Psalms 78:30 — Word Study
WLCלֹא־ זָר֥וּ מִתַּאֲוָתָ֑ם ע֝֗וֹד אָכְלָ֥ם בְּפִיהֶֽם׃
BSAYetlôʼ before they had filledzûwr■ [satisfied, or estranged from] their desiretaʼăvâh [longing, or craving] with the foodʼôkel [meat, or meal] stillʻôwd [yet, or while it was] in their mouthspeh [lips, or edge of their eating]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לֹא־ | not | Particle |
| זָר֥וּ | they had become estranged | Verb, Qal, perfect third person common plural |
| מִתַּאֲוָתָ֑ם | from desire their | Preposition, noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| ע֝֗וֹד | still | Adv |
| אָכְלָ֥ם | food their | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| בְּפִיהֶֽם׃ | [was] in mouth their | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Yet before they had filled their desire, with the food still in their mouths, |
| KJV | They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths, |
| ASV | They were not estranged from that which they desired, Their food was yet in their mouths, |
| YLT | They have not been estranged from their desire, Yet [is] their food in their mouth, |
| WEB | They didn’t turn from their cravings. Their food was yet in their mouths, |
| BBE | But they were not turned from their desires; and while the food was still in their mouths, |
Where they part company is ע֝֗וֹד — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause is supported by a prepositional phrase and a verb phrase, showing the relationship between their physical consumption and emotional estrangement.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbזוּר
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 78:30
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 — God's Provision and Israel's Responsegenerated
Psalm 78:30 describes a moment when the Israelites, despite receiving sustenance from God, remained unfulfilled in their desires. This reflects a broader theme in the psalm of how the people often turned away from God’s blessings, as seen in the preceding verses where they are given what they craved but still yearn for more. The context highlights a cycle of divine provision and human ingratitude.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Numbers 11:33–34 | But while the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the anger of the LORD burned against the people, and the LORD struck them with a severe plague. |
| 2 | Numbers 22:20–22 | That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you.” |
| 3 | Proverbs 1:32 | For the waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them. |
| 4 | Luke 16:19–23 | Now there was a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, who lived each day in joyous splendor. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — זָר֥וּ, za.Rugenerated
The verb זוּר (za.Ru) means 'to become estranged' or 'to be a stranger.' It indicates a state of separation or alienation, often in a moral or spiritual sense. In this verse, it suggests that the people have distanced themselves from their true needs and desires, despite having their physical hunger satisfied.
This construction is in the perfect tense, indicating a completed action. The implication is that their estrangement from true satisfaction occurred even while they were still in the midst of receiving God's provision.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In the Berean Standard Bible, the phrase is rendered as 'they had become estranged from their desire,' which captures the essence of the verb זָר֥וּ. The KJV and ASV use 'filled their desire,' which focuses more on the act of fulfillment rather than the estrangement aspect.
Where translations differ is primarily in the rendering of ע֝֗וֹד. The ASV, KJV, and others translate it as 'yet,' while the BSB and others use 'still,' indicating a subtle difference in the sense of continuity versus contrast.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb זָר֥וּ governs the verse, indicating the estrangement of the people from their desires. The structure includes a prepositional phrase describing the source of their desire and a noun phrase that clarifies what they were consuming at the time.
The word order emphasizes the sequence of events: they had not yet filled their desires while still consuming the food, highlighting their dissatisfaction amidst God's provision.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates זָר֥וּ as ἐστερήθησαν, which carries a similar meaning of being deprived or lacking. This choice reflects a broader interpretation of the estrangement, suggesting a deeper sense of loss beyond mere physical hunger.
The Greek word βρώσεως is used for 'food,' aligning closely with the Hebrew meaning but also emphasizing the sustenance aspect in a more general sense.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 78:30 illustrates how the Israelites, despite being provided for by God, were not satisfied with what they received. They still longed for more even while they had food in their mouths, showing a pattern of ingratitude and discontent.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that even though they had their physical needs met, they were not truly satisfied and continued to yearn for more, reflecting a deeper spiritual discontent.
The timing highlights the irony of their situation: they were receiving God's provision yet were still unsatisfied, which underscores a recurring theme of ingratitude.
This verse is part of a larger narrative that recounts Israel's history of receiving God's blessings while often turning away from Him, illustrating a cycle of provision and rebellion.
