Psalms 78:15

He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave [them] drink as [out of] the great depths.

He clave {H1234}{H8762)} the rocks {H6697} in the wilderness {H4057}, and gave them drink {H8248}{H8686)} as out of the great {H7227} depths {H8415}.

He broke apart the rocks in the desert and let them drink as if from boundless depths;

He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as abundant as the seas.

He clave rocks in the wilderness, And gave them drink abundantly as out of the depths.

Psalm 78:15 KJV vividly recounts one of God's most astounding acts of provision during Israel's forty years in the wilderness: "He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave [them] drink as [out of] the great depths." This verse is a powerful reminder of divine care and miraculous intervention.

Context

Psalm 78 is a sweeping historical psalm, an asaphic psalm, that recounts the history of Israel from the Exodus through the establishment of the Davidic covenant. Its primary purpose is to teach future generations about God's faithfulness and Israel's repeated rebellion. Verse 15 specifically recalls the miraculous provision of water, a pivotal event during their journey through the desolate wilderness after their departure from Egypt. This act served as a profound demonstration of God's immediate and essential care for His people.

Key Themes

  • Divine Provision: The verse powerfully illustrates God's ability to provide for His people's most fundamental needs, even in the most barren and impossible circumstances like the desert. It highlights His inexhaustible resources.
  • God's Miraculous Power: "He clave the rocks" speaks to an act that transcends natural means, showcasing God's omnipotence and His direct intervention in the physical world to sustain life.
  • Faithfulness Despite Unfaithfulness: Throughout Psalm 78, Israel's rebellion is contrasted with God's enduring patience and faithfulness. This act of providing water was one of many instances where God remained true to His covenant promises, even when His people grumbled and doubted.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "clave" is bāqaʿ (בָּקַע), which means to split, cleave, or break open. It implies a forceful and decisive act, not a gentle parting. The phrase "great depths" (Hebrew: təhōmōṯ rabbāh, תְּהֹמוֹת רַבָּה) refers to vast, deep waters, often used to describe the primordial deep or oceanic springs. This emphasizes the immense, seemingly inexhaustible quantity of water provided, far beyond what one would expect from a desert rock, signifying a supernatural supply.

Related Scriptures

  • The primary accounts of water from the rock are found in Exodus 17:6, where Moses struck the rock at Rephidim, and later in Numbers 20:11, at Kadesh.
  • The Apostle Paul references this event in the New Testament, identifying the spiritual significance of this rock, stating that "that Rock was Christ."
  • This miraculous provision is also celebrated in other psalms, such as Psalm 105:41.

Practical Application

Psalm 78:15 offers profound encouragement for believers today. It reminds us that God is not limited by our circumstances or the apparent impossibility of our situations. When we face our own "wilderness" experiences—times of scarcity, uncertainty, or overwhelming need—this verse calls us to remember God's past faithfulness and His boundless capacity to provide. It strengthens our faith to trust that the same God who miraculously provided water from a rock can meet our deepest needs, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. It encourages us to lay our anxieties before Him, knowing that His provision flows from "great depths" of love and power.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 105:41

    He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places [like] a river.

  • Exodus 17:6

    Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

  • Numbers 20:11

    And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts [also].

  • 1 Corinthians 10:4

    And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

  • Psalms 114:8

    Which turned the rock [into] a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters.

  • Isaiah 41:18

    I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.

  • Isaiah 43:20

    The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, [and] rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.

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