Psalms 78:17 — Word Study
WLCוַיּוֹסִ֣יפוּ ע֭וֹד לַחֲטֹא־ ל֑וֹ לַֽמְר֥וֹת עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן בַּצִּיָּֽה׃
BSABut they continuedyâçaph▸ [still, yet] to sinchâṭâʼ [miss the mark, go wrong] rebellingmârâh [resisting, disobeying] in the deserttsîyâh [dry and barren place, wilderness] against the Most Highʻelyôwn [the supreme God, Almighty]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיּוֹסִ֣יפוּ | and they repeated | Verb, Hiphil, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| ע֭וֹד | again | |
| לַחֲטֹא־ | to sin | Preposition, verb qal infinitive construct common |
| ל֑וֹ | to him | Preposition, suffix |
| לַֽמְר֥וֹת | by rebelling against | Preposition, verb hiphil infinitive construct common |
| עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן | [the] Most High | Adj |
| בַּצִּיָּֽה׃ | in the dry region | Preposition, noun common feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | But they continued to sin against Him, rebelling in the desert against the Most High. |
| KJV | And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness. |
| ASV | Yet went they on still to sin against him, To rebel against the Most High in the desert. |
| YLT | And they add still to sin against Him, To provoke the Most High in the dry place. |
| WEB | Yet they still went on to sin against him, to rebel against the Most High in the desert. |
| BBE | And they went on sinning against him even more, turning away from the Most High in the waste land; |
Where they part company is יָסַף — see How Translations Differ.
One main verb governs the sentence, with additional phrases providing context about the actions and setting.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbיָסַף
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 78:17
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Rebellion in the Wildernessgenerated
Psalm 78:17 describes the Israelites' persistent sin against God during their journey in the desert. Despite witnessing His miracles, they continued to rebel, demonstrating a pattern of disobedience and lack of faith. This passage serves as a reminder of their struggles and God's enduring patience, as seen in the surrounding verses that recount their history of testing God and demanding more than He provided.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 78:32 | In spite of all this, they kept on sinning; despite His wonderful works, they did not believe. |
| 2 | Psalm 95:8–10 | do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, in the day at Massah in the wilderness, |
| 3 | Psalm 106:13–32 | Yet they soon forgot His works and failed to wait for His counsel. |
| 4 | Deuteronomy 9:8–12 | At Horeb you provoked the LORD, and He was angry enough to destroy you. |
| 5 | Hebrews 3:16–19 | For who were the ones who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יָסַף, vai.yo.Si.fugenerated
The verb יָסַף (yacaph) means to add or increase, indicating a continuation of action. In this context, it emphasizes the repeated nature of the Israelites' sin against God. The parsing as a Hiphil imperfect shows that this action is ongoing, highlighting their persistent rebellion.
This word is used to convey the idea of doing something again, which is crucial here as it underscores the Israelites' failure to learn from their past and their continual choice to sin. The Septuagint translates it as προσέθεντο, suggesting a similar notion of addition or continuation.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations generally agree on the meaning of the verse.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb יָסַף governs the whole verse, with a series of phrases elaborating on the action: the adverbial ע֭וֹד indicates repetition, followed by the infinitive לַחֲטֹא explaining what they continued to do, and the prepositional phrase לַֽמְר֥וֹת detailing against whom this rebellion occurred.
The structure emphasizes the ongoing nature of their sin, with the verb leading the sentence and the additional phrases providing context about their actions and the setting.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint uses παρεπίκραναν to translate מָרָה, which conveys a sense of contentiousness or rebellion. This choice reflects a broader interpretation of the original Hebrew, emphasizing the defiance against God.
The use of ἔτι for ע֭וֹד reinforces the idea of continuation, aligning closely with the Hebrew meaning of 'again' or 'still'.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 78:17 tells us that the Israelites repeatedly sinned against God while in the desert, showing rebellion against Him. This verse highlights their failure to trust in God's provision, despite the miracles they witnessed.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that the Israelites repeatedly chose to disobey God, despite knowing His power and provision.
The wilderness represents a place of testing and lack, where the Israelites struggled to trust God.
It implies a direct defiance against God's authority and a rejection of His guidance.
This verse illustrates the recurring theme of Israel's disobedience and God's faithfulness, serving as a warning to future generations.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I see myself repeating mistakes, similar to the Israelites?
- How can I better trust in God's provision during difficult times?
- What does rebellion against God look like in my life?
- How can I learn from the history of Israel to avoid similar pitfalls?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers have commented on this verse, illustrating its significance in understanding human disobedience and divine patience.
And yet, "they," like a generation crooked and embittering, "added yet to sin against Him" [Psalms 78:17]: that is, not to believe.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 78 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 78:17 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd they sinned yet more against him,.... Or, "and they added yet to sin against him" (c); which was great ingratitude; they had sinned before, and it might have been hoped that the goodness of God
Read John Gill on Psalms 78 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryMarvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 78 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleWhere they had such strong and singular obligations to obedience, both from the great things which God had then and there done for them, and from their dependence upon God’ s favour and help for their safety and subsistence. This was a great aggravation of their sin and folly.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 78 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 78:17 And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.Ver. 17. And they sinned yet more against him] The better he was to them the worse were they toward him, as if God had hired them to be wicked; and this was ordinary with them, and is still among us. Oh the Divine patience! By provoking the most High in the wilderness] In terra arida ubi Deo indies indigebant, ibi peccabant, saith Aben Ezra here. This was another aggravation of their sin.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 78 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(17) They sinned yet more and more.—This implies the discontent which had already shown itself before the miraculous supply of water.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 78 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges17–31. In spite of these miracles of mercy they sinned yet more, and tempted God in their unbelief, so that while He supplied their wants He was compelled to punish them for their sin. The order is logical not chronological. The first murmurings for food (Exodus 16) preceded the giving of the water: and the narratives of Exodus 16 and Numbers 11 are fused into one.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 78 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleAnd they sinned yet more against him - literally, “They added to sin against him.” The idea is, that his mercies, and the proofs of his presence were only made the occasion of greater sin on their part.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 78 →The verse in English, compared — 16 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
But they continued to sin against Him, rebelling in the desert against the Most High.
Yet they still went on to sin against him, to rebel against the Most High in the desert.
But they continued to sin against Him, rebelling in the desert against the Most High.
Yet they continued to sin against him, and rebelled against the sovereign One in the desert.
Tyndale line
And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.
Yet went they on still to sin against him, To rebel against the Most High in the desert.
Yet went they on still to sin against him, to rebel against the Most High in the desert.
And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the Most High in the wilderness.
Yet they sinned stil against him, and prouoked the Highest in the wildernesse,
Strictly literal
Yet they still went on sinning against him, provoking the Most High in the desert;
And they add still to sin against Him, To provoke the Most High in the dry place.
And they still add to sin against Him, || To provoke the Most High in the dry place.
But they repeated to sin yet more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert.
Yet they continued to sin against him, rebelling against the Most High in the wilderness.
Simplified
But they repeatedly sinned against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert.
And they went on sinning against him even more, turning away from the Most High in the waste land;
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in their wording, with six out of seven words matched. The Septuagint's rendering reflects the same themes of rebellion and sin, though its structure differs from the Hebrew.
וַיּוֹסִ֣יפוּ ע֭וֹד לַחֲטֹא־ ל֑וֹ לַֽמְר֥וֹת עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן בַּצִּיָּֽה׃
6 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 78:17
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
יָסַף (yacaph) is a Hebrew verb meaning to add or increase. It can denote actions like joining oneself to something or continuing to do a task. The entries indicate its use in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Hiphil, with nuances of doing something again or augmenting an amount.
יָסַף 214 vb. add
Qal add
Niph.
join (intr.), join oneself to
be joined, added to
Hiph.
add
sq. inf. add to do = do again or more
sq. Impf.
sq. Impf. asynd.
base
H3254 יָסַף add . add
. . join (intr.), join oneself to
. be joined, added to
. . add
. . sq. inf. add to do = do again or more
. sq. Impf.
. sq. Impf. asynd.
3254 yacaph yaw-saf'
a primitive root; to add or augment (often adverbial, to
continue to do a thing):--add, X again, X any more, X cease, X
come more, + conceive again, continue, exceed, X further, X
gather together, get more, give more-over, X henceforth,
increase (more and more), join, X longer (bring, do, make,
much, put), X (the, much, yet) more (and more), proceed
(further), prolong, put, be (strong-) er, X yet, yield.
יָסַף (ya.saph) — to add: again.
: again/continue/more[instances]
1) to add, increase, do again
1a) (Qal) to add, increase, do again
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to join, join oneself to
1b2) to be joined, be added to
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to cause to add, increase
1c2) to do more, do again
יָסַף (ya.saph) — to add.
: add/more[amount]
1) to add, increase, do again
1a) (Qal) to add, increase, do again
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to join, join oneself to
1b2) to be joined, be added to
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to cause to add, increase
1c2) to do more, do again
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vhw3mp
עוֹד (owd) primarily denotes a sense of iteration or continuance, functioning mostly as an adverb meaning 'still,' 'yet,' or 'again.' It can also imply addition or repetition, as in 'more' or 'besides.' The word appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, emphasizing persistence or continuation.
עוֹד and (14 t.) עֹד subst. a going round, continuance, but used mostly as adv. acc. still, yet, again, besides
base
H5750 עוֹד and (14 t.) עֹד subst. a going round, continuance, but used mostly as adv. acc. still, yet, again, besides
5750 `owd ode
or rod {ode}; from 5749; properly, iteration or continuance;
used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again,
repeatedly, still, more:--again, X all life long, at all,
besides, but, else, further(-more), henceforth, (any) longer,
(any) more(-over), X once, since, (be) still, when, (good,
the) while (having being), (as, because, whether, while) yet
(within).
see HEBREW for 05749
עוֹד (od) — still.
subst
1) a going round, continuance
adv
2) still, yet, again, besides
2a) still, yet (of continuance or persistence)
2b) still, yet, more (of addition or repetition)
2c) again
2d) still, moreover, besides
Aramaic equivalent: od (עוֹד "still" H5751)
HAcmsa — HAcmsa
a-gen': Advb. denoting repetition; in New Testament, generally for palin, "back," "once more." Occasionally, it has the force of a connective, synonymous with "moreover," as in Ro 15:10 ff; 1Co 3:20, etc. The expression "born again" of the King James Version, Joh 3:3,7; 1Pe 1:23, translating the Greek "anothen" and "ana" in composition, becomes in the Revised Version (British and American) "anew," i.e. "over again." As these particles mean "from above" and "up," their use as indicating repetition is sometimes disputed, but without further foundation than that "again" does not exhaust the meaning.
חָטָא (chata') means to miss a goal or way, and is commonly translated as 'to sin.' It encompasses a range of meanings including incurring guilt, making a sin offering, and purifying from uncleanness. The word can also imply leading others to sin or causing oneself to lose one's way. It appears in various forms, such as Qal, Piel, Hiphil, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances of the concept of sin.
חָטָא 238 vb. miss (a goal or way), go wrong, sin
Qal
miss
sin, miss the goal or path of right and duty
incur guilt, penalty by sin, forfeit
Pi.
bear loss
make a sin offering
purify from sin
purify from uncleanness
Hiph.
miss the mark
induce or cause to sin
bring into guilt, condemnation, punishment
Hithp.
miss oneself, lose oneself, fig. for be bewildered, beside oneself
purify oneself from uncleanness
base
H2398 חָטָא miss (a goal or way), go wrong, sin .. miss
. sin, miss the goal or path of right and duty
. incur guilt, penalty by sin, forfeit
. . bear loss
. make a sin offering
. purify from sin
. purify from uncleanness
. . miss the mark
. induce or cause to sin
. bring into guilt, condemnation, punishment
. . miss oneself, lose oneself, fig. for be bewildered, beside oneself
. purify oneself from uncleanness
2398 chata' khaw-taw'
a primitive root; properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and
generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate,
repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn:--bear the blame,
cleanse, commit (sin), by fault, harm he hath done, loss,
miss, (make) offend(-er), offer for sin, purge, purify (self),
make reconciliation, (cause, make) sin(-ful, -ness), trespass.
חָטָא (cha.ta) — to sin.
1) to sin, miss, miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, forfeit, purify from uncleanness
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to miss
1a2) to sin, miss the goal or path of right and duty
1a3) to incur guilt, incur penalty by sin, forfeit
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to bear loss
1b2) to make a sin-offering
1b3) to purify from sin
1b4) to purify from uncleanness
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to miss the mark
1c2) to induce to sin, cause to sin
1c3) to bring into guilt or condemnation or punishment
1d) (Hithpael)
1d1) to miss oneself, lose oneself, wander from the way
1d2) to purify oneself from uncleanness
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct commonHR/Vqcc
Sin
Is “any want of conformity unto or transgression of the law of God” (1 John 3:4; Rom. 4:15), in the inward state and habit of the soul, as well as in the outward conduct of the life, whether by omission or commission (Rom. 6:12-17; 7:5-24). It is “not a mere violation of the law of our constitution, nor of the system of things, but an offence against a personal lawgiver and moral governor who vindicates his law with penalties. The soul that sins is always conscious that his sin is (1) intrinsically vile and polluting, and (2) that it justly deserves punishment, and calls down the righteous wrath of God. Hence sin carries with it two inalienable characters, (1) ill-desert, guilt (reatus); and (2) pollution (macula).”, Hodge’s…
a city of Egypt, mentioned only by Ezekiel. (Ezekiel 30:15,16) The name is Hebrew, or at least Semitic, perhaps signifying clay . It is identified in the Vulgate with Pelusium, "the clayey or muddy" town. Its antiquity may perhaps be inferred from the mention of "the wilderness of Sin" in the journeys of the Israelites. (Exodus 16:1; Numbers 33:11) Ezekiel speaks of Sin as "Sin the strongholds of Egypt." (Ezekiel 30:15) This place was held by Egypt from that time until the period of the Romans. Herodotus relates that Sennacherib advanced against Pelusium, and that near Pelusium Cambyses defeated Psammenitus. In like manner the decisive battle in which Ochus defeated the…
1. Any thought, word, desire, action, or omission of action, contrary to the law of God, or defective when compared with it.
