Psalms 78:15 — Word Study
WLCיְבַקַּ֣ע צֻ֭רִים בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַ֝יַּ֗שְׁקְ כִּתְהֹמ֥וֹת רַבָּֽה׃
BSAHe splitbâqaʻ▸ [broke open, cleaved] the rockstsûwr [boulders, stones] in the wildernessmidbâr [desert, open field] and gave [them] drinkshâqâh▸ [water, provided for their thirst] as abundantrab [plenty, overflowing] as the seastᵉhôwm [the great depths, ocean]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| יְבַקַּ֣ע | he split open | Verb, Piel, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| צֻ֭רִים | rocks | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר | in the wilderness | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| וַ֝יַּ֗שְׁקְ | and he gave [them] to drink | Verb, Hiphil, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| כִּתְהֹמ֥וֹת | like deeps | Preposition, noun common feminine plural absolute |
| רַבָּֽה׃ | much | Adj |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as abundant as the seas. |
| KJV | He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths. |
| ASV | He clave rocks in the wilderness, And gave them drink abundantly as out of the depths. |
| YLT | He cleaveth rocks in a wilderness, And giveth drink — as the great deep. |
| WEB | He split rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink abundantly as out of the depths. |
| BBE | The rocks of the waste land were broken by his power, and he gave them drink as out of the deep waters. |
Where they part company is יְבַקַּ֣ע — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has a main clause followed by two subordinate phrases, emphasizing both the action and the context of God's provision.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbבָּקַע
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 78:15
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 Miraculous Provisiongenerated
Psalm 78:15 recounts how God provided for the Israelites during their time in the wilderness, emphasizing His power and care. The psalmist reflects on God's actions, reminding the people of His past faithfulness as they face their current challenges. This verse highlights God's ability to meet the needs of His people, even in desolate places, and serves as a reminder of His ongoing provision.
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 | Psalm 114:8 | who turned the rock into a pool, the flint into a fountain of water! |
| 3 | Exodus 17:6 | Behold, I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. And when you strike the rock, water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. |
| 4 | Numbers 20:11 | Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that a great amount of water gushed out, and the congregation and their livestock were able to drink. |
| 5 | Isaiah 41:18 | I will open rivers on the barren heights, and fountains in the middle of the valleys. I will turn the desert into a pool of water, and the dry land into flowing springs. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יְבַקַּ֣ע, ye.va.Ka'generated
The verb בָּקַע (baqa`) means to break open or cleave. It describes a powerful action of splitting, often used in contexts where something is forcefully opened or broken through, such as rocks. In this verse, it illustrates God's might in providing for His people by creating a source of water in a barren wilderness.
The Piel form indicates an active, intentional action, emphasizing God's direct intervention. This verb is used to portray God's ability to break through obstacles to meet the needs of His people, as seen in other passages like Psalm 107:16.
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 main verb יְבַקַּ֣ע (he split) governs the sentence, with two phrases following: the noun phrase צֻ֭רִים (the rocks) and the clause וַ֝יַּ֗שְׁקְ (and he gave them to drink). This structure emphasizes God's action in providing water after splitting the rocks.
The sentence is constructed with a main verb and two key phrases, highlighting God's miraculous provision in the wilderness. The order places emphasis on the action of splitting the rocks first, followed by the provision of water.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יְבַקַּ֣ע as διέρρηχεν (he split), which conveys a similar sense of breaking open. This choice underscores the dramatic nature of God's intervention.
The use of διέρρηχεν suggests an emphasis on the forcefulness of the action, aligning with the Hebrew intent of demonstrating God's power in providing for His people.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 78:15 tells us that God split the rocks in the wilderness to provide water for His people. This shows His care and ability to meet their needs, even in difficult circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
This phrase illustrates God's miraculous power to provide for His people in the wilderness, demonstrating that He can create resources where none seem to exist.
The wilderness represents a place of desolation and need, highlighting the contrast between the harsh environment and God's generous provision.
This verse connects to other accounts of God's provision for the Israelites, such as in Exodus 17:6, where Moses strikes a rock to bring forth water, showing a pattern of divine care.
This verse teaches us that God is attentive to the needs of His people and is capable of providing abundantly, even in the most challenging situations.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I need to trust God to provide for my needs?
- How can I remember God's past provisions when facing current challenges?
- What does this verse teach me about God's power and care?
- How can I share the story of God's provision with others?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Augustine of Hippo references this verse to illustrate God's miraculous provision, highlighting His power to meet the needs of His people.