This verse teaches us to reflect on our own desires and contentment, reminding us that physical satisfaction does not always equate to spiritual fulfillment.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I find myself ungrateful for what I have, similar to the Israelites?
- How can I cultivate a sense of gratitude for God's provision in my life?
- What desires do I have that may lead me away from true satisfaction?
- How can I ensure that my longings align with what is truly good for me?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 78:30 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThey were not estranged from their lust,.... By the goodness and liberality of God unto them, they were not brought to repentance for their sin of lusting; nor did they abstain from their fleshly
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 BibleThe sense is either, 1. Whilst their greedy appetite yet continued, and was not fully satisfied, before, they began to loathe it, as they did afterwards, . Or, 2. Before they were deprived or destitute of their desired food, whim they enjoyed it, and were still feeding upon it, as the next clause explains this. God’ s patience did not wait upon them till that food was spent, but fell upon them instantly.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 78 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 78:30 They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat [was] yet in their mouths,Ver. 30. They were not estranged from their lust] Satiated they were, but not satisfied. It is as easy to quench the fire of Aetna as the thoughts set on fire by lust.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 78 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(30, 31) Evidently from Numbers 11:33, They did not yet loath in consequence of their lusts, the meat was yet in their mouths when, &c. For the expression, comp. the Latin alienari ab aliqua re, to be disinclined to a thing, and our own “stranger to fear,” &c
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 78 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges30. They were not estranged from their lust, Their food was yet in their mouth,
Read Cambridge on Psalms 78 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThey were not estranged from their lust - literally, “They were not made strangers to;” that is, in regard to their lusts or desires they were not in the condition of “foreigners” or aliens; they were not separated from them.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 78 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible30. They were not estranged from their lust—Indulgence never cures unlawful appetites, nor awakens gratitude to God.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon 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
Yet before they had filled their desire, with the food still in their mouths,
They didn’t turn from their cravings. Their food was yet in their mouths,
Yet before they had filled their desire, with the food still in their mouths,
They were not yet filled up, their food was still in their mouths,
Tyndale line
They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,
They were not estranged from that which they desired, Their food was yet in their mouths,
They were not estranged from their lust, their meat was yet in their mouths,
They were not estranged from their desire: but while their meat was yet in their mouths,
They were not turned from their lust, but the meate was yet in their mouthes,
Strictly literal
They were not alienated from their lust, their meat was yet in their mouths,
They have not been estranged from their desire, Yet [is] their food in their mouth,
They have not been estranged from their desire, || Their food [is] yet in their mouth,
They were not estranged from their longing, yet was their food in their mouth:
But they had not yet filled up; their food was still in their mouths.
Simplified
But before they satisfied their appetite, while the meat was still in their mouths,
But they were not turned from their desires; and while the food was still in their mouths,
Word by word, the decisions they made
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 of Psalms 78:30 states, "לֹא־ זָר֥וּ מִתַּאֲוָתָ֑ם ע֝֗וֹד אָכְלָ֥ם בְּפִיהֶֽם׃" which translates to, "Yet before they had filled their desire, with the food still in their mouths." The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in its word-by-word correspondence, indicating that the translation aligns closely with the Hebrew text. There are no significant differences noted in the wording or meaning between these witnesses.
לֹא־ זָר֥וּ מִתַּאֲוָתָ֑ם ע֝֗וֹד אָכְלָ֥ם בְּפִיהֶֽם׃
6 of the 6 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 78:30
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.
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Part — ParticleHTn
זוּר (zuwr) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be a stranger or to become estranged. It can describe a person as strange or foreign, and it also has connotations of loathsomeness. The word can refer to committing adultery or being alienated, with its usage found in contexts involving estrangement or foreignness.
[זוּר] vb. be a stranger
Qal
Pf. become estranged
Pt. as adj. strange, or as noun stranger
Niph. Pf. be estranged
Hoph. Pt. estranged
H2114a זוּר be a stranger .. Pf. become estranged
. Pt. as adj. strange, or as noun stranger
. Pf. be estranged
. Pt. estranged
H2114b זוּר, זִיר be loathsome
2114 zuwr zoor
a primitive root; to turn aside (especially for lodging);
hence to be a foreigner, strange, profane; specifically
(active participle) to commit adultery:--(come from) another
(man, place), fanner, go away, (e-)strange(-r, thing, woman).
זוּר (zur) — be a stranger.
