Psalms 78:36 Meaning: When Our Words to God Are Just Flattery
But they flattered him with their mouth, and lied to him with their tongue.
Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.
But they flattered him with their mouth, And lied unto him with their tongue.
And--they deceive Him with their mouth, And with their tongue do lie to Him,
But they flattered him with their mouth, and lied unto him with their tongue;
Meaning in one sentence
What does Psalm 78:36 mean? This verse exposes the sin of insincere worship: flattering God with words while the heart is unfaithful.
Context
Psalm 78 is a long history lesson set to music. Asaph, the writer, walks through Israel’s story from Egypt to the promised land, showing two things side by side: God’s relentless goodness and the people’s repeated rebellion. By verse 32, the pattern is clear. God sends judgment. The people cry out and promise to follow Him. He rescues them. Then they forget. Verse 36 sits in the middle of that cycle. After God disciplines them, they come running with fine speeches and holy-sounding words. But it is all a performance. Their mouths say the right things while their hearts stay far off. The verse names what God sees behind the curtain: flattery and lies.
Key Words
Two Hebrew verbs expose the hollowness of Israel’s worship. The first, translated "flattered," comes from a root that means to be open or simple. At first it sounds innocent, but the word always bends toward deception, enticing, beguiling, seducing with smooth talk. Israel opened their mouths wide with promises, but they were trying to charm God, not honour Him.
The second verb, "lied," is kazav. This is not a small slip of the tongue. It means to be false, to fail someone, to prove faithless. When the people said they would obey, they gave a word they had no intention of keeping. The pairing of "mouth" and "tongue" makes the point plain: the very instruments God gave them to praise Him became tools of betrayal. They sang with their lips while their lives said something else entirely.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have seen this verse as a mirror for the human heart. Matthew Henry notes that Israel’s flattery was exposed by their actions: they spoke well of God but would not trust Him. The old medieval Psalter, quoted by Adam Clarke, puts it bluntly: "They said they loved God, but they lied, as their deeds show." Barnes observes that affliction often produces superficial repentance, promises made in pain that vanish when relief comes. The Cambridge Bible points out the irony, as if God were a man who could be fooled by a nice speech. All agree: this verse warns against a faith that lives only on the lips.
A common misunderstanding
A common reading of this verse is "at least Israel tried, they said the right words, even if their hearts wavered." But the verse does not praise their attempt. In fact, it says they deceived God. The point is not that they stumbled but that they deliberately pretended. They used holy language to mask a rebellious will. The mistake is to lower the standard: God is not impressed by correct theology spoken from a cold heart.
Living This Out
This week, notice what comes out of your mouth when you pray or worship. Do you speak words of love and trust because they are true, or because they sound right? It is easy to say "I surrender all" while clutching tightly to control. It is tempting to sing about God’s faithfulness while doubting He will come through. The answer is not to stop speaking, but to stop pretending. Bring your real heart into your words. If you are angry, say so. If you are afraid, admit it. God can handle honesty. What He cannot use is flattery designed to keep Him at a distance.
Main takeaway: Words of devotion mean nothing when the heart is not truly with God.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
This verse says some people said nice things to God but did not really mean them. God wants us to tell Him the truth, even when we are sad or sorry.
For ages 9, 12
Have you ever said sorry to a parent when you did not really mean it? That is what the people in this verse did with God. They said beautiful prayers and made big promises, but inside they planned to keep doing what they wanted. This verse teaches us that God sees past our words. He wants our real hearts. The best prayer is short and honest, not long and fake.
Questions People Ask
What does it mean to flatter God?
Flattering God means using nice words about Him to get something, not because you truly love Him. In this verse, Israel praised God after He judged them, but they only wanted relief, not a real relationship. Flattery sounds like worship but lacks sincerity.
Were the Israelites actually trying to deceive God?
The verse says they lied to Him with their tongues. They promised obedience they never intended to keep. As the commentators note, they acted as if God could be fooled by good speeches. It was self-deception too, because God always knows the heart.
Why does this verse appear in Psalm 78?
Psalm 78 is a history lesson for future generations. It shows God’s faithfulness and Israel’s repeated rebellion. Verse 36 sits in a cycle: God disciplines, the people repent briefly, then go back to sin. The verse exposes that their repentance was hollow, so the psalm warns against fake worship.
How is this verse relevant to Christians today?
It warns everyone who prays, sings, or attends church: are you saying words you do not mean? It is easy to go through the motions of worship without a changed heart. God wants truth in the inner being, not just beautiful language on the outside.
What is the difference between flattery and genuine praise?
Flattery uses kind words for selfish gain or to avoid consequences. Genuine praise comes from a heart that loves and trusts God. Israel flattered God to escape punishment. True praise says the same words but with honesty, even when life is hard.
For pastors & researchers
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