"He that burst asunder the rock in the desert, and gave them water as in a great deep" [Psalms 78:15];Early Church Fathers on Psalms 78 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 78:15 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHe clave the rocks in the wilderness,.... The one at Rephidim, Exodus 17:1, and the other at Kadesh, Numbers 20:1 both to be seen at this day; [See comments on Exodus 17:1], [See comments on Exodus
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 BibleRocks; he useth the plural number, because it was twice done; once in Rephidim, , and again in Kadesh, ,11. The great depths; in great abundance.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 78 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 78:15 He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave [them] drink as [out of] the great depths.Ver. 15. He clave the rocks] And set them abroach, both that in Rephidim, Exodus 17:1-8, and the other in Kadesh, Numbers 20:1-13 Moses Nehamides, on Exodus 17:1-8, saith, that the old Jewish doctors held that the rock of Rephidim not only yielded waters like a river all those forty years wherein they were in the wilderness, but followed them also there whithersoever they went. This agreeth well with that of the apostle St Paul, 1 Corinthians 10:4, who sweetly allegorizeth this history. As out of the great depths] i.e. In great abundance, Ad satietatem usque. Rocks sooner yield fire than…
Read John Trapp on Psalms 78 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(15) And gave . . .—Literally, and gave them to drink as it were a great deep, or as we might say, “oceans of drink”—a poetical exaggeration; or are we rather to think of the gift of water as produced by striking or boring through the rock to the great ocean on which the earth was supposed to rest?
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 clave the rocks in the wilderness - There were two occasions on which the rock was smitten for water; one Exodus 17:6 at Mount Horeb, shortly after they came out of Egypt; and the other Numbers
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 78 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible15. Rocks—The plural indicates that the psalmist compresses into one the two miracles, the first at Horeb in the first year after the exodus, (Exodus 17:6,) and the second in the fortieth year, at
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 split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as abundant as the seas.
He split rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink abundantly as out of the depths.
He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as abundant as the seas.
He broke open rocks in the wilderness, and gave them enough water to fill the depths of the sea.
Tyndale line
He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.
He clave rocks in the wilderness, And gave them drink abundantly as out of the depths.
He clave rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink abundantly as out of the depths.
He cleaved the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.
He claue the rockes in the wildernes, and gaue them drinke as of the great depths.
Strictly literal
He clave rocks in the wilderness, and gave [them] drink as out of the depths, abundantly;
He cleaveth rocks in a wilderness, And giveth drink — as the great deep.
He cleaves rocks in a wilderness, || And gives drink—as the great deep.
He split rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the mighty deep.
He split the rocks in the wilderness, and he gave them water abundantly, enough to fill the depths of the sea.
Simplified
He split open rocks in the desert to give his people plenty to drink, water as deep as the ocean.
The rocks of the waste land were broken by his power, and he gave them drink as out of the deep waters.
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 of Psalms 78:15 states, "He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as abundant as the seas," while the Septuagint closely matches this wording, confirming the same imagery and meaning. Both the Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls, where they survive, also align with the Masoretic Text, indicating a strong consistency across these ancient witnesses regarding this verse.
יְבַקַּ֣ע צֻ֭רִים בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַ֝יַּ֗שְׁקְ כִּתְהֹמ֥וֹת רַבָּֽה׃
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 78:15
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.
בָּקַע (baqa`) is a Hebrew verb meaning to cleave or break open. It encompasses a range of actions, including splitting, tearing, and breaking through, with various grammatical forms indicating different nuances, such as being cleft or bursting open. The entries highlight its use in contexts like breaking into or through something, but do not provide specific verse references.
בָּקַע vb. cleave, break open or through
Qal
cleave, cleave open
break through or into
Niph.
be cleft, rent open
be broken into
Pi. cleave, cut to pieces, or rend open
Pu. be ripped open
Hiph. break into
Hoph. the city was broken into
Hithp. burst (themselves) open, of wine-skins; cleave asunder, of valleys
base
H1234 בָּקַע cleave, break open or through
1234 baqa` baw-kah'
a primitive root; to cleave; generally, to rend, break, rip
or open:--make a breach, break forth (into, out, in pieces,
through, up), be ready to burst, cleave (asunder), cut out,
divide, hatch, rend (asunder), rip up, tear, win.
בָּקַע (ba.qa) — to break up/open.
1) to split, cleave, break open, divide, break through, rip up, break up, tear
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to cleave, cleave open
1a2) to break through, break into
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be cleft, be rent open, be split open
1b2) to be broken into
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to cleave, cut to pieces, rend open
1c2) to break through, break down
1d) (Pual)
1d1) to be ripped open, be torn open
1d2) to be rent
1d3) to be broken into
1e) (Hiphil)
1e1) to break into
1e2) to break through
1f) (Hophal) to be broken into
1g) (Hithpael) to burst (themselves) open, cleave asunder
V-Piel-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Piel · imperfect third person masculine singularHVpi3ms
o'-p'-n: In the Old Testament represents chiefly pathach, but also other words, as galah, "to uncover"; of the opening of the eyes in vision, etc. (thus Balaam, Nu 22:31; 24:4; compare Job 33:16; 36:10; Ps 119:18; Jer 32:11,14). In the New Testament the usual word is anoigo (of opening of mouth, eyes, heavens, doors, etc.). A peculiar word, trachelizomai (literally, to have the neck bent back, to be laid bare), is used for "laid open" before God in Heb 4:13.
