Psalms 78:29 — Word Study
WLCוַיֹּאכְל֣וּ וַיִּשְׂבְּע֣וּ מְאֹ֑ד וְ֝תַֽאֲוָתָ֗ם יָבִ֥א לָהֶֽם׃
BSASo they ateʼâkal▸ [and devoured, consuming completely] and were wellmᵉʼôd filledsâbaʻ▸ [satisfied, having enough] for He gavebôwʼ▸ what they cravedtaʼăvâh [their own desire, longing, exceedingly, greatly]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיֹּאכְל֣וּ | and they ate | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| וַיִּשְׂבְּע֣וּ | and they were satisfied | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| מְאֹ֑ד | exceedingly | Adv |
| וְ֝תַֽאֲוָתָ֗ם | and desire their | Conjunction, noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| יָבִ֥א | he brought | Verb, Hiphil, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| לָהֶֽם׃ | to them | Preposition, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | So they ate and were well filled, for He gave them what they craved. |
| KJV | So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire; |
| ASV | So they did eat, and were well filled; And he gave them their own desire. |
| YLT | And they eat, and are greatly satisfied, And their desire He bringeth to them. |
| WEB | So they ate, and were well filled. He gave them their own desire. |
| BBE | So they had food and were full; for he gave them their desire; |
Where they part company is יָבִ֥א — see How Translations Differ.
Two main clauses connected by a conjunction, with a reason provided in the third clause.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbאָכַל
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 78:29
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 78:29 reflects on how God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness. Despite their complaints and desires, God gave them what they craved, demonstrating His care and provision. This passage highlights the tension between human desire and divine provision, as seen in the broader context of Israel's journey through the desert, where they often doubted God's goodness.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 106:15 | So He granted their request, but sent a wasting disease upon them. |
| 2 | Numbers 11:20 | but for a whole month—until it comes out of your nostrils and makes you nauseous—because you have rejected the LORD, who is among you, and have cried out before Him, saying, ‘Why did we ever leave Egypt?’” |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — תַּאֲוָה, ve.ta.'a.va.Tamgenerated
The noun תַּאֲוָה (ta'ava) means 'desire' or 'longing' and encompasses a range of meanings, including appetite and covetousness. It can refer to both positive and negative yearnings, highlighting the human tendency to crave more than what is necessary.
In this verse, it emphasizes the people's cravings, which God addressed by providing them with what they desired. This reflects God's responsiveness to the needs and wants of His people, even when those desires may not align with His ultimate plans.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse has a straightforward structure with two main clauses linked by a conjunction. The first clause, וַיֹּאכְל֣וּ (and they ate), is the finite verb that introduces the action, followed by וַיִּשְׂבְּע֣וּ (and they were satisfied), which describes the result of the first action.
The phrase מְאֹ֑ד (exceedingly) serves as an adverbial modifier, enhancing the degree of satisfaction. The final clause introduces the reason for their satisfaction, indicating that God provided for their desires.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, וַיֹּאכְל֣וּ is rendered as ἐφάγοσαν, meaning 'they ate.' This choice emphasizes the act of eating in a straightforward manner, aligning closely with the Hebrew meaning.
The translation of תַּאֲוָה as ἐπιθυμίαν suggests a focus on the desire aspect, indicating that the translators recognized the significance of human longing in the context of divine provision.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 78:29 describes how the Israelites ate and were satisfied because God gave them what they desired. This verse highlights God's provision for His people, even when they were in need and longing for more.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Being satisfied means that they had enough food and were no longer hungry, indicating God's provision met their needs.
Desire is mentioned to show that God responds to the cravings of His people, fulfilling their longings even in challenging circumstances.
This verse illustrates God's faithfulness and willingness to provide for His people's needs, highlighting His care and compassion.
We can learn that while desires are natural, it's important to recognize that God knows what we truly need and can fulfill our longings in ways we may not expect.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I seen God provide for my needs and desires?
- How can I learn to trust God with my cravings and longings?
- What does this verse teach me about the relationship between my desires and God's provision?
- How can I be more aware of God's provision in my life?
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 78:29 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleSo they did eat, and were well filled,..... Or "exceedingly filled" (m), or too much, as some versions render it; they eat to excess, not merely to satisfy nature, but to gratify their sensual
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 BibleWhat they desired both for quality and quantity.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 78 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 78:29 So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;Ver. 29. So they did eat, and were well filled] But better they had fasted. Many eat that on earth which they must digest in hell; these here were murdering morsels. He gave them their own desire] They were heard, ad voluntatem, non ad utilitatem. Deus saepe dat iratus quod negat propitius. God’ s gifts to a graceless man are giftless gifts; and he had better a great deal be without them.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 78 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges29. for he gave them &c.] For he brought them that for which they lusted. Cp. Psalms 106:14; Numbers 11:4; Numbers 11:34.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 78 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleSo they did eat, and were well filled - The word rendered “well” here is intensive. It means that they were abundantly satisfied; that there was no lack; that they had the most ample supply.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 78 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible29. Were well filled—Hebrews, were satiated greatly. The language indicates excess, gluttony, and it lasted an entire mouth. The place was called Kibroth-hattaavah—the graves of greediness.
