English Standard Version
Psalms 78:20
20He struck the rock so that water gushed out and streams overflowed. Can he also give bread or provide meat for his people?"
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?”
- 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?”
- New Living Translation (NLT)Yes, he can strike a rock so water gushes out, but he can’t give his people bread and meat.”
Context of Psalms 78:20
18They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved. 19They spoke against God, saying, "Can God spread a table in the wilderness? He struck the rock so that water gushed out and streams overflowed. Can he also give bread or provide meat for his people?" 21Therefore, when the Lord heard, he was full of wrath; a fire was kindled against Jacob; his anger rose against Israel, 22because they did not believe in God and did not trust his saving power.
Read all of Psalms 78Psalms 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, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink." And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.
- Numbers 20:11And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock.
- Psalms 78:41They tested God again and again and provoked the Holy One of Israel.
- Genesis 18:12So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?"
- Numbers 11:21But Moses said, "The people among whom I am number six hundred thousand on foot, and you have said, 'I will give them meat, that they may eat 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
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries