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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 78:20 When He struck the rock, water gushed out and torrents raged. But can He also give bread or supply His people with meat?"</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/psalms/78-20.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/16/19_Psa_078_020.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Psalm 78:20 - I Will Open My Mouth in Parables" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="When He struck the rock, water gushed out and torrents raged. 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Can he supply meat for his people?&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/psalms/78.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Yes, he can strike a rock so water gushes out, but he can’t give his people bread and meat.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/psalms/78.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />He struck the rock so that water gushed out and streams overflowed. Can he also give bread or provide meat for his people?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/psalms/78.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />When He struck the rock, water gushed out and torrents raged. But can He also give bread or supply His people with meat?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/psalms/78.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />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?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/psalms/78.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Behold, He struck the rock, So that the waters gushed out, And the streams overflowed. Can He give bread also? Can He provide meat for His people?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/psalms/78.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Behold, He struck the rock so that waters gushed out, And streams were overflowing; Can He also provide bread? Will He prepare meat for His people?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/psalms/78.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Behold, He struck the rock so that waters gushed out, And streams were overflowing; Can He give bread also? Will He provide meat for His people?&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/psalms/78.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Behold, He struck the rock, so that waters gushed out, And streams were overflowing; Can He give bread also? Will He provide meat for His people?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/psalms/78.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Behold, He struck the rock so that waters gushed out, And streams were overflowing; Can He give bread also? Will He prepare meat for His people?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/psalms/78.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“Behold, He struck the rock so that waters gushed out And the streams overflowed; Can He give bread also? Or will He provide meat for His people?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/psalms/78.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Look! He struck the rock and water gushed out; torrents overflowed. But can he also provide bread or furnish meat for his people? ”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/psalms/78.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Look! He struck the rock and water gushed out; torrents overflowed. But can He also provide bread or furnish meat for His people?&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/psalms/78.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />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?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/psalms/78.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />It's true God struck the rock and water gushed out like a river, but can he give his people bread and meat?" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/psalms/78.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Behold, he smote the rock, that waters gushed out, and streams overflowed; can he give bread also? will he provide flesh for his people?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/psalms/78.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />True, he did strike a rock, and water did gush out, and the streams did overflow. But can he also give us bread or provide us, his people, with meat?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/psalms/78.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />It is true that he struck the rock, and water flowed out in a torrent; but can he also provide us with bread and give his people meat?" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/psalms/78.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />It's true that Moses struck the rock so that water flowed forth and torrents of water gushed out, but is he also able to give bread or to supply meat for his people?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/psalms/78.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />When He struck the rock, water gushed out and torrents raged. But can He also give bread or supply His people with meat??<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/psalms/78.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Yes, he struck a rock and water flowed out, streams gushed forth. But can he also give us food? Will he provide meat for his people?" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/psalms/78.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Look, he struck the rock, so that waters gushed out, and streams overflowed. Can he give bread also? Will he provide flesh for his people?