Psalms 78:37 Meaning: When Outward Words Mask an Unfaithful Heart
For their heart was not right with him, neither were they faithful in his covenant.
For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.
For their heart was not right with him, Neither were they faithful in his covenant.
And their heart hath not been right with Him, And they have not been stedfast in His covenant.
For their heart was not firm toward him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.
Meaning in one sentence
Psalm 78:37 shows that even when people speak of God, their hearts may not be truly loyal. True covenant faithfulness goes deeper than words.
Context
Psalm 78 is a long history lesson set to music. The psalmist Asaph retells the story of Israel from Egypt to the wilderness to the promised land. His purpose is not just to inform but to warn. The verses just before our passage describe a strange scene: when God allowed trouble to come, the people eagerly turned back to Him. They remembered that God was their rock and redeemer. But their words were flattery, and their tongues lied. Verse 37 gives the diagnosis. Their hearts were not set firmly on God. They were not loyal to the covenant He had made with them. This is not a story about ancient people only. It is a mirror for every generation that sings God's praises but lives for something else.
Key Words
Two Hebrew words carry the weight. The word translated "right" or "steadfast" (nakhon) comes from a verb meaning to be firm, established, prepared. Think of a tent peg driven deep into the ground. The heart that is right with God is a heart that stays put, not blown by every wind. The other word is "faithful" (ne'emnu), from the root aman, the same root that gives us "Amen." It means to support, to carry, to be reliable. A nurse carries a child; a parent upholds a family. To be faithful in God's covenant is to hold up your end of the relationship with steady, dependable love. These words together show that God is not impressed by dramatic promises. He looks for a heart that holds fast and a life that carries through.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions agree that this verse exposes a danger every believer faces. Matthew Henry, writing from a Reformed perspective, notes that the Israelites had the form of godliness but not the power. The Geneva Bible calls their hearts "not upright." Adam Clarke, a Methodist commentator, states plainly: "When the heart is wrong, the life is wrong." Many traditions read this as a call to self-examination. Catholics may connect it to the need for sacramental grace to strengthen a wavering heart. Evangelical teachers often preach it as a warning against empty religion. While traditions differ on exactly how a heart is made right with God, all hear the same question: Is our heart truly with Him, or are we just going through motions?
A common misunderstanding
Some readers assume that because the Israelites "sought God" and "remembered" Him in verse 34 and 35, their repentance was genuine. But verse 37 clarifies that their hearts were not aligned with Him. The mistake is to confuse temporary religious emotion with true heart change. In fact, their seeking was a reflex from fear, not a returning from love. Real faithfulness to the covenant is steady, not sparked only by crisis.
Living This Out
This week, notice the gap between what you say to God and what your heart is actually doing. When you sing in church or say grace at a meal, ask: Is this coming from a heart that is steadfast toward Him, or am I just speaking the right words? The verb "faithful" in this verse comes from a word that means to support, to carry. You are called to carry your end of the covenant relationship. That looks like staying loyal on a Tuesday afternoon, not just on a Sunday morning. It looks like trusting God when you cannot see what He is doing. Let that question linger: Is my heart firmly with Him, even now?
Main takeaway: God desires hearts that are steadfastly loyal to Him, not just lips that speak of Him.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Sometimes we say we love God, but inside we are thinking about something else. God wants our hearts to really love Him, not just our words.
For ages 9, 12
The people in this verse said they wanted God, but their hearts were not really with Him. It is like promising to clean your room but then not doing it. God wants more than just good promises. He wants you to really mean it when you say you follow Him. You can ask God to help your heart stay loyal to Him every day.
Questions People Ask
What does “heart was not right” mean in Psalm 78:37?
It means their inner loyalty was not set firmly on God. The Hebrew word suggests something that is not fixed or established. They spoke of God but their deepest trust was elsewhere.
What covenant is Psalm 78:37 talking about?
The covenant God made with Israel at Sinai, where they agreed to be His people and follow His laws. The verse says they were not faithful to that agreement.
Does Psalm 78:37 mean these people lost their salvation?
Christians hold different views. Protestant traditions often see it as a loss of fellowship or blessing, not final salvation. Catholic teaching includes the possibility of losing grace through serious sin. All agree the verse warns us against a heart that drifts from God.
Why does the psalmist talk about Israel’s history in Psalm 78?
Asaph tells the story so that future generations would learn from their ancestors’ mistakes. He wants us to see that outward religion without heart loyalty leads to broken relationship with God.
How is Psalm 78:37 connected to God’s mercy in the next verse?
Verse 38 immediately says “But he, being merciful, forgave iniquity.” Even when hearts were not right, God showed compassion. This highlights both human unfaithfulness and divine grace.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study