailing God's miracles like parting the Red Sea and providing for them in the wilderness, the text turns to their outward expressions of devotion during times of distress, which were ultimately insincere. This sets the stage for understanding their repentance as superficial, driven by fear rather than genuine transformation.
"But they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues." — Despite experiencing God's powerful interventions, their words were empty promises; they flattered Him, meaning they tried to trick or coax God with their lips, not genuinely confessing their sins…
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Last reviewed October 2026