Psalms 78:16 — Word Study
WLCוַיּוֹצִ֣א נוֹזְלִ֣ים מִסָּ֑לַע וַיּ֖וֹרֶד כַּנְּהָר֣וֹת מָֽיִם׃
BSAHe broughtyâtsâʼ▸ [also out of the rock] streamsnâzal [to flow, like a flood] from the stoneçelaʻ [crag, a strong rock] and made watermayim [refreshment, a source of life] flow downyârad▸ [to descend, like falling] like riversnâhâr [a flood]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיּוֹצִ֣א | and he brought out | Verb, Hiphil, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| נוֹזְלִ֣ים | streams | Verb, Qal, participle (active) masculine plural |
| מִסָּ֑לַע | from a rock | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| וַיּ֖וֹרֶד | and he made to flow down | Verb, Hiphil, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| כַּנְּהָר֣וֹת | like rivers | Preposition, noun common feminine plural absolute |
| מָֽיִם׃ | water | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | He brought streams from the stone and made water flow down like rivers. |
| KJV | He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers. |
| ASV | He brought streams also out of the rock, And caused waters to run down like rivers. |
| YLT | And bringeth out streams from a rock, And causeth waters to come down as rivers. |
| WEB | He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers. |
| BBE | He made streams come out of the rock; and waters came flowing down like rivers. |
Where they part company is mainly in the phrasing of the entire verse, but they agree on the essential meaning.
The structure of the verse emphasizes God's action in bringing forth water, with two main actions described in sequence.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbיָצָא
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 78:16
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — God's Provision in the Wildernessgenerated
Psalm 78:16 reflects on God's miraculous provision for the Israelites during their time in the wilderness, highlighting His ability to provide water from a rock. This act serves as a reminder of His faithfulness and care, as seen in the verses surrounding it, which recount other acts of divine provision and the people's responses to God.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 105:41 | He opened a rock, and water gushed out; it flowed like a river in the desert. |
| 2 | Deuteronomy 8:15 | 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. |
| 3 | Deuteronomy 9:21 | And I took that sinful thing, the calf you had made, and burned it in the fire. Then I crushed it and ground it to powder as fine as dust, and I cast it into the stream that came down from the mountain. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — נוֹזְלִ֣ים, noz.Limgenerated
The word נָזַל (nazal) is a participle meaning to flow or drip, often used to describe the movement of water. It indicates a continuous action, suggesting that the streams are not only flowing but are abundant and life-giving.
In this verse, it emphasizes the miraculous nature of God's provision, as He causes water to flow from a solid rock, symbolizing both sustenance and refreshment for His people.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations are consistent in rendering the key phrase, with all versions using streams for נוֹזְלִ֣ים and similarly conveying the idea of water flowing from the rock.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb is יּוֹצִ֣א, he brought out, which governs the action of bringing streams from the rock. The structure emphasizes the action of God as the subject, with the streams and water as the objects of His provision.
The verse is constructed with a series of phrases that describe the action and its results, highlighting the miraculous nature of God's provision in a poetic form.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יָצָא as ἐχήγαγεν, indicating a similar meaning of bringing forth. This choice aligns with the theme of God's active role in providing for His people.
The Greek word ὕδωρ for מָיִם emphasizes the life-giving aspect of water, reinforcing the imagery of abundance and sustenance.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 78:16 tells us that God provided streams of water from a rock, showing His care for His people in the wilderness. This verse highlights how God can bring life and refreshment even from the most unlikely sources.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
This signifies God's miraculous provision for His people, demonstrating His ability to provide sustenance in challenging circumstances.
It connects to themes of God's faithfulness and provision, as seen in other passages that recount His care for Israel, such as in Exodus.
Water symbolizes life and refreshment, representing God's sustaining presence and the blessings He provides.
We learn that God is attentive to the needs of His people and has the power to provide for them in miraculous ways.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I seen God's provision in my life?
- How can I trust God to provide for my needs, even when circumstances seem difficult?
- What does this verse teach me about the importance of relying on God?
- How can I share the story of God's provision with others?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 78:16 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHe 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
Read John Gill on Psalms 78 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryMarvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 78 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleWhich did miraculously follow them in all their travails even to the borders of Canaan. See .
