Psalms 78:44

Authorized King James Version

And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink.

Word-by-Word Analysis

וַיַּהֲפֹ֣ךְ

H2015

And had turned

to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert

לְ֭דָם

H1818

into blood

blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshe

יְאֹרֵיהֶ֑ם

H2975

their rivers

a channel, e.g., a fosse, canal, shaft; specifically the nile, as the one river of egypt, including its collateral trenches; also the tigris, as the m

וְ֝נֹזְלֵיהֶ֗ם

H5140

and their floods

to drip, or shed by trickling

בַּל

H1077

properly, a failure; by implication nothing; usually (adverb) not at all; also lest

יִשְׁתָּיֽוּן׃

H8354

that they could not drink

to imbibe (literally or figuratively)

Analysis

This verse develops the worship and praise theme central to Psalms. The concept of divine revelation reflects the proper human response to God's character and works. The literary structure and word choice here contribute to worship literature expressing the full range of human experience before God, advancing the author's theological argument. The original language emphasizes careful word choice that would have carried specific theological weight for the original audience, providing deeper understanding of the author's theological intention.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the Israelite monarchy with its court politics and military conflicts. The author writes to address worshipers in the temple and those seeking God in times of distress, making the emphasis on worship and praise particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

What systematic theological implications arise from this verse's treatment of worship and praise, and how does it contribute to a biblical theology of fundamental Christian doctrine?
How does the worship and praise theme in this verse connect to the overarching narrative of Scripture, and what does this reveal about God's character and purposes?
In what ways does this verse's emphasis on divine revelation address questions about God's character and purposes in the modern world, and how should the church respond?