צוּר (tsur) means rock or cliff, often referring to a sharp rock or boulder. It can also signify a refuge or an edge, and is used in various contexts, including references to God as a rock. The word is built from the root associated with strong, compressed formations, and it appears in different forms, such as in the phrase 'rock of God.'
צוּר n.m. rock, cliff
base
H6697 צוּר rock, cliff
6697 tsuwr tsoor
or tsur {tsoor}; from 6696; properly, a cliff (or sharp rock,
as compressed); generally, a rock or boulder; figuratively, a
refuge; also an edge (as precipitous):--edge, X (mighty) God
(one), rock, X sharp, stone, X strength, X strong. See also
1049.
see HEBREW for 06696
see HEBREW for 01049
צוּר (tsur) — Rocks (of Goats).
Combined with ya.el (יָעֵל "Wildgoats'" H3277)
This name means rock, cliff
צוּר (tsur) — rock.
1) rock, cliff
1a) rocky wall, cliff
1b) rock (with flat surface)
1c) block of stone, boulder
1d) rock (specific)
1e) rock (of God)
1f) rock (of heathen gods) n pr dei
1g) Rock
Aramaic equivalent: tur (טוּר "mountain" H2906)
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
מִדְבָּר (midbar) primarily means 'mouth' in the sense of an organ of speech, but it also refers to 'wilderness' or 'desert.' The word is derived from a root meaning to drive, suggesting open fields for pasturing cattle. It encompasses various forms of uninhabited land and is notably used in contexts related to the wilderness, such as the Wilderness of Sinai.
[מִדְבָּר] n.m. mouth, as organ of speech, Ct 4:3
ref
מִדְבָר 270 n.m. wilderness
tracts of land, used for the pasturage of flocks and herds
uninhabited land
large tracts of such land bearing various names, in certain districts of which there might be towns and cities
fig.
base
H4057a מִדְבָּר mouth, as organ of speech H4057b מִדְבָר wilderness
4057 midbar mid-bawr'
from 1696 in the sense of driving; a pasture (i.e. open
field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert;
also speech (including its organs):--desert, south, speech,
wilderness.
see HEBREW for 01696
מִדְבָּר (mid.bar) — mouth.
1) mouth
1a) mouth (as organ of speech)
מִדְבָּר (mid.bar) — wilderness.
1) wilderness
1a) pasture
1b) uninhabited land, wilderness
1c) large tracts of wilderness (around cities)
1d) wilderness (fig.)
מִדְבָּר (mid.bar) — Wilderness (of Sinai).
This name means wilderness, uninhabited land
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHRd/Ncmsa
wil'-der-nes.
See DESERT; JUDAEA, WILDERNESS OF; WANDERINGS OF ISRAEL.
Wilderness
(1.) Heb. midhbar, denoting not a barren desert but a district or region suitable for pasturing sheep and cattle (Ps. 65:12; Isa. 42:11; Jer. 23:10; Joel 1:19; 2:22); an uncultivated place. This word is used of the wilderness of Beersheba (Gen. 21:14), on the southern border of Palestine; the wilderness of the Red Sea (Ex. 13:18); of Shur (15:22), a portion of the Sinaitic peninsula; of Sin (17:1), Sinai (Lev. 7:38), Moab (Deut. 2:8), Judah (
See DESERT.
The Hebrew word שָׁקָה (sha.qah) is a primitive root meaning to cause to drink or to water. It covers the act of giving drink to both animals and plants, as well as the concept of irrigation. The entries indicate various grammatical forms, including Hiphil, Pual, and Niphal, with no significant disagreement among lexicons.
[שָׁקָה] vb. Hiph. cause to drink water, give to drink
Hiph. water, irrigate, ground
water, give drink to
Pu. the marrow of his bones is watered, (refreshed, invigorated).
base
H8248 שָׁקָה Hiph. cause to drink water, give to drink
8248 shaqah shaw-kaw'
a primitive root; to quaff, i.e. (causatively) to irrigate or
furnish a potion to:--cause to (give, give to, let, make to)
drink, drown, moisten, water. See 7937, 8354.
see HEBREW for 07937
see HEBREW for 08354
שָׁקָה (sha.qah) — to water: watering.