The origin of sin is a subject which baffles all investigation; and our inquiries are much better directed when we seek through Christ a release from its penalty and power, for ourselves and the world. Its entrance into the world, and infection of the whole human race, its nature, forms, and effects, and its fatal possession of every unregenerate soul, are fully described in the Bible, Ge 6:5 Ps 51:5 Mt 15:19 Ro 5:12 Jas 1:14,15.
bush
וֹ (o) — him.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine singular
HR/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp3ms
מָרָה (marah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be contentious or rebellious. It encompasses actions of disobedience, particularly towards authority figures like parents or God. The entries indicate that it can also imply causing bitterness or provoking resistance. The word appears in various forms, such as Qal and Hiphil, which denote different aspects of rebellion and disobedience.
מָרָה vb. be contentious, refractory, rebellious
Qal be disobedient, rebellious
Hiph. shew disobedience, rebelliousness
base
H4784 מָרָה be contentious, refractory, rebellious
4784 marah maw-raw'
a primitive root; to be (causatively, make) bitter (or
unpleasant); (figuratively) to rebel (or resist; causatively,
to provoke):--bitter, change, be disobedient, disobey,
grievously, provocation, provoke(-ing), (be) rebel
(against, -lious).
מָרָה (ma.rah) — to rebel.
1) to be contentious, be rebellious, be refractory, be disobedient towards, be rebellious against
1a) (Qal) to be disobedient, be rebellious
1a1) towards father
1a2) towards God
1b) (Hiphil) to show rebelliousness, show disobedience, disobey
Prep | V-Hiphil-Inf-a — Preposition · verb hiphil infinitive construct commonHR/Vhcc
a-genst' (kata; enantion; pros): Preposition expressing contrast. When used of direction, equivalent to "toward" (Mt 10:35; 12:14, etc.); when of position, meaning "opposite," "facing," "in front of" (1Ki 7:5; Ge 15:10, Ro 8:31); when of action, "opposed to" (Mt 5:11; 26:59; 1Co 4:6); "in resistance to" (Heb 12:4); "provision for" (Greek eis, literally, "unto, toward" (1Ti 6:19)). Sometimes also applied to what breaks an established order as "customs" (
עֶלְיוֹן (elyown) means 'high' or 'upper,' and is used to describe both physical elevations, such as the upper part of Bethhoron, and metaphorical heights, referring to God as the 'Most High.' It can also denote rulers, including monarchs and angelic beings. The term is derived from a root meaning elevation.
עֶלְיוֹן 22 adj.
high
upper Bethhoron, the upper (opp. lower) of house
base
עֶלְיוֹן n.m. Highest, Most High
name of God
of rulers, either monarchs or angel-princes
base
H5945a עֶלְיוֹן . high
. upper Bethhoron, the upper (opp. lower) of house
H5945b עֶלְיוֹן Highest, Most High . name of God
. of rulers, either monarchs or angel-princes
5945 'elyown el-yone'
from 5927; an elevation, i.e. (adj.) lofty (compar.); as
title, the Supreme:--(Most, on) high(-er, -est),
upper(-most).
see HEBREW for 05927
עֶלְיוֹן (el.yon) — high.
adj
1) high, upper
1a) of Davidic king exalted above monarchs
עֶלְיוֹן (el.yon) — Most High.
Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
עֶלְיוֹן (el.yon) — Upper (Beth Horon).
Combined with bet cho.ron (בֵּית חוֹרֹן " Beth-horon" H1032H)
§
עֶלְיוֹן (el.yon) — (LORD) Most High.
Combined with ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068)
Adj — AdjHAamsa
צִיָּה (tsiyah) refers to dryness or drought, stemming from a root that means to parch. It encompasses concepts of aridity, barren land, and wilderness. The term is used in contexts related to desolate or dry places.
צִיָּה n.f. dryness, drought
base
H6723 צִיָּה dryness, drought
6723 tsiyah tsee-yaw'
from an unused root meaning to parch; aridity; concretely, a
desert:--barren, drought, dry (land, place), solitary place,
wilderness.
צִיָּה (tsiy.yah) — dryness.
dryness, drought, desert
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absoluteHRd/Ncfsa
re'-jun: A "district," as in modern English. The word "region" is used by English Versions of the Bible interchangeably with "country," "coasts," etc., for various Hebrew and Greek terms, but "region round about" is usually in the King James Version and invariably in the Revised Version (British and American) the translation of perichoros, "surrounding country." For a possible technical use of "region" in Ac 16:6 and the Revised Version (British and American) 18:23.
See GALATIA.