Psalms 95:10

Forty years long was I grieved with [this] generation, and said, It [is] a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:

Forty {H705} years {H8141} long was I grieved {H6962} with this generation {H1755}, and said {H559}, It is a people {H5971} that do err {H8582} in their heart {H3824}, and they have not known {H3045} my ways {H1870}:

For forty years I loathed that generation; I said, 'This is a people whose hearts go astray, they don't understand how I do things.'

For forty years I was angry with that generation, and I said, β€œThey are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known My ways.”

Forty years long was I grieved with that generation, And said, It is a people that do err in their heart, And they have not known my ways:

Commentary

Psalm 95:10 captures the Lord's profound sorrow and frustration with the generation of Israelites who wandered in the wilderness for forty years after their liberation from Egypt. This verse serves as a solemn warning, echoing God's perspective on their persistent rebellion and lack of true spiritual understanding.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse directly refers to the forty-year period of wandering in the wilderness that followed the Exodus from Egypt. Despite witnessing God's miraculous power in their deliverance (e.g., the Red Sea crossing) and His provision (manna, water from the rock), this generation repeatedly grumbled, doubted, and disobeyed. Their journey was meant to be much shorter, but their unbelief extended it into a long period of consequence, during which the entire adult generation (save for Joshua and Caleb) perished before entering the Promised Land.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Grief and Patience: The phrase "Forty years long was I grieved" highlights God's immense patience and enduring sorrow over His people's stubbornness. His grief is not a human emotion of weakness, but a righteous pain over sin and unbelief.
  • Heart Condition: "It is a people that do err in their heart" points to a fundamental spiritual problem. Their error was not merely external actions, but a deep-seated issue of the will, affections, and intellect. The "heart" (Hebrew: leb) in biblical thought is the core of one's being, the seat of decision and understanding.
  • Lack of Experiential Knowledge: "they have not known my ways" signifies more than intellectual ignorance. It implies a failure to experientially understand God's character, His faithfulness, and His righteous requirements, despite having seen His mighty works. This lack of true knowledge led to their repeated disobedience.
  • Consequences of Unbelief: This verse foreshadows the divine judgment mentioned later in the psalm, where God declares they would not enter His rest. It underscores the serious repercussions of sustained unbelief and spiritual wandering.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "grieved" here is qut (Χ§Χ•ΦΌΧ˜), which can mean to be weary, disgusted, or loathe. It conveys a deep sense of aversion or weariness with their persistent rebellion, not merely sadness. This strong term emphasizes the depth of God's displeasure with their unfaithfulness.

Practical Application and Reflection

Psalm 95:10 serves as a powerful cautionary tale for all generations. It reminds us that:

  • Obedience Stems from the Heart: True faith involves a heart submitted to God, not just outward religious observance. Our internal disposition is crucial.
  • Knowing God's Ways: We are called to know God not just intellectually, but through intimate relationship, trust, and obedience. This experiential knowledge guards against spiritual error.
  • Avoiding a Hardened Heart: The New Testament book of Hebrews frequently references Psalm 95, urging believers not to harden their hearts as the Israelites did in the wilderness. This warning applies to believers today, emphasizing the need for persistent faith and responsiveness to God's voice.
This verse challenges us to examine our own hearts, ensuring we are truly walking in God's ways and not erring in our understanding or obedience.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Hebrews 3:17

    But with whom was he grieved forty years? [was it] not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?

  • Proverbs 1:22

    How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

  • Proverbs 1:29

    For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

  • Hebrews 3:9

    When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.

  • Hebrews 3:10

    Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in [their] heart; and they have not known my ways.

  • Isaiah 63:17

    O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, [and] hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.

  • Acts 7:36

    He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.