Psalms 78:20

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?

KJV (with Strong's)

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}?

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?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 78:20 encapsulates a pivotal moment in Israel's wilderness journey, highlighting God's undeniable power and provision contrasted with the people's immediate and profound unbelief. Having just witnessed the miraculous gushing of water from a smitten rock, a clear demonstration of divine omnipotence, the Israelites quickly reverted to cynical doubt, questioning God's ability to provide daily sustenance like bread and meat. This verse serves as a stark reminder of humanity's propensity to forget God's past faithfulness and to test His character, even in the face of overwhelming evidence of His care.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 78 is a *maskil* (an instructional or contemplative psalm) attributed to Asaph, functioning as a historical recounting of God's relationship with Israel from the Exodus through the establishment of the Davidic monarchy. The psalm's overarching purpose is to instruct future generations by detailing Israel's persistent rebellion and God's enduring faithfulness. Verse 20 falls within a section (verses 12-31) that specifically recounts the miraculous provisions and the subsequent grumbling of the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings. It immediately follows the description of God's mighty acts in Egypt and the Red Sea, and the initial provision of water from the rock, setting the stage for the subsequent narrative of the manna and quail. The rhetorical questions in this verse underscore the depth of Israel's spiritual amnesia and lack of trust, despite having just experienced a profound miracle.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop for Psalms 78:20 is the Exodus narrative, specifically the forty years of wandering in the desolate Sinai wilderness. The reference to "smote the rock" recalls two distinct events: the first at Rephidim (Exodus 17:1-7), where Moses struck the rock at God's command, and water miraculously flowed; and the second at Meribah (Numbers 20:1-13), where Moses again struck the rock, though he was commanded to speak to it, leading to divine judgment against him. The wilderness was a harsh, barren environment where survival was entirely dependent on divine provision. The Israelites, having been slaves in Egypt, were accustomed to a different kind of sustenance, and the challenges of the desert frequently led to murmuring and complaints against Moses and, ultimately, against God. Their cultural memory of Egyptian abundance clashed with the stark reality of the desert, fostering a mindset prone to doubt and a lack of faith in an unseen, though demonstrably powerful, God.
* **Key Themes:** Psalms 78:20 contributes significantly to several key themes woven throughout the psalm and the broader biblical narrative. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Omnipotence and Provision**, showcasing God's boundless power to sustain His people even in the most impossible circumstances, as seen in the miraculous provision of water from a rock. This act underscores His sovereignty over creation and His unwavering commitment to His covenant people. Counterbalancing this is the pervasive theme of **Human Unbelief and Rebellion**, illustrated by Israel's immediate questioning of God's ability to provide food despite witnessing His power. This highlights a recurring pattern of human skepticism, impatience, and a tendency to "test" God, a behavior explicitly warned against in passages like [Deuteronomy 6:16](/deuteronomy/6-16 "Deuteronomy 6:16 - Do Not Test the Lord Your God") and later echoed in the New Testament in [Hebrews 3:7-19](/hebrews/3-7-19 "Hebrews 3:7-19 - Warning Against Unbelief"). Finally, the verse speaks to the **Forgetfulness of Past Blessings**, revealing Israel's short-term spiritual memory. They failed to build their trust on God's previous acts of faithfulness, quickly forgetting His mighty deeds and thus perpetuating a cycle of doubt and disobedience.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Smote (Hebrew, _nakah'_):** This verb means "to strike, hit, beat, or wound." In this context, it describes a decisive, forceful, and intentional action by God (through Moses) upon the rock. It emphasizes the direct, powerful intervention of God to bring forth water from an inanimate object, highlighting His absolute control over creation and His ability to perform the impossible.
* **Gushed out (Hebrew, _nazal'_):** Meaning "to flow, trickle, stream," this word conveys the abundance and continuous nature of the water that emerged from the rock. It's not just a few drops, but a substantial flow, indicating a miraculous, life-sustaining provision that met the needs of a vast multitude and their livestock in a barren land.
* **Provide (Hebrew, _kul'_):** This verb carries the sense of "to contain, sustain, nourish, endure." When the Israelites ask, "can he provide flesh for his people?", they are not merely questioning God's power to *produce* meat, but whether He is capable of *sustaining* them over time with such provisions, implying a doubt about His long-term commitment and ability to nourish them in the wilderness. It reveals a deep-seated distrust in God's ongoing care.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Behold, he smote the rock":** This opening phrase draws immediate attention to a past, undeniable miracle. "He" refers to God, emphasizing His singular agency and power. The act of "smiting the rock" is a direct, forceful, and public demonstration of God's ability to create sustenance from the seemingly impossible, serving as a foundational act of provision in the wilderness.
* **"that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed":** This clause describes the immediate and abundant result of God's action. The "gushing" and "overflowing streams" signify not just a minimal supply, but an overwhelming, life-sustaining deluge that met the needs of millions in a parched land. This miraculous outpouring was a clear, tangible proof of God's power and His commitment to His people.
* **"can he give bread also?":** Despite the recent, undeniable miracle of water, the Israelites immediately pivot to a new, equally pressing need: food. This rhetorical question is not an earnest inquiry but an expression of profound doubt and cynicism. It suggests a short-sighted faith that cannot extrapolate God's past faithfulness to future provisions, effectively challenging His omnipotence and willingness to provide.
* **"can he provide flesh for his people?":** This second rhetorical question escalates the doubt, moving from the more common "bread" to the more desired and luxurious "flesh." It further highlights their lack of trust, implying that while God might be able to provide water, providing a varied and desired diet, especially meat, is beyond His scope or commitment. This phrase encapsulates their testing of God, doubting His character and His ability to fully sustain them according to their desires.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device employed in Psalms 78:20 is **Rhetorical Question**. The questions "can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?" are not posed to elicit information, but to express profound doubt, challenge, and cynicism on the part of the Israelites. They highlight the absurdity of their unbelief in light of the immediate, overwhelming evidence of God's power. This device effectively underscores the theme of human faithlessness. Additionally, there is a strong element of **Juxtaposition** or **Contrast** in the verse. The first part describes God's mighty, undeniable act of providing water from the rock, setting it in stark contrast to the subsequent questions that reveal Israel's immediate and deep-seated distrust regarding future provision. This contrast emphasizes the vast chasm between God's boundless power and the limited, doubting faith of His people. The use of "bread" and "flesh" can also be seen as **Synecdoche**, where these specific items represent all necessary food and sustenance, symbolizing the entirety of God's provision.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 78:20 powerfully illustrates the tension between God's unwavering faithfulness and humanity's persistent unbelief. Theologically, it affirms God's absolute sovereignty and His character as a benevolent Provider who is not limited by natural circumstances. His ability to bring water from a rock demonstrates His power over creation and His commitment to His covenant promises. However, the Israelites' response reveals a profound spiritual amnesia and a heart prone to testing God rather than trusting Him. This passage serves as a timeless warning against the human tendency to forget past blessings and to doubt God's ability or willingness to meet future needs, even after experiencing His miraculous intervention. It underscores that true faith is not merely acknowledging God's power in a single instance, but resting in His character and trusting His ongoing care. The questions "can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?" betray a fundamental misunderstanding of God's nature, reducing Him to a limited, capricious deity rather than the all-sufficient, loving Father.

