Psalms 78:23

Psalms 78:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,
• New International Version (NIV)Yet he gave a command to the skies above and opened the doors of the heavens;
• English Standard Version (ESV)Yet he commanded the skies above and opened the doors of heaven,
• New King James Version (NKJV)Yet He had commanded the clouds above, And opened the doors of heaven,

Context of Psalms 78:23

21When the Lord heard this, he was very angry. So he sent fire to punish his people. He became very angry against the Israelites. 22They did not trust God, that he had the power to save them. So God commanded the clouds high above to give food to his people. He caused the skies to open like a door. 24He poured down manna like rain, so that they could eat grain that came from heaven. 25In that way, people ate the special bread of angels! God gave them all the food that they could eat.

Psalms 78:23 word by word

וַיְצַ֣ו שְׁחָקִ֣ים מִמָּ֑עַל וְדַלְתֵ֖י שָׁמַ֣יִם פָּתָֽח׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Though he had commandedצָוָהtsâvâh · to commandH6680
• the cloudsשַׁ֫חַקshachaq · cloudH7834
• from aboveמַ֫עַלma‛al · aboveH4605
• and openedפָּתַחpâthach · to openH6605
• the doorsדֶּ֫לֶתdeleth · doorH1817
• of heavenשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064

Cross-references for Psalms 78:23

• Psalms 33:9The Lord spoke, and the world began! He spoke his command, and everything became fixed in its place.
• Isaiah 5:6I will make the land become useless. Nobody will take care of the vines. Nobody will dig the ground. Weeds and thorn bushes will grow there. I will command the clouds, ‘Do not drop any rain on it.’
• Genesis 7:11When Noah was 600 years old, on the 17th day of the second month, streams of water came up everywhere from below the earth. Also, the water in the heavens poured down on the earth.
• 2 Kings 7:2The special officer who was near to the king said to the man of God, ‘That will never happen! Even if the Lord opens the skies and sends us rain, it could not happen so soon.’ Elisha said, ‘You yourself will see this happen, but you will not eat any of the food!’
• Malachi 3:10Now you must bring the whole tithe that belongs to me. Store it in my temple, so that there will be food in my house. Obey me and then see what I will do.’ That is what the Lord Almighty says. ‘You will see how much I will bless you! You will not have enough room to store all the good things that I will give to you. I will pour blessings out of the sky like rain.

Commentaries on Psalms 78:23

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23Though he had commanded the clouds from above - Though he had showed that he had absolute control over the clouds, and had only to command them and they would furnish rain in abundance. Compare the notes at Isaiah 5:6. And opened the doors of heaven - As he had done at the deluge, Genesis 7:11. The idea is, that he had rained down manna upon them in such abundance that it might be compared with the waters that had been sent down at the deluge.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. 23-25Abundance comes through the doors of heaven (Genesis 8:2; 2 Kings 7:2; Malachi 3:10). The Israelites ate manna for 40 years in the wilderness (Exodus 16:31–36; John 6:31).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 23-2923-29. (Compare Ex 16:11-15; Nu 11:4-9).Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 78:23

• Blessing
• God Continued...
• Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena
• Miracles
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Asaph
• Compassion
• Consume
• Gush
• Heaven
• Limit
• Psalms
• Dark Sayings
• God
• Hezekiah (2)

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