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Psalms 95:8

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 95:8 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Harden not your heart, as at Meribah, As in the day of Massah in the wilderness;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Harden not your heart, as at Meribah, As in the day of Massah in the wilderness;
Psalms 95:8 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 95

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
5The sea is his, and he made it; And his hands formed the dry land.
6Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before Jehovah our Maker:
7For he is our God, And we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To-day, oh that ye would hear his voice!
8Harden not your heart, as at Meribah, As in the day of Massah in the wilderness;
9When your fathers tempted me, Proved me, and saw my work.
10Forty years long was I grieved with [that] generation, And said, It is a people that do err in their heart, And they have not known my ways:
11Wherefore I sware in my wrath, That they should not enter into my rest. Psalm 96
← Psalms 95:7Psalms 95:9 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Harden not your hearts, etc.] Against Christ, against his Gospel, against all the light and evidence of it. There is a natural hardness of the heart, owing to the corruption of nature; and an habitual hardness, acquired by a constant continuance and long custom in sinning; and there is a judicial hardness, which God gives men up unto. There is a hardness of heart, which sometimes attends God’s own people, through the deceitfulness of sin gaining upon them; of which, when sensible, they complain, and do well to guard against. Respect seems to be had here to the hardness of heart in the Jews in the times of Christ and his apostles, which the Holy Ghost foresaw, and here dehorts from; who,…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Harden not your heart - See this verse explained in the notes at Hebrews 3:8. As in the provocation ... - Margin, “contention.” The original is “Meribah.” See Exodus 17:7, where the original words Meribah, rendered here “provocation,” and “Massah,” rendered here “temptation,” are retained in the translation. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Harden not - By obstinate unbelief. Provocation - In that bold and wicked contest with God in the wilderness. Temptation - In the day in which you tempted me. Psalms 95:9”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“95:8-11 If people want to enter into the Lord’s rest, they need to respond immediately (see Heb 3:7–4:11). 95:8 To harden your hearts means to be stubborn and resist the Lord’s grace (see Num 20:2-13; see also Matt 13:3-23; John 12:37-43; Eph 4:17-32; Heb 3:6-19; 4:6-11).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Harden: Exo 8:15; Sa1 6:6; Dan 5:20; Act 19:9; Rom 2:5; Heb 3:13, Heb 12:25 in the: Exo 17:2, Exo 17:7; Num 14:11, Num 14:22, Num 14:27, Num 20:13; Deu 1:34, Deu 1:35, Deu 6:16; Heb 3:8, Heb 3:9, Heb 3:15-19; Jde 1:5 provocation: Heb. contention Psalms 95:9”
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Related study paths

Read Psalms 95 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification