Psalms 78:20

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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?

Complete Jewish Bible:

True, he struck the rock, and water gushed out, until the vadis overflowed; but what about bread? Can he give that? Can he provide meat for his people?"

Berean Standard Bible:

When He struck the rock, water gushed out and torrents raged. But can He also give bread or supply His people with meat?”

American Standard Version:

Behold, he smote the rock, so that waters gushed out, And streams overflowed; Can he give bread also? Will he provide flesh for his people?

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Behold, he smote^{H5221}{H8689)} the rock^{H6697}, that the waters^{H4325} gushed out^{H2100}{H8799)}, and the streams^{H5158} overflowed^{H7857}{H8799)}; can^{H3201}{H8799)} he give^{H5414}{H8800)} bread^{H3899} also? can^{H3201}{H8799)} he provide^{H3559}{H8686)} flesh^{H7607} for his people^{H5971}?

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Commentary for Psalms 78:20

Psalm 78:20 is part of a larger didactic poem, attributed to Asaph, which recounts the history of Israel from the Exodus to the reign of David. The psalm serves as a reminder to the people of Israel of God's mighty acts and their frequent disobedience and lack of faith.

In this specific verse, the psalmist is referring to an event in the wilderness journey where the Israelites, facing a severe shortage of water, doubt God's ability to provide for their needs. The verse alludes to the miracle at Rephidim (Exodus 17:1-7) or possibly the later incident at Kadesh (Numbers 20:2-13), where Moses, following God's command, strikes a rock, and water miraculously pours out to quench the thirst of the Israelites and their livestock.

The rhetorical questions that follow—"Can he give bread also? Can he provide flesh for his people?"—highlight the Israelites' skepticism and grumbling despite the abundant provision of water. These questions reflect their ongoing struggle with faith, as they continually question whether God can and will supply their daily needs. The historical context of this verse is the 40-year period of wandering in the wilderness, during which the Israelites frequently doubted God's provision, forgetting the miraculous signs they had witnessed.

The themes of Psalm 78:20 include God's faithfulness and the human tendency to doubt despite evidence of divine care. It underscores the importance of remembering God's past actions as a source of trust for present and future challenges. The verse also prefigures the manna and quail that God provided (Exodus 16), showing that God's ability to care for His people extends beyond one miraculous act. The psalm as a whole encourages faithfulness and gratitude, challenging the readers to learn from the past and to trust in God's sustaining power.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H5221
   There are 460 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָכָה
   Transliteration: nâkâh
   Pronunciation: naw-kaw'
   Description: a primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively); beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), [idiom] go forward, [idiom] indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer, punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike, be stricken, (give) stripes, [idiom] surely, wound.
   
2. Strong's Number: H6697
   There are 74 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: צוּר
   Transliteration: tsûwr
   Pronunciation: tsoor
   Description: or צֻר; from צוּר; properly, a cliff (or sharp rock, as compressed); generally, a rock or boulder; figuratively, a refuge; also an edge (as precipitous); edge, [idiom] (mighty) God (one), rock, [idiom] sharp, stone, [idiom] strength, [idiom] strong. See also בֵּית צוּר.
   
3. Strong's Number: H4325
   There are 525 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מַיִם
   Transliteration: mayim
   Pronunciation: mah'-yim
   Description: dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen; [phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)).
   
4. Strong's Number: H2100
   There are 41 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זוּב
   Transliteration: zûwb
   Pronunciation: zoob
   Description: a primitive root; to flow freely (as water), i.e. (specifically) to have a (sexual) flux; figuratively, to waste away; also to overflow; flow, gush out, have a (running) issue, pine away, run.
   
5. Strong's Number: H5158
   There are 123 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נַחַל
   Transliteration: nachal
   Pronunciation: nakh'-al
   Description: or (feminine) נַחְלָה; (Psalm 124:4), or נַחֲלָה; (Ezekiel 47:19; Ezekiel 48:28), from נָחַל in its original sense; a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a brook runs); also a shaft (of a mine); brook, flood, river, stream, valley.
   
6. Strong's Number: H7857
   There are 30 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁטַף
   Transliteration: shâṭaph
   Pronunciation: shaw-taf'
   Description: a primitive root; to gush; by implication, to inundate, cleanse; by analogy, to gallop, conquer; drown, (over-) flow(-whelm, rinse, run, rush, (throughly) wash (away).
   
7. Strong's Number: H3201
   There are 182 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָכֹל
   Transliteration: yâkôl
   Pronunciation: yaw-kole'
   Description: or (fuller) יָכוֹל; a primitive root; to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might); be able, any at all (ways), attain, can (away with, (-not)), could, endure, might, overcome, have power, prevail, still, suffer.
   
8. Strong's Number: H5414
   There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָתַן
   Transliteration: nâthan
   Pronunciation: naw-than'
   Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
   
9. Strong's Number: H3899
   There are 277 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לֶחֶם
   Transliteration: lechem
   Pronunciation: lekh'-em
   Description: from לָחַם; See also בֵּית לְעַפְרָה; food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it); (shew-) bread, [idiom] eat, food, fruit, loaf, meat, victuals.
   
10. Strong's Number: H3559
    There are 210 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: כּוּן
    Transliteration: kûwn
    Pronunciation: koon
    Description: a primitive root; properly, to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a great variety of applications, whether literal (establish, fix, prepare, apply), or figurative (appoint, render sure, proper or prosperous); certain(-ty), confirm, direct, faithfulness, fashion, fasten, firm, be fitted, be fixed, frame, be meet, ordain, order, perfect, (make) preparation, prepare (self), provide, make provision, (be, make) ready, right, set (aright, fast, forth), be stable, (e-) stablish, stand, tarry, [idiom] very deed.
    
11. Strong's Number: H7607
    There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שְׁאֵר
    Transliteration: shᵉʼêr
    Pronunciation: sheh-ayr'
    Description: from שָׁאַר; flesh (as swelling out), as living or forfood; generally food of any kind; figuratively, kindred by blood; body, flesh, food, (near) kin(-sman, -swoman), near (nigh) (of kin).
    
12. Strong's Number: H5971
    There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עַם
    Transliteration: ʻam
    Pronunciation: am
    Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people.