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 78 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 78:16 He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.Ver. 16. He brought streams also out of the rock] Idem enuntiat per Epexegesim, ad miraculi magnitudinem ostendendam. The same again, to set forth the greatness of the miracle. This was a standing miracle, as was also the pillar of cloud, the pillar of fire, and the manna.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 78 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(16) Rock.—Rather, cliff—sela, the word always used of the event that took place at Kadesh (Numbers 20:8-11), as tsûr is of the rock in Horeb. The plural of this latter word in Psalms 78:15 is poetical and general.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 78 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges9–16. Israel’s disobedience and ingratitude, in spite of all God’s mercies to them at the Exodus and in the wilderness.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 78 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleHe brought streams also out of the rock ... - literally, “flowings.” The waters were poured out in an over-flowing stream. Those streams continued to flow, thus constituting a continued proof of the presence of God.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 78 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible16. Caused waters to run down like rivers—An important circumstance for their ready supply at all times without inundating the camp.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 78 →The verse in English, compared — 16 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
He brought streams from the stone and made water flow down like rivers.
He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.
He brought streams from the stone and made water flow down like rivers.
He caused streams to flow from the rock, and made the water flow like rivers.
Tyndale line
He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.
He brought streams also out of the rock, And caused waters to run down like rivers.
He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.
He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.
He brought floods also out of the stonie rocke; so that hee made the waters to descend like the riuers.
Strictly literal
And he brought streams out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.
And bringeth out streams from a rock, And causeth waters to come down as rivers.
And brings out streams from a rock, || And causes waters to come down as rivers.
And he brought forth running streams out of the rock, and caused water to run down like rivers.
He made streams flow out of the rock and made the water flow like rivers.
Simplified
He made streams flow from the stone; water rushing down like rivers!
He made streams come out of the rock; and waters came flowing down like rivers.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text reads, "וַיּוֹצִ֣א נוֹזְלִ֣ים מִסָּ֑לַע וַיּ֖וֹרֶד כַּנְּהָר֣וֹת מָֽיִם׃" which translates to "He brought streams from the stone and made water flow down like rivers." The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in meaning, as all six words correspond directly, though the word order and articles may differ due to the nature of Greek syntax. There are no significant differences noted in the Samaritan Pentateuch or the Dead Sea Scrolls for this verse, indicating a strong textual consistency across these witnesses.
וַיּוֹצִ֣א נוֹזְלִ֣ים מִסָּ֑לַע וַיּ֖וֹרֶד כַּנְּהָר֣וֹת מָֽיִם׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 78:16
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
יָצָא (yatsa') is a Hebrew verb meaning to go or come out, with various applications including departure, escape, and emergence. It can refer to both animate and inanimate subjects and emphasizes the idea of origin or source. The verb appears in different forms, such as Qal, Hiphil, and Hophal, indicating actions like leading out or being brought forth.
יָצָא 1068 vb. go or come out
Qal
go or come out or forth
from (מִן) a place
go forth from (the presence of) a person
in technical senses
of flight, involving escape
depart
of inanimate things
with especial emphasis on idea of origin, source
of children as going forth from loins (of father)
go forth to a place
go forward, proceed to or toward something
come or go forth, with esp. ref. to purpose or result
of combinations
Hiph.
cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out
fig. obj. persons, bring out of (מִן) distress, etc.
bring out animals
inanimate obj.
fig. subj. י׳, bring forth from (מִן)
Hoph. be brought forth
base
H3318 יָצָא go or come out .. go or come out or forth . from (מִן) a place
. go forth from (the presence of) a person
. in technical senses
. of flight, involving escape
. depart
. of inanimate things
. with especial emphasis on idea of origin, source
. of children as going forth from loins (of father)
. . go forth to a place
. go forward, proceed to or toward something
. come or go forth, with esp. ref. to purpose or result
. of combinations
. . cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out
. fig. obj. persons, bring out of (מִן) distress, etc.
. bring out animals
. inanimate obj.
. fig. subj. י׳, bring forth from (מִן)
. be brought forth
3318 yatsa' yaw-tsaw'
a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great
variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct
and proxim.:--X after, appear, X assuredly, bear out, X
begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come
(abroad, out, thereat, without), + be condemned,
depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact,
fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence,
out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out),
going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out,
lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, X
scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring
out, stand out, X still, X surely, take forth (out), at any
time, X to (and fro), utter.
יָצָא (ya.tsa) — to come out: come.
: come/go_out/escape
1) to go out, come out, exit, go forth
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go or come out or forth, depart
1a2) to go forth (to a place)
1a3) to go forward, proceed to (to or toward something)
1a4) to come or go forth (with purpose or for result)
1a5) to come out of
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out
1b2) to bring out of
1b3) to lead out
1b4) to deliver
1c) (Hophal) to be brought out or forth
יָצָא (ya.tsa) — to come out: send.