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/psalms/78.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />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?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/psalms/78.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Behold, he struck the rock, so that waters gushed out, and streams overflowed. Can he give bread also? Will he provide meat for his people?” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/psalms/78.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Behold, He has struck a rock, "" And waters flow, indeed, streams overflow. “Also, [is] He able to give bread? Does He prepare flesh for His people?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/psalms/78.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Lo, He hath smitten a rock, And waters flow, yea, streams overflow. 'Also -- bread is He able to give? Doth He prepare flesh for His people?'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/psalms/78.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Behold, he struck the rock and waters will flow, and torrents will pour out; will he be able also to give bread? or will he prepare flesh for his people?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/psalms/78.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Because he struck the rock, and the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed. Can he also give bread, or provide a table for his people? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/psalms/78.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 77:20>He struck the rock, and so waters flowed and the torrents flooded, but would even he be able to provide bread, or provide a table, for his people?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/psalms/78.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />True, when he struck the rock, water gushed forth, the wadies flooded. But can he also give bread, or provide meat to his people?” <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/psalms/78.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Even though he struck the rock so that water gushed out and torrents overflowed, can he also give bread, or provide meat for his people?”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/psalms/78.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide food for his people?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/psalms/78.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />If he struck the flint and the waters flowed and he made torrents flow, can he not also give bread to us, or food prepared for his people?<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/psalms/78.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Behold, He smote the rock, that waters gushed out, And streams overflowed; Can He give bread also? Or will He provide flesh for His people?'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/psalms/78.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Forasmuch as he smote the rock, and the waters flowed, and the torrents ran abundantly; will he be able also to give bread, or prepare a table for his people?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/psalms/78-20.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=9600" 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">19</span>They spoke against God, saying, “Can God really prepare a table in the wilderness? <span class="reftext">20</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/2005.htm" title="2005: hên (Interjection) -- Lo! behold! A primitive particle; lo!; also if.">When</a> <a href="/hebrew/5221.htm" title="5221: hik·kāh- (V-Hifil-Perf-3ms) -- To smite. A primitive root; to strike.">He struck</a> <a href="/hebrew/6697.htm" title="6697: ṣūr (N-ms) -- Rock, cliff. Or tsur; from tsuwr; properly, a cliff; generally, a rock or boulder; figuratively, a refuge; also an edge.">the rock,</a> <a href="/hebrew/4325.htm" title="4325: ma·yim (N-mp) -- Waters, water. Dual of a primitive noun; water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen.">water</a> <a href="/hebrew/2100.htm" title="2100: way·yā·zū·ḇū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To flow, gush. A primitive root; to flow freely, i.e. to have a flux; figuratively, to waste away; also to overflow.">gushed out</a> <a href="/hebrew/5158.htm" title="5158: ū·nə·ḥā·lîm (Conj-w:: N-mp) -- Or nachlah; or nachalah; from nachal in its original sense; a stream, especially a winter torrent; a valley; also a shaft.">and torrents</a> <a href="/hebrew/7857.htm" title="7857: yiš·ṭō·p̄ū (V-Qal-Imperf-3mp) -- To overflow, rinse or wash off. A primitive root; to gush; by implication, to inundate, cleanse; by analogy, to gallop, conquer.">raged.</a> <a href="/hebrew/3201.htm" title="3201: yū·ḵal (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- To be able, have power. Or yakowl; a primitive root; to be able, literally or morally.">But can</a> <a href="/hebrew/1571.htm" title="1571: hă·ḡam- (Conj) -- Also, moreover, yea. ">He also</a> <a href="/hebrew/5414.htm" title="5414: têṯ (V-Qal-Inf) -- To give, put, set. A primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application.">give</a> <a href="/hebrew/3899.htm" title="3899: le·ḥem (N-ms) -- Bread, food. From lacham; food, especially bread, or grain.">bread</a> <a href="/hebrew/518.htm" title="518: ’im- (Conj) -- If. A primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!">or</a> <a href="/hebrew/3559.htm" title="3559: yā·ḵîn (V-Hifil-Imperf-3ms) -- A primitive root; properly, to be erect; hence to set up, in a great variety of applications, whether literal, or figurative.">supply</a> <a href="/hebrew/5971.htm" title="5971: lə·‘am·mōw (Prep-l:: N-msc:: 3ms) -- From amam; a people; specifically, a tribe; hence troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock.">His people</a> <a href="/hebrew/7607.htm" title="7607: šə·’êr (N-ms) -- Flesh. From sha'ar; flesh, as living or for food; generally food of any kind; figuratively, kindred by blood.">with meat?”