Psalms 78:20
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?
Original Language Analysis
הִכָּה
Behold he smote
H5221
הִכָּה
Behold he smote
Strong's:
H5221
Word #:
2 of 15
to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)
צ֨וּר׀
the rock
H6697
צ֨וּר׀
the rock
Strong's:
H6697
Word #:
3 of 15
properly, a cliff (or sharp rock, as compressed); generally, a rock or boulder; figuratively, a refuge; also an edge (as precipitous)
וַיָּז֣וּבוּ
gushed out
H2100
וַיָּז֣וּבוּ
gushed out
Strong's:
H2100
Word #:
4 of 15
to flow freely (as water), i.e., (specifically) to have a (sexual) flux; figuratively, to waste away; also to overflow
מַיִם֮
that the waters
H4325
מַיִם֮
that the waters
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
5 of 15
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
וּנְחָלִ֪ים
and the streams
H5158
וּנְחָלִ֪ים
and the streams
Strong's:
H5158
Word #:
6 of 15
a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a brook runs); also a shaft (of a mine)
יִ֫שְׁטֹ֥פוּ
overflowed
H7857
יִ֫שְׁטֹ֥פוּ
overflowed
Strong's:
H7857
Word #:
7 of 15
to gush; by implication, to inundate, cleanse; by analogy, to gallop, conquer
הֲגַם
H1571
הֲגַם
Strong's:
H1571
Word #:
8 of 15
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
לֶ֭חֶם
bread
H3899
לֶ֭חֶם
bread
Strong's:
H3899
Word #:
9 of 15
food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)
י֣וּכַל
also can
H3201
י֣וּכַל
also can
Strong's:
H3201
Word #:
10 of 15
to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might)
תֵּ֑ת
he give
H5414
תֵּ֑ת
he give
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
11 of 15
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
אִם
H518
אִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
12 of 15
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
יָכִ֖ין
he provide
H3559
יָכִ֖ין
he provide
Strong's:
H3559
Word #:
13 of 15
properly, to be erect (i.e., stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a great variety of applications, whether literal (establish, fix,
Historical Context
The rock-smiting preceded the manna (Exodus 16-17), yet this psalm compresses events to reveal the logical absurdity: if God provides water from stone, why doubt His ability to provide food? Yet Israel's unbelief wasn't logical but spiritual rebellion.
Questions for Reflection
- Do you treat God's past faithfulness as irrelevant to present circumstances, demanding fresh proof?
- How does the mindset 'what have you done for me lately' poison your relationship with God?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
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?—Israel's 'can he also' exposes addiction to novelty: yesterday's miracle doesn't count toward today's faith. The Hebrew nāḥal (streams) flooded the desert, yet they immediately demanded new categories of provision. God's résumé meant nothing to their chronic unbelief.
This parallels the Pharisees demanding 'another sign' after Jesus fed thousands (Matthew 16:1-4). No amount of evidence satisfies determined skepticism. Jesus diagnosed it: 'an evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign' (Matthew 12:39). Faith rests in the Giver, not the gifts; it trusts the Person, not the portfolio of past performances.