Psalms 78:20

Psalms 78:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?
• New International Version (NIV)True, he struck the rock, and water gushed out, streams flowed abundantly, but can he also give us bread? Can he supply meat for his people?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)He struck the rock so that water gushed out and streams overflowed. Can he also give bread or provide meat for his people?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)Behold, He struck the rock, So that the waters gushed out, And the streams overflowed. Can He give bread also? Can He provide meat for His people?”

Context of Psalms 78:20

18And in their hearts they put God to the test By asking for food according to their [selfish] appetite. 19Then they spoke against God; They said, “Can God prepare [food for] a table in the wilderness? Behold, He struck the rock so that waters gushed out And the streams overflowed; Can He give bread also? Or will He provide meat for His people?” 21Therefore, when the Lord heard, He was full of wrath; A fire was kindled against Jacob, And His anger mounted up against Israel, 22Because they did not believe in God [they did not rely on Him, they did not adhere to Him], And they did not trust in His salvation (His power to save).

Psalms 78:20 word by word

הֵ֤ן הִכָּה־צ֨וּר׀ וַיָּז֣וּבוּ מַיִם֮ וּנְחָלִ֪ים יִ֫שְׁטֹ֥פוּ הֲגַם־לֶ֭חֶם י֣וּכַל תֵּ֑ת אִם־יָכִ֖ין שְׁאֵ֣ר לְעַמּֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Behold, he smoteנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
• the rockצוּרtsûr tsûr · rockH6697
• that the watersמַיmayim · waterH4325
• gushed outזוּבzûb · to flow: flowingH2100
• and the streamsנַ֫חַלnachal nachlâh nachălâh · torrent: riverH5158
• overflowedשָׁטַףshâţaph · to overflowH7857
• canיָכֹלyâkôl yâkôl · be ableH3201
• he giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• breadלֶ֫חֶםlechem · food: breadH3899
• he provideכּוּןkûn · to establish: prepareH3559
• fleshשְׁאֵרshe'êr · fleshH7607
• for his peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971

Cross-references for Psalms 78:20

• Exodus 17:6Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; there you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may [have something to] drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
• Numbers 20:11Then Moses raised his hand [in anger] and with his rod he struck the rock twice [instead of speaking to the rock as the Lord had commanded]. And the water poured out abundantly, and the congregation and their livestock drank [fresh water].
• Psalms 78:41Again and again they tempted God, And distressed the Holy One of Israel.
• Genesis 18:12So Sarah laughed to herself [when she heard the Lord’s words], saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure and delight, my lord (husband) being also old?”
• Numbers 11:21But Moses said, “The people, among whom I am, are 600,000 [fighting men] on foot [besides all the women and children]; yet You have said, ‘I will give them meat, so that they may eat it for a whole month!’

Commentaries on Psalms 78:20

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Behold, he smote the rock … - See the notes at Psalm 78:15. The smiting of the rock the first time occurred “before” the complaining about the food. The fact that the rock had been smitten could not be doubted. They had thus had abundant evidence that God was able to do that, and to furnish “water” for them in the desert. It was unreasonable, therefore, to doubt whether he could provide “food” for them - for this in itself was no more difficult than to…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-39Verses 9-39 Sin dispirits men, and takes away the heart. Forgetfulness of God's works is the cause of disobedience to his laws. This narrative relates a struggle between God's goodness and man's badness. The Lord hears all our murmurings and distrusts, and is much displeased. Those that will not believe the power of God's mercy, shall feel the fire of his indignation. Those cannot be said to trust in God's salvation as their happiness at last, who can not…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17-31Israel rebelled in the wilderness despite God’s abundant provision.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 17-2017-20. yet more--literally, "added to sin," instead of being led to repentance (Ro 2:4).Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 78:20

• Blasphemy
• Blessing
• God Continued...
• Infidelity
• Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena
• Miracles
• Murmuring
• Rock
• Scoffing
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Asaph
• Compassion
• Consume
• Gush
• Limit
• Psalms
• Dark Sayings
• Flesh
• Flint
• God

Commentaries on Psalms 78

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• The Treasury of David
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings