Forty years long - All the time that they were in the wilderness. During this long period their conduct was such as to try my patience and forbearance.
Was I grieved - The word used here - קוט qûṭ - means properly to loathe, to nauseate, to be disgusted with. It is translated “loathe” in Ezekiel 6:9; Ezekiel 20:43; Ezekiel 36:31; and grieved in Psalms 119:158; Psalms 139:21. It is here expressive of the strong abhorrence which God had of their conduct. Compare Revelation 3:16.
With this generation - With the entire generation that came out of Egypt. They were all cut off in the wilderness, except Caleb and Joshua.
And said, It is a people - It is a characteristic of the entire people, that they are disposed to wander from God.
That do err in their heart - In the Epistle to the Hebrews Hebrews 3:10 where this is quoted, it is, “They do always err in their heart.” The sense is substantially the same. See the notes at that place.
And they have not known my ways - See the notes at Hebrews 3:10.