1) to be strange, be a stranger
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to become estranged
1a2) strange, another, stranger, foreigner, an enemy (participle)
1a3) strange woman, prostitute, harlot (meton)
1b) (Niphal) to be estranged
1c) (Hophal) to be a stranger, be one alienated
זוּר (zur) — be loathsome.
loathsome (of breath) (participle)
V-Qal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common pluralHVqp3cp
תַּאֲוָה (ta'avah) means 'desire' and encompasses a range of meanings including longing, appetite, and covetousness. It can refer to both a subjective feeling of satisfaction and an objective charm or delight. The term is used in various contexts, sometimes with negative connotations such as lust or greed.
תַּאֲוָה n.f. desire
thing desired
base
H8378 תַּאֲוָה desire
8378 ta'avah tah-av-aw'
from 183 (abbreviated); a longing; by implication, a delight
(subjectively, satisfaction, objectively, a charm):--dainty,
desire, X exceedingly, X greedily, lust(ing), pleasant. See
also 6914.
see HEBREW for 0183
see HEBREW for 06914
תַּאֲוָה (ta.a.vah) — desire.
1) desire
1a) desire, wish, longings of one's heart
1a1) lust, appetite, covetousness (bad sense)
1b) thing desired, object of desire
Prep | N-fs | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncfsc/Sp3mp
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)
Adv — AdvHAcmsa
stil: "To be still" is "to keep silence" (Ps 4:4, etc.) and so "to be quiet" (Ps 107:29, etc.) or "inactive" in any way (Jud 18:9; 1Ki 22:3; Zec 1:11, etc.). So "be still" in Ps 46:10 means "desist from your war" (compare the Revised Version margin "let be"). The "still small voice" of 1Ki 19:12 (the Revised Version margin "sound of gentle stillness") is due to taking the Hebrew demamah in its literal force of "silent," but the word here means "whisper"--"a whispering, little voice." This familiar passage…
אֹ֫כֶל (okel) means food and encompasses a range of meanings including meal, meat, and food supply. It is derived from the root word for eating. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, such as meals and victuals, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among the lexicons.
אֹ֫כֶל 40 n.m. food
base
H400 אֹ֫כֶל food
400 'okel o'-kel
from 398; food:--eating, food, meal(-time), meat, prey,
victuals.
see HEBREW for 0398
אֹ֫כֶל (o.khel) — food.
1) food
1a) cereal
1b) meat
2) food supply
3) meal, dinner
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3mp
The Hebrew word פֶּה (*peh*) means 'mouth' and encompasses various meanings, including the mouth of a person or animal, as well as openings or orifices. It can also refer to speech, edges, and portions. Additionally, it denotes a weight equal to one third of a shekel, found in 1 Samuel 13:21.
פֶּה 485 n.m. mouth
mouth, of man, organ of eating and drinking
external organ
much oftener, as organ of speech, of man
as laughing; panting
of God
of idols
of musical instr. = sound
of animals; hence of edge of sword
mouth = opening, orifice
extremity, end
= portion
with preps.
base
H6310 פֶּה mouth . . mouth, of man, organ of eating and drinking
. external organ
. . much oftener, as organ of speech, of man
. as laughing; panting
. of God
. of idols
. of musical instr. = sound
. of animals
. mouth = opening, orifice
. . extremity, end
. = portion
. with preps.
6310 peh peh
from 6284; the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether
literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically
edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition)
according to:--accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment,
assent, collar, command(-ment), X eat, edge, end, entry, +
file, hole, X in, mind, mouth, part, portion, X (should)
say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, X spoken, talk,
tenor, X to, + two-edged, wish, word.
see HEBREW for 06284
פֶּה (peh) — lip.
: lip/mouth
peh
1) mouth
1a) mouth (of man)
1b) mouth (as organ of speech)
1c) mouth (of animals)
1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)
1e) extremity, end pim
2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21
פֶּה (peh) — lip: edge.
: edge
peh
1) mouth
1a) mouth (of man)
1b) mouth (as organ of speech)
1c) mouth (of animals)
1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)
1e) extremity, end pim
2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21
פֶּה (peh) — lip: word.
: word/command
peh
1) mouth
1a) mouth (of man)
1b) mouth (as organ of speech)
1c) mouth (of animals)
1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)
1e) extremity, end pim
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncmsc/Sp3mp