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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Psalm 78:15 He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as abundant as the seas.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/psalms/78-15.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/10/19_Psa_078_015.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Psalm 78:15 - I Will Open My Mouth in Parables" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as abundant as the seas." /><script type="application/javascript" 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align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad15.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/psalms/78-14.htm" title="Psalm 78:14">◄</a> Psalm 78:15 <a href="/psalms/78-16.htm" title="Psalm 78:16">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/psalms/78.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/psalms/78.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them water as abundant as the seas;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/psalms/78.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />He split open the rocks in the wilderness to give them water, as from a gushing spring.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/psalms/78.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/psalms/78.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as abundant as the seas.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/psalms/78.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave <i>them</i> drink as <i>out of</i> the great depths.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/psalms/78.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />He split the rocks in the wilderness, And gave <i>them</i> drink in abundance like the depths.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/psalms/78.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />He split the rocks in the wilderness And gave <i>them</i> plenty to drink like the ocean depths.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/psalms/78.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />He split the rocks in the wilderness And gave them abundant drink like the ocean depths.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/psalms/78.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />He split the rocks in the wilderness, And gave <i>them</i> abundant drink like the ocean depths.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/psalms/78.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />He was splitting the rocks in the wilderness And so gave <i>them</i> abundant drink like the ocean depths.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/psalms/78.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />He split rocks in the wilderness And gave <i>them</i> abundant [water to] drink like the ocean depths.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/psalms/78.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as abundant as the depths.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/psalms/78.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as abundant as the depths. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/psalms/78.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />He clave rocks in the wilderness, And gave them drink abundantly as out of the depths.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/psalms/78.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />God made water flow from rocks he split open in the desert, and his people drank freely, as though from a lake. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/psalms/78.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />He clave rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink abundantly as out of the depths.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/psalms/78.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />He split rocks in the desert. He gave them plenty to drink, an ocean of water.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/psalms/78.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />He split rocks open in the desert and gave them water from the depths. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/psalms/78.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />He caused the rocks to split in the wilderness, and gave them water as from an abundant sea.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/psalms/78.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as abundant as the seas.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/psalms/78.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />He broke open rocks in the wilderness, and gave them enough water to fill the depths of the sea. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/psalms/78.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />He split rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink abundantly as out of the depths.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/psalms/78.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />He cleaved the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/psalms/78.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />He split rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink abundantly as out of the depths. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/psalms/78.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />He cleaves rocks in a wilderness, "" And gives drink—as the great deep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/psalms/78.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> He cleaveth rocks in a wilderness, And giveth drink -- as the great deep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/psalms/78.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />He will rend the rocks in the desert, and give drink as the great abyss.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/psalms/78.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />He struck the rock in the wilderness: and gave them to drink, as out of the great deep. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/psalms/78.