He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.

PSALMS 78:16KJV
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Psalms 78:16 (KJV)

What does Psalms 78:16 mean?

Psalms 78:16 describes God providing water for the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness. The verse presents the water as an abundant supply, coming from an unlikely place: a rock.

Following the account of God splitting rocks in verse 15, the psalm pictures water flowing down the landscape like rivers. The singer tells this story as part of a larger account of Israel’s past, addressed to people who are to pass it on to their children.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 78:16

  • “streams” — נָחַל (naḥal): This word can refer to a stream or a watercourse. Here it helps picture channels carrying water away from the rock.
  • “rivers” — נָהָר (nahar): This word commonly means a river. The comparison gives the flowing water a sense of size and abundance.

Why Psalms 78:16 matters

  • The verse places the source of the water in God’s action, not in an ordinary spring. God “brought” the streams out of the rock and “caused” the waters to flow.
  • The account prepares for the question raised later in the passage. In verse 20, the people acknowledge that God struck the rock and water flowed, yet ask whether he can also provide food.
  • The surrounding story links the water with Israel’s wilderness journey. Similar accounts appear in Exodus 17:1–7 and Numbers 20:2–13, where the people are without water and God directs Moses to a rock.

Where else these words appear

“streams” Hebrew H5140 · used in 16 verses

  • Exodus 15:8 And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.
  • Psalms 78:44 And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink.
  • Isaiah 44:3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:

“rock” Hebrew H5553 · used in 54 verses

  • Numbers 20:8 Take 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.
  • 1 Kings 19:11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
  • Isaiah 31:9 And he shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the ensign, saith the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.

“rivers” Hebrew H5104 · used in 109 verses

  • Genesis 2:10 And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.
  • Ezra 8:31 Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.
  • Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.