</a> </span><span class="reftext">21</span>Therefore the LORD heard and was filled with wrath; so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and His anger flared against Israel,…<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/20-11.htm">Numbers 20:11</a></span><br />Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that a great amount of water gushed out, and the congregation and their livestock were able to drink.<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="/john/6-31.htm">John 6:31-33</a></span><br />Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” / Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. / For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/6-49.htm">John 6:49-51</a></span><br />Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. / This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that anyone may eat of it and not die. / I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And this bread, which I will give for the life of the world, is My flesh.”<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="/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="/numbers/11-4.htm">Numbers 11:4-6</a></span><br />Meanwhile, the rabble among them had a strong craving for other food, and again the Israelites wept and said, “Who will feed us meat? / We remember the fish we ate freely in Egypt, along with the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. / But now our appetite is gone; there is nothing to see but this manna!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/11-18.htm">Numbers 11:18-20</a></span><br />And say to the people: Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you will eat meat, because you have cried out in the hearing of the LORD, saying: ‘Who will feed us meat? For we were better off in Egypt!’ Therefore the LORD will give you meat, and you will eat. / You will eat it not for one or two days, nor for five or ten or twenty days, / but for a whole month—until it comes out of your nostrils and makes you nauseous—because you have rejected the LORD, who is among you, and have cried out before Him, saying, ‘Why did we ever leave Egypt?’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/11-31.htm">Numbers 11:31-33</a></span><br />Now a wind sent by the LORD came up, drove in quail from the sea, and brought them near the camp, about two cubits above the surface of the ground, for a day’s journey in every direction around the camp. / All that day and night, and all the next day, the people stayed up gathering the quail. No one gathered less than ten homers, and they spread them out all around the camp. / But while the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the anger of the LORD burned against the people, and the LORD struck them with a severe plague.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/16-4.htm">Exodus 16:4</a></span><br />Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test whether or not they will follow My instructions.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/16-12.htm">Exodus 16:12-15</a></span><br />“I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.’” / That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. / When the layer of dew had evaporated, there were thin flakes on the desert floor, as fine as frost on the ground. ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">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?</p><p class="hdg">he smote</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/17-6.htm">Exodus 17:6,7</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><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/20-11.htm">Numbers 20:11</a></b></br> 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 <i>also</i>.</p><p class="hdg">can he give</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/78-41.htm">Psalm 78:41</a></b></br> Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/18-12.htm">Genesis 18:12-14</a></b></br> Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/11-21.htm">Numbers 11:21-23</a></b></br> And Moses said, The people, among whom I <i>am</i>, <i>are</i> six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/psalms/78-19.htm">Able</a> <a href="/psalms/78-15.htm">Abundantly</a> <a href="/psalms/73-10.htm">Bread</a> <a href="/psalms/78-13.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/psalms/73-26.htm">Flesh</a> <a href="/psalms/78-16.htm">Flow</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/32-4.htm">Flowed</a> <a href="/psalms/78-18.htm">Food</a> <a href="/1_kings/18-28.htm">Gushed</a> <a href="/psalms/78-18.htm">Meat</a> <a href="/psalms/78-2.htm">Open</a> <a href="/psalms/73-7.htm">Overflow</a> <a href="/job/22-16.htm">Overflowed</a> <a href="/psalms/75-8.htm">Overflowing</a> <a href="/psalms/78-15.htm">Power</a> <a href="/psalms/78-19.htm">Prepare</a> <a href="/psalms/68-10.htm">Provide</a> <a href="/psalms/78-16.htm">Rock</a> <a href="/psalms/55-8.htm">Rushing</a> <a href="/psalms/69-26.htm">Smitten</a> <a href="/psalms/59-17.htm">Smote</a> <a href="/psalms/78-16.htm">Streams</a> <a href="/psalms/64-7.htm">Struck</a> <a href="/job/36-16.htm">Supply</a> <a href="/psalms/78-16.htm">Water</a> <a href="/psalms/78-16.htm">Waters</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/psalms/78-44.htm">Able</a> <a href="/psalms/104-16.htm">Abundantly</a> <a href="/psalms/78-25.htm">Bread</a> <a href="/psalms/80-16.