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 77:15>He broke through the rock in the wasteland, and he gave them to drink, as if from the great abyss.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/psalms/78.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />He split rocks in the desert, gave water to drink, abundant as the deeps of the sea. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/psalms/78.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />He split rocks open in the wilderness, and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/psalms/78.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />He cleaved the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of great depths.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/psalms/78.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />He breached the flint in the wilderness and gave them drink as from the great depths.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/psalms/78.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />He cleaved rocks in the wilderness, And gave them drink abundantly as out of the great deep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/psalms/78.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />he clave a rock in the wilderness, and made them drink as in a great deep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/psalms/78-15.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nFaD2oDhKPc?start=9569" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/psalms/78.htm">I Will Open My Mouth in Parables</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">14</span>He led them with a cloud by day and with a light of fire all night. <span class="reftext">15</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1234.htm" title="1234: yə·ḇaq·qa‘ (V-Piel-Imperf-3ms) -- To cleave, break open or through. A primitive root; to cleave; generally, to rend, break, rip or open.">He split</a> <a href="/hebrew/6697.htm" title="6697: ṣu·rîm (N-mp) -- Rock, cliff. Or tsur; from tsuwr; properly, a cliff; generally, a rock or boulder; figuratively, a refuge; also an edge.">the rocks</a> <a href="/hebrew/4057.htm" title="4057: bam·miḏ·bār (Prep-b, Art:: N-ms) -- A pasture, a desert, speech. From dabar in the sense of driving; a pasture; by implication, a desert; also speech.">in the wilderness</a> <a href="/hebrew/8248.htm" title="8248: way·yašq (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- Cause to drink water, give to drink. A primitive root; to quaff, i.e. to irrigate or furnish a potion to.">and gave them drink</a> <a href="/hebrew/7227.htm" title="7227: rab·bāh (Adj-fs) -- Much, many, great. By contracted from rabab; abundant.">as abundant</a> <a href="/hebrew/8415.htm" title="8415: kiṯ·hō·mō·wṯ (Prep-k:: N-cpc) -- Deep, sea, abyss. Or thom; from huwm; an abyss, especially the deep.">as the seas.</a> </span><span class="reftext">16</span>He brought streams from the stone and made water flow down like rivers.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/17-6.htm">Exodus 17:6</a></span><br />Behold, I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. And when you strike the rock, water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/20-8.htm">Numbers 20:8-11</a></span><br />“Take the staff and assemble the congregation. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will pour out its water. You will bring out water from the rock and provide drink for the congregation and their livestock.” / So Moses took the staff from the LORD’s presence, just as he had been commanded. / Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly in front of the rock, and Moses said to them, “Listen now, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/8-15.htm">Deuteronomy 8:15</a></span><br />He led you through the vast and terrifying wilderness with its venomous snakes and scorpions, a thirsty and waterless land. He brought you water from the rock of flint.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/48-21.htm">Isaiah 48:21</a></span><br />They did not thirst when He led them through the deserts; He made water flow for them from the rock; He split the rock, and water gushed out.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/9-15.htm">Nehemiah 9:15</a></span><br />In their hunger You gave them bread from heaven; in their thirst You brought them water from the rock. You told them to go in and possess the land that You had sworn to give them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/10-4.htm">1 Corinthians 10:4</a></span><br />and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/105-41.htm">Psalm 105:41</a></span><br />He opened a rock, and water gushed out; it flowed like a river in the desert.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/43-19.htm">Isaiah 43:19-20</a></span><br />Behold, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert. / The beasts of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I provide water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My chosen people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/4-10.htm">John 4:10-14</a></span><br />Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” / “Sir,” the woman replied, “You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where then will You get this living water? / Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock?” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/7-37.htm">John 7:37-38</a></span><br />On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. / Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/22-1.htm">Revelation 22:1</a></span><br />Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/7-17.htm">Revelation 7:17</a></span><br />For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. ‘He will lead them to springs of living water,’ and ‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/114-8.htm">Psalm 114:8</a></span><br />who turned the rock into a pool, the flint into a fountain of water!