Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Whenever God slew them, they would seek him; they eagerly turned to him again. New Living Translation When God began killing them, they finally sought him. They repented and took God seriously. English Standard Version When he killed them, they sought him; they repented and sought God earnestly. Berean Standard Bible When He slew them, they would seek Him; they repented and searched for God. King James Bible When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and inquired early after God. New King James Version When He slew them, then they sought Him; And they returned and sought earnestly for God. New American Standard Bible When He killed them, then they sought Him, And they returned and searched diligently for God; NASB 1995 When He killed them, then they sought Him, And returned and searched diligently for God; NASB 1977 When He killed them, then they sought Him, And returned and searched diligently for God; Legacy Standard Bible When He killed them, then they sought Him, And returned and sought earnestly for God; Amplified Bible When He killed [some of] them, then those remaining sought Him, And they returned [to Him] and searched diligently for God [for a time]. Christian Standard Bible When he killed some of them, the rest began to seek him; they repented and searched for God. Holman Christian Standard Bible When He killed some of them, the rest began to seek Him; they repented and searched for God. American Standard Version When he slew them, then they inquired after him; And they returned and sought God earnestly. Contemporary English Version After he killed some of them, the others turned to him with all their hearts. English Revised Version When he slew them, then they inquired after him: and they returned and sought God early. GOD'S WORD® Translation When he killed [some of] them, [the rest] searched for him. They turned from their sins and eagerly looked for God. Good News Translation Whenever he killed some of them, the rest would turn to him; they would repent and pray earnestly to him. International Standard Version When he struck them, they sought him; they repented, and eagerly sought God. NET Bible When he struck them down, they sought his favor; they turned back and longed for God. New Heart English Bible When he killed them, then they inquired after him. They returned and sought God earnestly. Webster's Bible Translation When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and inquired early after God. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleWhen He slew them, they would seek Him; they repented and searched for God. World English Bible When he killed them, then they inquired after him. They returned and sought God earnestly. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionIf He slew them, then they sought Him, "" And turned back, and earnestly sought God, Young's Literal Translation If He slew them, then they sought Him, And turned back, and sought God earnestly, Smith's Literal Translation When he slew them and they sought him, and they turned back and sought for God. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleWhen he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned, and came to him early in the morning. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible When he slew them, they began to seek him; they again looked for God. New Revised Standard Version When he killed them, they sought for him; they repented and sought God earnestly. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleWhen he slew them, then they sought him; and they returned and drew nearer to him. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated When he was killing them they were seeking him; they were returning and coming before his presence. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917When He slew them, then they would inquire after Him, And turn back and seek God earnestly. Brenton Septuagint Translation When he slew them, they sought him: and they returned and called betimes upon God. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context I Will Open My Mouth in Parables…33So He ended their days in futility, and their years in sudden terror. 34When He slew them, they would seek Him; they repented and searched for God. 35And they remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer.… Cross References Hosea 5:15 Then I will return to My place until they admit their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.” Isaiah 26:9 My soul longs for You in the night; indeed, my spirit seeks You at dawn. For when Your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness. Jeremiah 2:27 say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’ They have turned their backs to Me and not their faces. Yet in the time of trouble, they say, ‘Rise up and save us!’ Hosea 6:1 Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us to pieces, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bind up our wounds. Deuteronomy 4:30 When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and listen to His voice. 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 If I close the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send a plague among My people, / and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. Jeremiah 3:10 Yet in spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to Me with all her heart, but only in pretense,” declares the LORD. Ezekiel 33:11 Say to them: ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked should turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’ Amos 4:6-10 “I afflicted all your cities with cleanness of teeth and all your towns with lack of bread, yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD. / “I also withheld the rain from you when the harvest was three months away. I sent rain on one city but withheld it from another. One field received rain; another without rain withered. / People staggered from city to city for water to drink, but they were not satisfied; yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD. ... Job 36:8-10 And if men are bound with chains, caught in cords of affliction, / then He tells them their deeds and how arrogantly they have transgressed. / He opens their ears to correction and commands that they turn from iniquity. 1 Kings 8:33-34 When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and they return to You and confess Your name, praying and pleading with You in this temple, / then may You hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel. May You restore them to the land You gave to their fathers. Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. / Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. Jeremiah 29:12-13 Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. / You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Joel 2:12-13 “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” / So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster. Zechariah 1:3 So tell the people that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Return to Me, declares the LORD of Hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of Hosts.’ Treasury of Scripture When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and inquired early after God. Numbers 21:7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. Judges 3:8,9,12-15 Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years… Judges 4:3 And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel. Jump to Previous Care Death Diligently Eagerly Early Earnestly Enquired Inquire Inquired Killed Repented Search Searched Seek Slew Sought Turn Turned Turning WheneverJump to Next Care Death Diligently Eagerly Early Earnestly Enquired Inquire Inquired Killed Repented Search Searched Seek Slew Sought Turn Turned Turning WheneverPsalm 78 1. An exhortation both to learn and to preach, the law of God9. The story of God's wrath against the incredulous and disobedient 67. The Israelites being rejected, God chose Judah, Zion, and David. When He slew them This phrase refers to God's judgment upon the Israelites, often seen throughout their history when they turned away from Him. The context of Psalm 78 is a recounting of Israel's repeated disobedience and God's corresponding acts of discipline. The "slaying" can be understood as divine retribution, which is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, such as in the plagues of Egypt (Exodus 7-12) or the punishment of the Israelites in the wilderness (Numbers 14:29-35). This demonstrates God's holiness and justice, emphasizing that sin has consequences. they would seek Him they repented and searched for God Persons / Places / Events 1. GodThe central figure in this verse, God is depicted as the one who disciplines His people, leading them to repentance. 2. The Israelites The people of Israel, who are the recipients of God's discipline and who respond by seeking Him. 3. Repentance The act of turning back to God, which is a key theme in this verse. 4. Divine Discipline The event of God "slaying" or disciplining His people to bring them back to Him. 5. Seeking God The response of the Israelites to God's discipline, indicating a return to faithfulness. Teaching Points The Purpose of Divine DisciplineGod's discipline is not punitive but redemptive, aimed at bringing His people back to a right relationship with Him. The Heart of Repentance True repentance involves a sincere turning back to God, not just a temporary change in behavior. Seeking God in Times of Trouble Difficult circumstances can be opportunities to seek God more earnestly and deepen our relationship with Him. The Faithfulness of God Even when we stray, God remains faithful, using discipline to draw us back to Him. The Role of Community in Repentance As a community of believers, we can support one another in the journey of repentance and seeking God. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Psalm 78:34?2. How does Psalm 78:34 illustrate God's response to Israel's disobedience and repentance? 