Psalms 78:16
He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.
Original Language Analysis
וַיּוֹצִ֣א
He brought
H3318
וַיּוֹצִ֣א
He brought
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
1 of 6
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
מִסָּ֑לַע
also out of the rock
H5553
מִסָּ֑לַע
also out of the rock
Strong's:
H5553
Word #:
3 of 6
a craggy rock, literally or figuratively (a fortress)
וַיּ֖וֹרֶד
to run down
H3381
וַיּ֖וֹרֶד
to run down
Strong's:
H3381
Word #:
4 of 6
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau
Cross References
Deuteronomy 8:15Who 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 20:8Take 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.
Historical Context
The wilderness of Sinai averages less than 2 inches of rainfall annually. God's provision of 'rivers' in this wasteland sustained approximately 2 million people plus livestock for forty years, requiring continuous supernatural intervention.
Questions for Reflection
- Does your experience of God's provision feel like a trickle or like 'rivers' of abundance?
- How might you be limiting God's river-from-rock provision by demanding only what seems reasonable?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers—the Hebrew nāhār (rivers) emphasizes abundance, not mere survival water. God's provision exceeded necessity, flooding the desert with overflowing supply. This extravagance reveals grace's character—'pressed down, shaken together, running over' (Luke 6:38).
Isaiah 48:21 recalls this miracle as proof God will repeat exodus-scale redemption: 'waters gushed out' when 'he split the rock.' Ezekiel's temple vision (47:1-12) shows rivers flowing from God's throne to heal the earth, fulfilled in Revelation 22:1-2 where the 'river of the water of life' flows from the Lamb's throne. Christ offers this overflowing abundance: 'streams of living water' to those who believe (John 7:38).