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

18They willfully challenged God by asking for food to satisfy their appetite. 19They insulted God, saying, “Is God really able to give us food in the wilderness? Yes, he struck a rock and water flowed out, streams gushed forth. But can he also give us food? Will he provide meat for his people?” 21When the Lord heard this, he was furious. A fire broke out against Jacob, and his anger flared up against Israel, 22because they did not have faith in God, and did not trust his ability to deliver them.

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 17:6I will be standing before you there on the rock in Horeb, and you will strike the rock, and water will come out of it so that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in plain view of the elders of Israel.
• Numbers 20:11Then Moses raised his hand, and struck the rock twice with his staff. And water came out abundantly. So the community drank, and their beasts drank too.
• Psalms 78:41They again challenged God, and offended the Holy One of Israel.
• Genesis 18:12So Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, “After I am worn out will I have pleasure, especially when my husband is old too?”
• Numbers 11:21Moses said, “The people around me are 600,000 on foot; but you say, ‘I will give them meat, that they may eat 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