Psalms 78:40
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!
American King James Version (AKJV)
How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!
American Standard Version (ASV)
How oft did they rebel against him in the wilderness, And grieve him in the desert!
Basic English Translation (BBE)
How frequently did they go against him in the waste land, and give him cause for grief in the dry places!
Webster's Revision
How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!
World English Bible
How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness, and grieved him in the desert!
English Revised Version (ERV)
How oft did they rebel against him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!
Definitions for Psalms 78:40
Barnes's Psalms 78:40 Bible Commentary
How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness - Margin, Or, rebel against him. The Hebrew word may have the signification in the margin. The idea is, that they were perverse and rebellious; that they excited his displeasure, and gave occasion for his anger. See Psalm 78:17.
And grieve him in the desert - The word here rendered grieve means
(1) to work, to fashion;
(2) to suffer pain, to travail, to be afflicted; and then,
(3) to cause one to suffer pain, or to afflict.
The meaning here is that the conduct of the Hebrews was such as was suited to cause pain - as the conduct of a disobedient and rebellious child is.