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/psalms/78-27.htm">Flesh</a> <a href="/psalms/104-10.htm">Flow</a> <a href="/psalms/104-8.htm">Flowed</a> <a href="/psalms/78-24.htm">Food</a> <a href="/psalms/105-41.htm">Gushed</a> <a href="/psalms/78-25.htm">Meat</a> <a href="/psalms/78-23.htm">Open</a> <a href="/psalms/119-171.htm">Overflow</a> <a href="/psalms/124-4.htm">Overflowed</a> <a href="/psalms/140-11.htm">Overflowing</a> <a href="/psalms/78-22.htm">Power</a> <a href="/psalms/107-36.htm">Prepare</a> <a href="/proverbs/27-26.htm">Provide</a> <a href="/psalms/78-35.htm">Rock</a> <a href="/proverbs/1-27.htm">Rushing</a> <a href="/psalms/102-4.htm">Smitten</a> <a href="/psalms/78-31.htm">Smote</a> <a href="/psalms/78-44.htm">Streams</a> <a href="/psalms/78-31.htm">Struck</a> <a href="/isaiah/3-1.htm">Supply</a> <a href="/psalms/79-3.htm">Water</a> <a href="/psalms/81-7.htm">Waters</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>When He struck the rock, water gushed out and torrents raged.</b><br>This phrase refers to the miraculous event during the Israelites' wilderness journey when God provided water from a rock. This event is recorded in <a href="/exodus/17-6.htm">Exodus 17:6</a> and <a href="/numbers/20-11.htm">Numbers 20:11</a>. The striking of the rock by Moses, under God's command, symbolizes God's provision and faithfulness despite the people's lack of faith. Geographically, this took place in the desert regions of Sinai, where water was scarce, highlighting the miracle's significance. Theologically, the rock is often seen as a type of Christ, as Paul notes in <a href="/1_corinthians/10-4.htm">1 Corinthians 10:4</a>, where Christ is the spiritual rock that provides living water. The torrents raging emphasize the abundance and power of God's provision, contrasting with the people's doubt.<p><b>But can He also give bread or supply His people with meat?”</b><br>This phrase captures the Israelites' skepticism and lack of faith in God's ability to provide for their needs beyond water. Historically, this reflects the Israelites' repeated grumbling and testing of God, as seen in <a href="/exodus/16-3.htm">Exodus 16:3</a> and <a href="/numbers/11-4.htm">Numbers 11:4-6</a>, where they longed for the food they had in Egypt. The question posed here is rhetorical, highlighting their doubt despite witnessing God's previous miracles. Biblically, this foreshadows God's provision of manna and quail, as described in <a href="/exodus/16.htm">Exodus 16</a> and <a href="/numbers/11.htm">Numbers 11</a>, demonstrating His continued care and provision. Prophetically, the provision of bread can be seen as a type of the true bread from heaven, Jesus Christ, as He declares in <a href="/john/6-32.htm">John 6:32-35</a>. This connection underscores the theme of God's sufficiency and the call to trust in His provision.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God (Yahweh)</a></b><br>The central figure in this verse, demonstrating His power and provision for the Israelites.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>The leader of the Israelites who, by God's command, struck the rock to bring forth water.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_israelites.htm">The Israelites</a></b><br>The people of God who are questioning His ability to provide for their needs.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_rock_at_horeb.htm">The Rock at Horeb</a></b><br>The location where God provided water from a rock, symbolizing His miraculous provision.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_wilderness.htm">The Wilderness</a></b><br>The setting of the Israelites' journey where they experienced God's provision and tested His patience.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_faithfulness_in_provision.htm">God's Faithfulness in Provision</a></b><br>Despite the Israelites' doubts, God consistently provided for their needs, demonstrating His faithfulness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/human_tendency_to_doubt.htm">Human Tendency to Doubt</a></b><br>The Israelites' questioning reflects a common human tendency to doubt God's ability to provide, even after witnessing His miracles.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_trust.htm">The Importance of Trust</a></b><br>Trusting in God's provision is crucial, as He knows our needs and is capable of meeting them in ways beyond our understanding.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/christ_as_the_ultimate_provision.htm">Christ as the Ultimate Provision</a></b><br>The provision of water and bread in the wilderness points to Christ, who is the ultimate source of spiritual sustenance and life.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/gratitude_and_contentment.htm">Gratitude and Contentment</a></b><br>Recognizing God's past provisions should lead to gratitude and contentment, rather than continual questioning and dissatisfaction.<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/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/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><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_'bread_of_life'_conflict_beliefs.htm">John 6:35: Does Jesus's claim to be the 'bread of life' conflict with other biblical teachings or Jewish beliefs about divine provision?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_do_numbers_20_8-11_and_exodus_17_6_differ.htm">Numbers 20:8-11 - Why does this passage seem inconsistent with Exodus 17:6 regarding the instructions God gives Moses for drawing water from a rock?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/psalms/78.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 20.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams</span> (literally, <span class="accented">the torrent courses</span>) <span class="cmt_word">overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?