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/32-13.htm">Deuteronomy 32:13</a></span><br />He made him ride on the heights of the land and fed him the produce of the field. He nourished him with honey from the rock and oil from the flinty crag,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/29-6.htm">Job 29:6</a></span><br />when my steps were bathed in cream and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">He split the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/105-41.htm">Psalm 105:41</a></b></br> He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places <i>like</i> a river.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/114-8.htm">Psalm 114:8</a></b></br> Which turned the rock <i>into</i> a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/17-6.htm">Exodus 17:6</a></b></br> 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.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/psalms/69-16.htm">Abundant</a> <a href="/psalms/65-10.htm">Abundantly</a> <a href="/psalms/76-3.htm">Broken</a> <a href="/psalms/78-13.htm">Clave</a> <a href="/psalms/78-13.htm">Cleaved</a> <a href="/psalms/63-8.htm">Cleaveth</a> <a href="/psalms/78-13.htm">Cleft</a> <a href="/psalms/77-16.htm">Deep</a> <a href="/psalms/77-16.htm">Depths</a> <a href="/psalms/75-6.htm">Desert</a> <a href="/psalms/75-8.htm">Drink</a> <a href="/psalms/78-12.htm">Great</a> <a href="/ezekiel/26-19.htm">Ocean</a> <a href="/psalms/78-4.htm">Power</a> <a href="/job/30-6.htm">Rocks</a> <a href="/psalms/69-34.htm">Seas</a> <a href="/psalms/78-13.htm">Split</a> <a href="/psalms/68-7.htm">Waste</a> <a href="/psalms/78-13.htm">Water</a> <a href="/psalms/78-13.htm">Waters</a> <a href="/psalms/75-6.htm">Wilderness</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/psalms/86-5.htm">Abundant</a> <a href="/psalms/78-20.htm">Abundantly</a> <a href="/psalms/79-1.htm">Broken</a> <a href="/isaiah/48-21.htm">Clave</a> <a href="/psalms/102-5.htm">Cleaved</a> <a href="/psalms/119-25.htm">Cleaveth</a> <a href="/isaiah/48-21.htm">Cleft</a> <a href="/psalms/80-9.htm">Deep</a> <a href="/psalms/86-13.htm">Depths</a> <a href="/psalms/78-17.htm">Desert</a> <a href="/psalms/78-44.htm">Drink</a> <a href="/psalms/78-32.htm">Great</a> <a href="/psalms/148-7.htm">Ocean</a> <a href="/psalms/78-20.htm">Power</a> <a href="/psalms/104-18.htm">Rocks</a> <a href="/psalms/78-27.htm">Seas</a> <a href="/proverbs/7-23.htm">Split</a> <a href="/psalms/78-17.htm">Waste</a> <a href="/psalms/78-16.htm">Water</a> <a href="/psalms/78-16.htm">Waters</a> <a href="/psalms/78-17.htm">Wilderness</a><div class="vheading2">Psalm 78</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/78-1.htm">An exhortation both to learn and to preach, the law of God</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/78-9.htm">The story of God's wrath against the incredulous and disobedient</a></span><br><span class="reftext">67. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/78-67.htm">The Israelites being rejected, God chose Judah, Zion, and David.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/78.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/psalms/78.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>He split the rocks in the wilderness</b><br>This phrase refers to the miraculous provision of water for the Israelites during their journey through the desert, as recorded in <a href="/exodus/17-6.htm">Exodus 17:6</a> and <a href="/numbers/20-11.htm">Numbers 20:11</a>. The act of splitting the rocks signifies God's power and ability to provide for His people in seemingly impossible situations. The wilderness, often associated with desolation and scarcity, becomes a place of divine intervention and sustenance. This event underscores God's faithfulness and His role as a provider, echoing the theme of reliance on God throughout the Israelites' journey. The rock is also seen as a type of Christ, as Paul notes in <a href="/1_corinthians/10-4.htm">1 Corinthians 10:4</a>, where he describes Christ as the spiritual rock that accompanied them.<p><b>and gave them drink as abundant as the seas</b><br>This phrase highlights the abundance of God's provision. The comparison to the seas emphasizes the vastness and sufficiency of the water provided, ensuring that the needs of the entire Israelite community were met. This abundance contrasts with the barrenness of the wilderness, showcasing God's ability to transform lack into plenty. The imagery of water is significant throughout Scripture, often symbolizing life, cleansing, and the Holy Spirit. In <a href="/john/4-14.htm">John 4:14</a>, Jesus speaks of the living water He provides, which will become a spring of water welling up to eternal life, drawing a parallel to the life-sustaining water given to the Israelites. This provision in the wilderness serves as a foreshadowing of the spiritual nourishment and eternal life offered through Christ.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The central figure in this verse, demonstrating His power and provision for His people.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The recipients of God's miraculous provision during their journey through the wilderness.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/w/wilderness.htm">Wilderness</a></b><br>The setting where the Israelites wandered for 40 years after their exodus from Egypt.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/r/rocks.htm">Rocks</a></b><br>The physical objects that God miraculously split to provide water for the Israelites.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/e/exodus.htm">Exodus</a></b><br>The broader event encompassing the Israelites' journey from slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_provision_in_desperation.htm">God's Provision in Desperation</a></b><br>God provides for His people even in the most barren and desperate situations. Just as He provided water from the rock, He can meet our needs in unexpected ways.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/m/miracles_as_a_testament_to_god's_power.htm">Miracles as a Testament to God's Power</a></b><br>The splitting of the rock is a testament to God's omnipotence. Believers are encouraged to trust in God's ability to perform miracles in their lives today.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faithfulness_despite_unfaithfulness.htm">Faithfulness Despite Unfaithfulness</a></b><br>Despite the Israelites' frequent complaints and lack of faith, God remained faithful. This teaches us about God's grace and patience with us.