Psalms 78:16

16 He caused a stream to come out of the rock 1 and made water flow like a river.

Psalms 78:16 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 78:16

He brought streams also out of the rock
Which is expressed in the singular number, as also in ( Psalms 78:20 ) , because the children of Israel were not come to Kadesh, and the second rock was not smitten when they lusted after flesh, and murmured against God, and tempted him, as is after related:

and caused waters to run down like rivers;
from the descent of the rock, which followed them all the way in the wilderness; this was a most marvellous thing, that water should flow from a flinty rock upon striking it, from whence fire rather than water might have been expected; and that it should flow in such great abundance, and that from a rock in a wilderness.

Psalms 78:16 In-Context

14 By day he led them with a cloud and all night long with the light of a fire.
15 He split rocks open in the desert and gave them water from the depths.
16 He caused a stream to come out of the rock and made water flow like a river.
17 But they continued to sin against God, and in the desert they rebelled against the Most High.
18 They deliberately put God to the test by demanding the food they wanted.

Cross References 1

  • 1. +278.12-16Wisdom 16.1--19.22.+O+N78.15, 16Exodus 17.1_-7;Numbers 20.2-13.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.