</span> These were probably the people's thoughts rather than their words. An "evil heart of unbelief" underlay their clamours and their murmurings. They doubted God's power to relieve their wants, notwithstanding all the proofs that they had had of his omnipotence. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/psalms/78-20.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">When</span><br /><span class="heb">הֵ֤ן</span> <span class="translit">(hên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interjection<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2005.htm">Strong's 2005: </a> </span><span class="str2">Lo! behold!</span><br /><br /><span class="word">He struck</span><br /><span class="heb">הִכָּה־</span> <span class="translit">(hik·kāh-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5221.htm">Strong's 5221: </a> </span><span class="str2">To strike</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the rock,</span><br /><span class="heb">צ֨וּר ׀</span> <span class="translit">(ṣūr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<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">water</span><br /><span class="heb">מַיִם֮</span> <span class="translit">(ma·yim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4325.htm">Strong's 4325: </a> </span><span class="str2">Water, juice, urine, semen</span><br /><br /><span class="word">gushed out</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיָּז֣וּבוּ</span> <span class="translit">(way·yā·zū·ḇū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2100.htm">Strong's 2100: </a> </span><span class="str2">To flow freely, to have a, flux, to waste away, to overflow</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and torrents</span><br /><span class="heb">וּנְחָלִ֪ים</span> <span class="translit">(ū·nə·ḥā·lîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5158.htm">Strong's 5158: </a> </span><span class="str2">A stream, a winter torrent, a, valley, a shaft</span><br /><br /><span class="word">overflowed.</span><br /><span class="heb">יִ֫שְׁטֹ֥פוּ</span> <span class="translit">(yiš·ṭō·p̄ū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7857.htm">Strong's 7857: </a> </span><span class="str2">To gush, to inundate, cleanse, to gallop, conquer</span><br /><br /><span class="word">But can</span><br /><span class="heb">י֣וּכַל</span> <span class="translit">(yū·ḵal)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3201.htm">Strong's 3201: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be able, have power</span><br /><br /><span class="word">He also</span><br /><span class="heb">הֲגַם־</span> <span class="translit">(hă·ḡam-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1571.htm">Strong's 1571: </a> </span><span class="str2">Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and</span><br /><br /><span class="word">give</span><br /><span class="heb">תֵּ֑ת</span> <span class="translit">(têṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5414.htm">Strong's 5414: </a> </span><span class="str2">To give, put, set</span><br /><br /><span class="word">bread</span><br /><span class="heb">לֶ֭חֶם</span> <span class="translit">(le·ḥem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3899.htm">Strong's 3899: </a> </span><span class="str2">Food, bread, grain</span><br /><br /><span class="word">or</span><br /><span class="heb">אִם־</span> <span class="translit">(’im-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_518.htm">Strong's 518: </a> </span><span class="str2">Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not</span><br /><br /><span class="word">supply</span><br /><span class="heb">יָכִ֖ין</span> <span class="translit">(yā·ḵîn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3559.htm">Strong's 3559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be erect</span><br /><br /><span class="word">His people</span><br /><span class="heb">לְעַמּֽוֹ׃</span> <span class="translit">(lə·‘am·mōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5971.htm">Strong's 5971: </a> </span><span class="str2">A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock</span><br /><br /><span class="word">with meat?”</span><br /><span class="heb">שְׁאֵ֣ר</span> <span class="translit">(šə·’êr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7607.htm">Strong's 7607: </a> </span><span class="str2">Flesh, as living, for, food, food of any kind, kindred by blood</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/psalms/78-20.htm">Psalm 78:20 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/psalms/78-20.htm">Psalm 78:20 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/psalms/78-20.htm">Psalm 78:20 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/psalms/78-20.htm">Psalm 78:20 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/psalms/78-20.htm">Psalm 78:20 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/psalms/78-20.htm">Psalm 78:20 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/psalms/78-20.htm">Psalm 78:20 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/psalms/78-20.htm">Psalm 78:20 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/psalms/78-20.htm">Psalm 78:20 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/psalms/78-20.htm">Psalm 78:20 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/psalms/78-20.htm">OT Poetry: Psalm 78:20 Behold he struck the rock so that (Psalm Ps Psa.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/psalms/78-19.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Psalm 78:19"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Psalm 78:19" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/psalms/78-21.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Psalm 78:21"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Psalm 78:21" /></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>