Why I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
Why I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
Wherefore I was displeased with this generation, And said, They do always err in their heart: But they did not know my ways;
So that I was angry with this generation, and I said, Their hearts are in error at all times, and they have no knowledge of my ways;
Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
Therefore I was displeased with that generation, and said, 'They always err in their heart, but they didn't know my ways;'
Wherefore I was displeased with this generation, And said, They do alway err in their heart: But they did not know my ways;
Wherefore I was grieved - God represents himself as the Father of this great Jewish family, for whose comfort and support he had made every necessary provision, and to whom he had given every proof of tenderness and fatherly affection; and because, they disobeyed him, and walked ill that way in which they could not but be miserable, therefore he represents himself as grieved and exceedingly displeased with them.
They do alway err in their hearts - Their affections are set on earthly things, and they do not acknowledge my ways to be right - holy, just, and good. They are radically evil; and they are evil, continually. They have every proof, of my power and goodness, and lay nothing to heart. They might have been saved, but they would not. God was grieved on this account. Now, can we suppose that it would have grieved him if, by a decree of his own, he had rendered their salvation impossible?
Wherefore I was grieved - On the word "grieved," see the notes at Ephesians 4:30. The word here means that he was offended with, or that he was indignant at them.
They do always err in their heart - Their long trial of forty years had been sufficient to show that it was a characteristic of the people that they were disposed to wander from God. Forty years are enough to show what the character is. They had seen his works; they had been called to obey him; they had received his Law; and yet their conduct during that time had shown that they were not disposed to obey him. So of an individual. A man who has lived in sin forty years; who during all that time has rebelled against God, and disregarded all his appeals; who has lived for himself and not for his Maker, has shown what his character is. Longer time is unnecessary; and if God should then cut him down and consign him to hell, he could not be blamed for doing it. A man who during forty years will live in sin, and resist all the appeals of God, shows what is in his heart, and no injustice is done if then he is summoned before God, and he swears that he shall not enter into his rest.
And they have not known my ways - They have been rebellious. They have not been acquainted with the true God; or they have not "approved" my doings. The word "know" is often used in the Scriptures in the sense of "approving," or "loving;" see the notes at Matthew 7:23.
3:10 Wherefore - To speak after the manner of men. I was grieved - Displeased, offended with that generation, and said, They always err in their hearts - They are led astray by their stubborn will and vile affections. And - For this reason, because wickedness has blinded their understanding. They have not known my ways - By which I would have led them like a flock.Into my rest - In the promised land.