: watering(ANIMALS/PLANTS)
1) to give to drink, irrigate, drink, water, cause to drink water
1a) (Hiphil)
1a1) to water, irrigate
1a2) to water, give drink to
1b) (Pual) to be watered
1c) (Niphal) variant
שָׁקָה (sha.qah) — to water: drink.
: drink(PEOPLE)
1) to give to drink, irrigate, drink, water, cause to drink water
1a) (Hiphil)
1a1) to water, irrigate
1a2) to water, give drink to
1b) (Pual) to be watered
1c) (Niphal) variant
שָׁקָה (sha.qah) — to water: cupbearer.
: cupbearer
1) to give to drink, irrigate, drink, water, cause to drink water
1a) (Hiphil)
1a1) to water, irrigate
1a2) to water, give drink to
1b) (Pual) to be watered
1c) (Niphal) variant
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vhw3ms
See FOOD; DRINK, STRONG.
Drink
The drinks of the Hebrews were water, wine, “strong drink,” and vinegar. Their drinking vessels were the cup, goblet or “basin,” the “cruse” or pitcher, and the saucer.
To drink water by measure (Ezek. 4:11), and to buy water to drink (Lam. 5:4), denote great scarcity. To drink blood means to be satiated with slaughter.
The Jews carefully strained their drinks through a sieve, through fear of violating the law of Lev. 11:20, 23, 41, 42. (See Matt. 23:24. “Strain at” should be “strain out.”)
→ INTOXICATING
See ABSTINENCE, TOTAL
→ See DRUNKARD
→ See DRUNKENNESS
→ See WINE
תְּהוֹם (tehom) refers to a deep or abyss, often associated with the sea or subterranean waters. It encompasses meanings such as depths, the primeval ocean in Hebrew cosmology, and can also denote the grave. The word is typically feminine and is derived from a root meaning 'to surge.'
תְּהוֹם n.f. et m. deep, sea, abyss
deep, of subterranean waters
(deep) sea
primaeval ocean, deep, in Heb. cosmogony
deep, depth
abyss
base
H8415 תְּהוֹם deep, sea, abyss . deep, of subterranean waters
. (deep) sea
. primaeval ocean, deep, in Heb. cosmogony
. deep, depth
. abyss
8415 thowm teh-home'
or thom {teh-home'}; (usually feminine) from 1949; an abyss
(as a surging mass of water), especially the deep (the main
sea or the subterranean water-supply):--deep (place), depth.
see HEBREW for 01949
תְּהוֹם (te.hom) — abyss.
1) deep, depths, deep places, abyss, the deep, sea
1a) deep (of subterranean waters)
1b) deep, sea, abysses (of sea)
1c) primeval ocean, deep
1d) deep, depth (of river)
1e) abyss, the grave
Prep | N-cp — Preposition · noun common feminine plural absoluteHR/Ncfpa
רַב (rav) means much, many, or great, often used in contrast to מְעַט (me'at). It can describe abundance in quantity or rank and is also used as a noun for chief or captain. The word conveys a range of meanings from numerous to exceedingly, and it can function as both an adjective and a noun.
רַב 429 adj. much, many, great
(oft. opp. מְעַט)
much: of substances
esp. of collectives, numerous
pl. many
רַב as subst. coll. pers.
cstr. = abounding in
מִן comp. = more numerous than
רַב = abundant, enough
as adv. much, exceedingly
less oft. great
base
רַב 49 n.m. chief
base
H7227a רַב much, many, great . (oft. opp. מְעַט) . . much: of substances
. esp. of collectives, numerous
. pl. many
. רַב as subst. coll. pers.
. cstr. = abounding in
. + מִן comp. = more numerous than
. רַב = abundant, enough
. as adv. much, exceedingly
. less oft. great
H7227b רַב chief
7227 rab rab
by contracted from 7231; abundant (in quantity, size, age,
number, rank, quality):--(in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly),
captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man,
one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold,
things, a time), ((ship-))master, mighty, more, (too, very)
much, multiply(-tude), officer, often(-times), plenteous,
populous, prince, process (of time), suffice(-lent).
see HEBREW for 07231
רַב (rav) — many.
adj
1) much, many, great
1a) much
1b) many
1c) abounding in
1d) more numerous than
1e) abundant, enough
1f) great
1g) strong
1h) greater than
adv
1i) much, exceedingly
רַב (rav) — chief.
captain, chief
Aramaic equivalent: rav.re.van (רַבְרְבָן "noble" H7261)
רַב (rav) — (Sidon) the Great.
Combined with tsi.don (צִידוֹן "Sidon" H6721H)
§ captain, chief
Adj — AdjHAafsa