: send/take_out/release
1) to go out, come out, exit, go forth
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go or come out or forth, depart
1a2) to go forth (to a place)
1a3) to go forward, proceed to (to or toward something)
1a4) to come or go forth (with purpose or for result)
1a5) to come out of
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out
1b2) to bring out of
1b3) to lead out
1b4) to deliver
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vhw3ms
נָזַל (nazal) is a Hebrew verb meaning to flow or trickle. It encompasses various forms of flowing, including distilling and shedding liquid. The term appears in both the Qal and Hiphil stems, indicating both a simple action of flowing and causing something to flow. The poetic usage suggests a rich imagery associated with water and movement.
[נָזַל] vb. flow, trickle, drop, distil (poet.)
Qal
flow
distil
Hiph. cause to flow
base
H5140 [נָזַל] flow, trickle, drop, distil (poet.)
5140 nazal naw-zal'
a primitive root; to drip, or shed by trickling:--distil,
drop, flood, (cause to) flow(-ing), gush out, melt, pour
(down), running water, stream.
נָזַל (na.zal) — to flow.
1) to flow, distil, flow forth or down, trickle, drop
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to flow
1a1a) streams, floods (participle)
1a2) to distil
1b) (Hiphil) to cause to flow
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine pluralHVqrmpa
סֶ֫לַע (cela`) refers to a crag or cliff, indicating a strong, rocky formation. It can denote both a literal rock and a figurative stronghold, suggesting security and loftiness. The entries consistently emphasize its meanings related to rugged terrain and fortification, with no significant disagreements noted among the lexicons.
סֶ֫לַע 61 n.m. crag, cliff
base
H5553 סֶ֫לַע crag, cliff
5553 cela` seh'-lah
from an unused root meaning to be lofty; a craggy rock,
literally or figuratively (a fortress):--(ragged) rock,
stone(-ny), strong hold.
סֶ֫לַע (se.la) — rock.
The Rock
Sela (H5554)
סֶ֫לַע (se.la) — crag.
1) crag, cliff, rock
1a) crag, cliff
1b) as stronghold of Jehovah, of security (fig.)
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
rok ((1) cela`; (2) tsur (3) challamish, "flint"; compare Arabic khalanbus, "flint"; (4) kephim (Job 30:6; Jer 4:29); compare Kephas, "Cephas" = Petros, "Peter" (Joh 1:42 the King James Version and the Revised Version margin); (5) petra):
1. Names:
Tsur and cela` are the words most often found, and there is no well-defined distinction between them. They are frequently coupled together in the parallelism which is characteristic of the Hebrew writers: e.g.
"Be thou to me a strong rock (tsur),
A house of defense to save me.
For thou art my rock (tsela) and my fortress"
(Ps 31:2,3).
"He clave rocks (tsur) in the wilderness,
And gave them drink abundantly as out of the depths.
Rock
(Heb. tsur), employed as a symbol of God in the Old Testament (1 Sam. 2:2; 2 Sam. 22:3; Isa. 17:10; Ps. 28:1; 31:2,3; 89:26; 95:1); also in the New Testament (Matt. 16:18; Rom. 9:33; 1 Cor. 10:4). In Dan. 2:45 the Chaldaic form of the Hebrew word is translated “mountain.” It ought to be translated “rock,” as in Hab. 1:12 in the Revised Version. The “rock” from which the stone is cut there signifies the…
The Hebrew word יָרַד (yarad) means to come or go down, covering various contexts such as descending from mountains, going to battle, or sinking in water. It can also refer to divine manifestations descending or being prostrated. The word has different forms including Qal, Hiphil, and Hophal, which indicate various nuances of bringing down or being brought down.