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/symbolism_of_water.htm">Symbolism of Water</a></b><br>Water is often symbolic of life and spiritual sustenance in the Bible. This event foreshadows the living water that Christ offers to all believers.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/remembering_god's_past_works.htm">Remembering God's Past Works</a></b><br>Psalm 78 is a historical psalm that encourages believers to remember and recount God's past deeds as a foundation for faith and trust in Him.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_psalm_78.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 78</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_psalm_78_align_with_archaeology.htm">How do the events recounted in Psalm 78 compare with archaeological findings regarding the Israelites' wilderness journey?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_psalm_78_stress_unverified_miracles.htm">Why does Psalm 78 emphasize miracles that lack corroboration in external historical records, such as water flowing from rocks? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/can_striking_a_rock_yield_water_for_all.htm">Numbers 20:2–11 – How could striking a rock realistically produce enough water for an entire nation and their livestock? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_psalm_114_8_consistent_with_moses'_rock.htm">Does the miraculous water from rock in Psalm 114:8 align with other biblical accounts of Moses striking a rock, or are there inconsistencies?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/psalms/78.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(15) <span class= "bld">And gave . . .</span>--Literally, <span class= "ital">and gave them to drink as it were a great deep, </span>or as we might say, "oceans of drink"--a poetical exaggeration; or are we rather to think of the gift of water as produced by striking or boring through the rock to the great ocean on which the earth was supposed to rest?<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/psalms/78.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 15, 16.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">He clave the rocks in the wilderness;</span> rather, <span class="accented">he clave rocks</span>. The word has no article. The reference is probably to both <a href="/exodus/17-6.htm">Exodus 17:6</a> and <a href="/numbers/20-8.htm">Numbers 20:8-11</a>. <span class="cmt_word">And gave them drink as out of the great depths;</span> rather, "and gave them drink <span class="accented">abundantly</span>, as out of the depths" (so Cheyne and the Revised Version). On the abundance of the water, see <a href="/numbers/20-11.htm">Numbers 20:11</a>, and compare the next verse: <span class="cmt_word">He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/psalms/78-15.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">He split</span><br /><span class="heb">יְבַקַּ֣ע</span> <span class="translit">(yə·ḇaq·qa‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1234.htm">Strong's 1234: </a> </span><span class="str2">To cleave, to rend, break, rip, open</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the rocks</span><br /><span class="heb">צֻ֭רִים</span> <span class="translit">(ṣu·rîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6697.htm">Strong's 6697: </a> </span><span class="str2">A cliff, a rock, boulder, a refuge, an edge</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in the wilderness</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר</span> <span class="translit">(bam·miḏ·bār)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4057.htm">Strong's 4057: </a> </span><span class="str2">A pasture, a desert, speech</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and gave [them] drink</span><br /><span class="heb">וַ֝יַּ֗שְׁקְ</span> <span class="translit">(way·yašq)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8248.htm">Strong's 8248: </a> </span><span class="str2">To quaff, to irrigate, furnish a, potion to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">as abundant</span><br /><span class="heb">רַבָּֽה׃</span> <span class="translit">(rab·bāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7227.htm">Strong's 7227: </a> </span><span class="str2">Much, many, great</span><br /><br /><span class="word">as the seas.</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּתְהֹמ֥וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(kiṯ·hō·mō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-k | Noun - common plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8415.htm">Strong's 8415: </a> </span><span class="str2">An abyss, the deep</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/psalms/78-15.htm">Psalm 78:15 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/psalms/78-15.htm">Psalm 78:15 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/psalms/78-15.htm">Psalm 78:15 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/psalms/78-15.htm">Psalm 78:15 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/psalms/78-15.htm">Psalm 78:15 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/psalms/78-15.htm">Psalm 78:15 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/psalms/78-15.htm">Psalm 78:15 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/psalms/78-15.htm">Psalm 78:15 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/psalms/78-15.htm">Psalm 78:15 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/psalms/78-15.htm">Psalm 78:15 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/psalms/78-15.htm">OT Poetry: Psalm 78:15 He split rocks in the wilderness (Psalm Ps Psa.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/psalms/78-14.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Psalm 78:14"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Psalm 78:14" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/psalms/78-16.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Psalm 78:16"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Psalm 78:16" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>