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
So they ate and were well filled, for He gave them what they craved.
So they ate, and were well filled. He gave them their own desire.
So they ate and were well filled, for He gave them what they craved.
They ate until they were stuffed; he gave them what they desired.
Tyndale line
So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;
So they did eat, and were well filled; And he gave them their own desire.
So they did eat, and were well filled; and he gave them that they lusted after.
So they ate, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;
So they did eate and were well filled: for he gaue them their desire.
Strictly literal
And they did eat, and were well filled; for that they lusted after, he brought to them.
And they eat, and are greatly satisfied, And their desire He bringeth to them.
And they eat, and are greatly satisfied, || And He brings their desire to them.
And they ate, and were greatly satisfied, and what they longed for he brought unto them.
So they ate and were full. He gave them what they craved.
Simplified
They ate until they were full. He gave them the food they longed for.
So they had food and were full; for he gave them their desire;
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 states, "וַיֹּאכְל֣וּ וַיִּשְׂבְּע֣וּ מְאֹ֑ד וְ֝תַֽאֲוָתָ֗ם יָבִ֥א לָהֶֽם׃" which translates to, "So they ate and were well filled, for He gave them what they craved." The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in meaning and content, as all six words correspond directly, though the word order may differ due to the nature of Greek syntax. There are no significant differences in the core message between these witnesses, indicating a strong consistency in this verse across these ancient texts.
וַיֹּאכְל֣וּ וַיִּשְׂבְּע֣וּ מְאֹ֑ד וְ֝תַֽאֲוָתָ֗ם יָבִ֥א לָהֶֽם׃
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 78:29
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.
אָכַל (akal) means 'to eat' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including literal consumption by humans and animals, as well as figurative uses like devouring by fire or destruction. It can describe actions such as feeding or causing to eat, and it also appears in contexts of oppression and destruction. The verb has various forms, indicating different subjects and nuances.
אָכַל 806 vb. eat
Qal
eat, human subject
of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour
fig. of fire, devour, consume
of sword, devour, slay
in genl., devour, consume, destroy
fig. of oppression, devour the poor
Niph.
be eaten by man
be devoured by fire, consumed
be wasted, destroyed, of flesh
Pu. be consumed
Hiph.
cause to eat, feed with
cause to devoure, obj. sword
base
H398 אָכַל eat .. eat, human subject
. of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour
. fig. of fire, devour, consume
. of sword, devour, slay
. in genl., devour, consume, destroy
. fig. of oppression, devour the poor
. . be eaten by man
. be devoured by fire, consumed
. be wasted, destroyed, of flesh
. be consumed
. . cause to eat, feed with
. cause to devoure, obj. sword
398 'akal aw-kal'
a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively):--X at
all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up),
feed (with), food, X freely, X in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay)
meat, X quite.
אָכַל (a.khal) — to eat.
1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to eat (human subject)
1a2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds)
1a3) to devour, consume (of fire)
1a4) to devour, slay (of sword)
1a5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought)
1a6) to devour (of oppression)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be eaten (by men)
1b2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire)
1b3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh)
1c) (Pual)
1c1) to cause to eat, feed with
1c2) to cause to devour
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to feed
1d2) to cause to eat
1e) (Piel)
1e1) consume
Aramaic equivalent: a.khal (אֲכַל "to devour" H0399)
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vqw3mp
שָׂבֵעַ (saba`) means to be sated or satisfied, particularly in relation to food. It can also imply having one's desires fulfilled or being surfeited with excess. The verb has various forms, including Qal, Piel, and Hiphil, which cover meanings from simply being full to enriching or satisfying others. The entries indicate a focus on both literal and figurative senses of satisfaction.
[שָׂבֵעַ], שָׂבַע 96 vb. be sated, satisfied, surfeited
Qal 79
be sated (with food), esp. human subj.
more gen., be sated, have desire satisfied
have in excess, be surfeited with
Niph. Pt. sated
Pi. satisfy
Hiph.
satisfy (esp. with material blessings), subj. י׳
c. acc. of food pers., י׳ subj.
י׳ subj.
י׳ subj., c. acc. of beasts
enrich
sate, glut (with the undesired)
base
H7646 שָׂבֵעַ, שָׂבַע be sated, satisfied, surfeited .. be sated (with food), esp. human subj.
. more gen., be sated, have desire satisfied
. have in excess, be surfeited with
. Pt. sated
. satisfy
. . . satisfy (esp. with material blessings), subj. י׳
. c. acc. of food + pers., י׳ subj.
. י׳ subj.