יָרַד 380 vb. come or go down, descend
Qal 306
come or go down
go down (usu. from mountain or hill-country into plain), to battle
go down to (acc.) threshing-floor
go down (abs.) from Palestine to Egypt
from Jerusalem
from altar
go down
= sink, in water
go down to She’ôl
fig. going down (dissolving) in tears
= be prostrated
of divine manifestations: descend
of inanimate things
Hiph.
cause to come or go down
bring down
send down rain = cause to flow down
= lay prostrate to (acc.) threshing-floor
bring down to She’ôl
take down (from cart)
let down
Hoph.
be brought down
be taken down
base
H3381 יָרַד come or go down, descend .. . come or go down
. go down (usu. from mountain or hill-country into plain), to battle
. go down to (acc.) threshing-floor
. go down (abs.) from Palestine to Egypt
. from Jerusalem
. from altar
. go down
. = sink, in water
. go down to She’ôl
. fig. going down (dissolving) in tears
. = be prostrated
. of divine manifestations: descend
. of inanimate things
. . cause to come or go down . bring down
. send down rain = cause to flow down
. = lay prostrate to (acc.) threshing-floor
. bring down to She’ôl
. take down (from cart)
. let down
. . be brought down
. be taken down
3381 yarad yaw-rad'
a primitive root; to descend (literally, to go downwards; or
conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary,
the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to
bring down (in all the above applications); -X abundantly,
bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come(-ing) down,
fall (down), get down, go(-ing) down(-ward), hang down, X
indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to,
let) run down, sink, subdue, take down.
יָרַד (ya.rad) — to go down.
1) to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go or come down
1a2) to sink
1a3) to be prostrated
1a4) to come down (of revelation)
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to bring down
1b2) to send down
1b3) to take down
1b4) to lay prostrate
1b5) to let down
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be brought down
1c2) to be taken down
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vhw3ms
נָהָר (nahar) means 'stream' or 'river' and can refer to various water bodies, including the Nile and Euphrates. It also has a figurative sense of prosperity. The word is derived from a root meaning related to flowing water and has an Aramaic equivalent, נְהַר (ne.har).
נָהָר 120 n.m. stream, river
base
H5104 נָהָר stream, river
5104 nahar naw-hawr'
from 5102; a stream (including the sea; expec. the Nile,
Euphrates, etc.); figuratively, prosperity:--flood, river.
see HEBREW for 05102
נָהָר (na.har) — River.
This name means stream, river
Another name of pe.rat (פְּרָת "Euphrates" H6578)
נָהָר (na.har) — river.
1) stream, river
1a) stream, river
1b) (underground) streams
Aramaic equivalent: ne.har (נְהַר "river" H5103H)
Prep | N-mp — Preposition · noun common feminine plural absoluteHRd/Ncfpa
מַי (mayim) is a Hebrew word meaning 'water' and is used in the plural form. It encompasses various meanings, including literal water, urine, and metaphorical uses related to refreshment or danger. The entries indicate it is derived from a primitive noun and is primarily referenced in contexts involving water.
[מַי] 580 n.m. only pl. מַ֫יִם waters, water
base
H4325 מַי only pl. מַ֫יִם waters, water
4325 mayim mah'-yim
dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense);
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen:--+
piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)).
מַי (ma.yim) — water.
1) water, waters
1a) water
1b) water of the feet, urine
1c) of danger, violence, transitory things, refreshment (fig.)
מַי (ma.yim) — Water (Gate).
This name means water, refreshment
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
wo'-ter (mayim; hudor):
(1) The Greek philosophers believed water to be the original substance and that all things were made from it. The Koran states, "From water we have made all things." In the story of the creation (Ge 1:2) water plays an elemental part.
(2) Because of the scarcity of water in Palestine it is especially appreciated by the people there. They love to go and sit by a stream of running water. Men long for a taste of the water of their native village (1Ch 11:17). A town or village is known throughout the country for the quality of its water, which is described by many adjectives, such as "light," "heavy," etc.
(3) The rainfall is the only source of supply of water for Palestine. The moisture is carried up from the sea in clouds and falls on the hills as rain or snow.…
See CISTERN and WELLS.
In Isa 35:7, the Hebrew word for "parched ground" that shall become a pool of water, is the same with the Arabic term for the mirage, a peculiar optical illusion by which travelers in hot and dry deserts think they see broad lakes and flowing waters; they seem to discern the very ripple of the waves, and the swaying of tail trees on the margin in the cool breeze; green hills and houses and city ramparts rise before the astonished sight, recede as the traveler advances, and at length melt away in the hot haze. Not so the blessings of the gospel; they are no alluring mockery, but real waters of everlasting life, Isa 55:1 Joh 4:14 Re 22:1. Compare
→ Creation of Ps 148:4,5
→ Covered the whole earth Ge 1:9
→ Daily allowance of Eze 4:11
→ City waterworks 2Ki 20:20
→ Vision of, by Ezekiel Eze 47:1-5
→ Of separation Nu 19:2-22