3. What actions did God take when Israel "sought Him" in Psalm 78:34? 4. How can we apply the lesson of seeking God during trials today? 5. What other scriptures emphasize seeking God in times of distress? 6. How does Psalm 78:34 encourage us to examine our relationship with God? 7. Why did God only turn people back to Him after striking them down in Psalm 78:34? 8. Does Psalm 78:34 suggest that suffering is necessary for repentance? 9. How does Psalm 78:34 align with the concept of a loving God? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Psalm 78? 11. Does the repeated theme of divine punishment in Psalm 78 conflict with the concept of a loving God found in other biblical passages? 12. What is the role of the Good Shepherd? 13. Why would a shepherd risk leaving ninety-nine sheep to fend for themselves just to find one, as stated in Luke 15:4? 14. Jonah 4:9 - Why does God confront Jonah about his anger over the withered plant yet spare Nineveh, seeming inconsistent with other punitive Bible narratives? What Does Psalm 78:34 Mean When He slew themPsalm 78 recounts Israel’s wilderness story, where divine judgment fell on persistent rebellion. “When He slew them” speaks of literal deaths—plagues at Kibroth-hattaavah (Numbers 11:33-34), the ten faithless spies (Numbers 14:36-37), Korah’s company (Numbers 16:31-35), and the idolatrous at Baal-peor (Numbers 25:9). Each incident underscores: • God’s holiness and right to judge sin (Deuteronomy 32:39; Hebrews 12:29). • Discipline designed to correct, not merely punish (Hebrews 12:5-6). • A sobering reminder for believers today, echoed in 1 Corinthians 10:5-11, that historical judgments warn us to flee idolatry and unbelief. They would seek Him Crisis jolted the people into spiritual awareness: “they would seek Him.” Scripture often shows affliction igniting renewed pursuit of God: • Judges 3:9—“the Israelites cried out to the LORD” after oppression. • Hosea 5:15—The LORD waits “until they admit their guilt and seek My face; in their distress they will earnestly seek Me.” • Psalm 107:4-6—wanderers “cried out to the LORD in their trouble.” Such turning is not mechanical; it reveals that underneath hardened hearts still lies a God-given knowledge of where help truly comes (Psalm 121:1-2). For us, hardship can strip away self-reliance and drive us to earnest prayer and Scripture. They repented and searched for God “They repented” (literally “turned back”) describes an outward change; “searched for God” adds intensity—pursuing relationship. Yet the larger psalm shows the repentance was often short-lived (Psalm 78:36-37: “they deceived Him with their mouths”). Key lessons: • Genuine repentance involves heart change (Psalm 51:17; 2 Corinthians 7:10), not merely escape from consequences. • God still invites return even after repeated failures (Isaiah 55:6-7). • The pattern warns against cyclical, superficial repentance (Jeremiah 3:10; Hosea 6:4) and calls believers to lasting loyalty. summary Psalm 78:34 reveals a cycle: divine judgment, a reflex of seeking God, and professed repentance. The verse affirms God’s righteous discipline and humanity’s tendency to remember Him only when crisis hits. It urges us to break that cycle—pursuing sincere, steadfast repentance that treasures God in both hardship and health, learning from Israel’s history to cultivate unwavering devotion today. Verse 34. - When he slew them, then they sought him (comp. Exodus 32:28, 35; Exodus 33:4, 10; Numbers 11:33; Numbers 16:48, 49, etc.). The repentance is not always noticed in the Mosaic narrative, being, as it was, short-lived, if not even feigned (ver. 36). But, no doubt, after each outpouring of the Divine vengeance, there was at least some show of repentance, as noted in Exodus 33:4. And they returned - i.e. turned back from their evil courses - and inquired early after God; rather, earnestly (Cheyne, Canon Cook).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Whenאִם־ (’im-) Conjunction Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not He slew them, הֲרָגָ֥ם (hă·rā·ḡām) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural Strong's 2026: To smite with deadly intent they would seek Him; וּדְרָשׁ֑וּהוּ (ū·ḏə·rā·šū·hū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural | third person masculine singular Strong's 1875: To tread, frequent, to follow, to seek, ask, to worship they repented וְ֝שָׁ֗בוּ (wə·šā·ḇū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again and searched for וְשִֽׁחֲרוּ־ (wə·ši·ḥă·rū-) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural Strong's 7836: To dawn, be, early at any task, to search for God. אֵֽל׃ (’êl) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 410: Strength -- as adjective, mighty, the Almighty Links Psalm 78:34 NIVPsalm 78:34 NLT Psalm 78:34 ESV Psalm 78:34 NASB Psalm 78:34 KJV Psalm 78:34 BibleApps.com Psalm 78:34 Biblia Paralela Psalm 78:34 Chinese Bible Psalm 78:34 French Bible Psalm 78:34 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Psalm 78:34 When he killed them then they inquired (Psalm Ps Psa.) |