* [Deuteronomy 8:3](/deuteronomy/8-3 "Deuteronomy 8:3 - Man Does Not Live by Bread Alone")
* [Matthew 6:25-34](/matthew/6-25-34 "Matthew 6:25-34 - Do Not Worry About Your Life")
* [Hebrews 3:7-19](/hebrews/3-7-19 "Hebrews 3:7-19 - Warning Against Unbelief")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 78:20 serves as a profound mirror for contemporary believers, challenging us to examine the state of our own faith in the face of new or ongoing challenges. Just as the Israelites, having witnessed the spectacular miracle of water from the rock, immediately doubted God's ability to provide food, we too can fall into the trap of spiritual amnesia. We might have experienced God's faithfulness in one area of our lives—healing, financial provision, guidance—yet when a new need arises, or an old one persists, we find ourselves asking, "Can God *really* do this too? Can He provide *this*?" This verse calls us to move beyond a transactional understanding of God's power to a relational trust in His unchanging character. Our past experiences of God's faithfulness should not merely be isolated events but building blocks for our confidence in His future care. It encourages us to cultivate a posture of remembrance, intentionally recalling God's mighty acts in our lives and in history, allowing those memories to strengthen our faith and silence the voice of doubt. True faith trusts God not just for the next step, but for the entire journey, believing that the God who provided yesterday will surely provide today and tomorrow.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life am I currently asking, "Can God provide?" despite having witnessed His faithfulness in the past?**
* **What specific acts of God's provision or intervention in my life am I prone to forget when facing new challenges?**
* **How can I intentionally cultivate a habit of remembering God's past faithfulness to strengthen my trust for future needs?**
* **What is the difference between asking God for provision out of faith and asking Him out of doubt or to "test" Him?**