. י׳ subj., c. acc. of beasts
. enrich
. sate, glut (with the undesired)
7646 saba` saw-bah'
or sabeay {saw-bay'-ah}; a primitive root; to sate, i.e. fill
to satisfaction (literally or figuratively):--have enough,
fill (full, self, with), be (to the) full (of), have plenty
of, be satiate, satisfy (with), suffice, be weary of.
שָׂבֵעַ (sa.va) — to satisfy.
1) to be satisfied, be sated, be fulfilled, be surfeited
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be sated (with food)
1a2) to be sated, be satisfied with, be fulfilled, be filled, have one's fill of (have desire satisfied)
1a3) to have in excess, be surfeited, be surfeited with
1a3a) to be weary of (fig)
1b) (Piel) to satisfy
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to satisfy
1c2) to enrich
1c3) to sate, glut (with the undesired)
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vqw3mp
מְאֹד (m`od) refers to concepts of muchness, force, and abundance. It serves as an adverb meaning exceedingly or greatly, often used to intensify other words. The entries highlight its use in various idioms to express magnitude or degree, with a focus on might and intensity.
מְאֹד n.m. muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly
force, might
in diff. idioms (298 t.) to express the idea of exceedingly, greatly, very (whether of magnitude or degree)
base
H3966 מְאֹד muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly . force, might
. in diff. idiomns (298 t.) to express the idea of exceedingly, greatly, very (whether of magnitude or degree)
3966 m`od meh-ode'
from the same as 181; properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or
without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly,
speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or
superlative; especially when repeated):--diligently,
especially, exceeding(-ly), far, fast, good, great(-ly), X
louder and louder, might(-ily, -y), (so) much, quickly, (so)
sore, utterly, very (+ much, sore), well.
see HEBREW for 0181
מְאֹד (me.od) — much.
adv
1) exceedingly, much
subst
2) might, force, abundance
n m
3) muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly
3a) force, might
3b) exceedingly, greatly, very (idioms showing magnitude or degree)
3b1) exceedingly
3b2) up to abundance, to a great degree, exceedingly
3b3) with muchness, muchness
Adv — AdvHAcmsa
תַּאֲוָה (ta'avah) means 'desire' and encompasses a range of meanings including longing, appetite, and covetousness. It can refer to both a subjective feeling of satisfaction and an objective charm or delight. The term is used in various contexts, sometimes with negative connotations such as lust or greed.
תַּאֲוָה n.f. desire
thing desired
base
H8378 תַּאֲוָה desire
8378 ta'avah tah-av-aw'
from 183 (abbreviated); a longing; by implication, a delight
(subjectively, satisfaction, objectively, a charm):--dainty,
desire, X exceedingly, X greedily, lust(ing), pleasant. See
also 6914.
see HEBREW for 0183
see HEBREW for 06914
תַּאֲוָה (ta.a.vah) — desire.
1) desire
1a) desire, wish, longings of one's heart
1a1) lust, appetite, covetousness (bad sense)
1b) thing desired, object of desire
Conj | N-fs | Suff — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHC/Ncfsc/Sp3mp
בּוֹא (bo) is a Hebrew verb meaning to come or go in, with a wide range of applications including entering, arriving, and bringing in. It can refer to both physical movement and abstract concepts like events coming to pass. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal (to come), Hiphil (to cause to come), and Hophal (to be brought). There is no significant disagreement among lexicons regarding its meanings.
בּוֹא 2569 vb. come in, come, go in, go
Qal
come in
come (approach, arrive)
go, i.e. walk, associate with
go from speaker, but with limit of motion given
Hiph.
cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)
cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)
Hoph.
be brought in (of pers. and things)
be brought
be introduced, put
base
H935 בּוֹא come in, come, go in, go .. come in
. come (approach, arrive)
. go, i.e. walk, associate with
. go from speaker, but with limit of motion given
. . cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)
. cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)
. . be brought in (of pers. and things)
. be brought
. be introduced, put
935 bow' bo
a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of
applications):--abide, apply, attain, X be, befall, +
besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, X
certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out,
upon, to pass), depart, X doubtless again, + eat, + employ,
(cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be
fallen, fetch, + follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war),
grant, + have, X indeed, (in-)vade, lead, lift (up), mention,
pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, X (well) stricken
(in age), X surely, take (in), way.
בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): come.
: come/go_in
1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to enter, come in
1a2) to come
1a2a) to come with
1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)
1a2c) to come to pass
1a3) to attain to
1a4) to be enumerated
1a5) to go
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to lead in
1b2) to carry in
1b3) to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon
1b4) to bring to pass
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be brought, brought in
1c2) to be introduced, be put
לְב֥וֹא (bo) — Lebo-(Hamath).
This name means to go in, enter
Combined with cha.mat (חֲמָת "Hamath" H2574)
בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): towards.
: towards/entrance
1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to enter, come in
1a2) to come
1a2a) to come with
1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)
1a2c) to come to pass
1a3) to attain to
1a4) to be enumerated
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person masculine singularHVhi3ms
הֶם (hem) — them.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine plural
HR/Sp3mp — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp3mp