Psalms 78:16

He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.

He brought {H3318}{H8686)} streams {H5140}{H8802)} also out of the rock {H5553}, and caused waters {H4325} to run down {H3381}{H8686)} like rivers {H5104}.

yes, he brought streams out of the rock, making the water flow down like rivers.

He brought streams from the stone and made water flow down like rivers.

He brought streams also out of the rock, And caused waters to run down like rivers.

Commentary

Context

Psalm 78 is a historical psalm, often called a "maskil" or instructional psalm, that recounts the history of Israel from the Exodus through the reign of David. Its primary purpose is to remind the people of God's faithfulness and their ancestors' repeated rebellion and forgetfulness. Verse 16 specifically recalls one of the most striking examples of God's miraculous provision during the forty years of wilderness wanderings: the giving of water from a solid rock to sustain the vast multitude.

Key Themes

  • Divine Provision: The verse powerfully illustrates God's unwavering commitment to provide for His people's needs, even in the most desolate and seemingly impossible circumstances. The desert was a place of extreme scarcity, yet God supplied life-sustaining water.
  • Miraculous Power: Bringing abundant water from a rock is a testament to God's omnipotence and His ability to defy natural laws. It showcases His absolute sovereignty over creation.
  • God's Patience and Faithfulness: Despite Israel's frequent complaints and lack of faith, God consistently demonstrated His mercy and faithfulness by providing for them, underscoring His covenant love.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "rock" used in the accounts of this miracle (e.g., Exodus 17:6) is tsur (ืฆื•ึผืจ) or sela (ืกึถืœึทืข), both referring to a large, solid mass of stone or cliff, emphasizing the incredible nature of the event. The phrase "caused waters to run down like rivers" uses the Hebrew nahar (ื ึธื”ึธืจ), which implies a substantial, flowing body of water, not just a trickling stream. This highlights the abundance of God's provision, far exceeding a mere necessity.

Significance and Application

This verse serves as a timeless reminder of God's character and His ongoing care for His people. Just as He provided for Israel in the wilderness, He continues to be our ultimate Provider in every circumstance. We can draw several applications:

  • Trust in God's Provision: When facing seemingly insurmountable challenges or desperate needs, this verse encourages us to remember that God can bring forth resources from the most unlikely sources.
  • Remember God's Past Faithfulness: Recalling instances of God's past provision, whether in biblical history or our own lives, strengthens our faith for future trials. The psalm itself is an act of remembering God's deeds.
  • Christ as the Spiritual Rock: New Testament theology interprets this event typologically, with 1 Corinthians 10:4 stating that the Israelites "drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." This connects God's physical provision in the Old Testament to His spiritual provision through Jesus, the source of living water (John 4:14).
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Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 8:15

    Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, [wherein were] fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where [there was] no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;

  • Numbers 20:10

    And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?

  • 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].

  • Numbers 20:8

    Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.

  • Psalms 105:41

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

  • Deuteronomy 9:21

    And I took your sin, the calf which ye had made, and burnt it with fire, and stamped it, [and] ground [it] very small, [even] until it was as small as dust: and I cast the dust thereof into the brook that descended out of the mount.