### FAQ
**Why did Israel doubt God immediately after such a miracle?**

Answer: Israel's immediate doubt after witnessing the miracle of water from the rock stems from several factors, deeply rooted in human fallenness. Firstly, it reveals a profound spiritual short-sightedness and a lack of true faith that could extrapolate God's power from one situation to another. Their faith was often conditional and immediate, failing to build upon past experiences. Secondly, it reflects a heart prone to murmuring and rebellion, a pattern established early in their wilderness journey (e.g., [Exodus 15:24](/exodus/15-24 "Exodus 15:24 - Israel Murmurs for Water")). They were accustomed to slavery and dependence on human masters, struggling to fully embrace dependence on a sovereign, invisible God. Their doubt was not merely a lack of information but a challenge to God's character and commitment, effectively "testing" Him to see if He would truly sustain them. This demonstrates how quickly even miraculous experiences can fade from memory when not actively cherished and built upon with a trusting heart.

**Is it wrong to ask God for provision?**

Answer: No, it is not wrong to ask God for provision. In fact, the Bible encourages believers to bring all their needs before God with prayer and supplication (e.g., [Philippians 4:6](/philippians/4-6 "Philippians 4:6 - Do Not Be Anxious, But Pray")). The crucial distinction lies in the *spirit* behind the request. The Israelites in Psalms 78:20 were not asking in humble dependence but in cynical doubt, challenging God's ability and willingness to provide. Their questions were rhetorical, expressing unbelief rather than seeking faithful intervention. Asking God for provision out of faith, acknowledging His power and goodness, is an act of worship and trust. Asking Him out of a spirit of testing, demanding proof, or expressing doubt in His character, however, is what is condemned. Jesus taught His disciples to pray for "daily bread" ([Matthew 6:11](/matthew/6-11 "Matthew 6:11 - Give Us Our Daily Bread")), emphasizing humble reliance on God for daily sustenance.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 78:20, while recounting Israel's wilderness unbelief, finds its ultimate fulfillment and profound theological depth in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "rock" from which life-giving water flowed in the wilderness is revealed by Paul to be Christ Himself, who accompanied Israel (see [1 Corinthians 10:4](/1_corinthians/10-4 "1 Corinthians 10:4 - Christ, the Spiritual Rock")). Just as the physical rock provided water for a thirsty people, Christ is the spiritual Rock from whom flows the "living water" that eternally satisfies the soul's deepest thirst ([John 4:10-14](/john/4-10-14 "John 4:10-14 - Jesus Offers Living Water")). Furthermore, the Israelites' cynical demand for "bread" and "flesh" foreshadows the ultimate provision in Christ. Jesus declared Himself to be the "bread of life" ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")), the true manna from heaven that gives life to the world, far surpassing the physical manna that sustained Israel only temporarily. He also spoke of giving His "flesh for the life of the world" ([John 6:51](/john/6-51 "John 6:51 - Jesus, the Living Bread")), culminating in the sacrifice of His body and blood on the cross, which provides eternal spiritual nourishment for all who believe ([John 6:53-56](/john/6-53-56 "John 6:53-56 - Eating the Flesh and Drinking the Blood of the Son of Man")). Thus, the very provisions Israel doubted God could give—water, bread, and flesh—are supremely and eternally provided in Christ, who is the ultimate fulfillment of God's sustaining grace, offering not just temporal survival but eternal life and spiritual satisfaction.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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].

Genesis 18:12

Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

Genesis 18:14

Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

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.

Exodus 17:7

And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?

Numbers 11:18

And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for [it was] well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat.

Psalms 78:41

Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.