Psalm 105:41 kjv
He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.
Psalm 105:41 nkjv
He opened the rock, and water gushed out; It ran in the dry places like a river.
Psalm 105:41 niv
He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed like a river in the desert.
Psalm 105:41 esv
He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed through the desert like a river.
Psalm 105:41 nlt
He split open a rock, and water gushed out
to form a river through the dry wasteland.
Psalm 105 41 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 17:6 | "Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb... you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it..." | God commands Moses to strike the rock for water. |
| Num 20:11 | "And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff... and much water came out..." | Second instance of water from the rock at Meribah. |
| Deut 8:15 | "...who led you through the great and terrifying wilderness, with its fiery serpents... who brought you water out of the flinty rock..." | Remembering God's wilderness provision. |
| Psa 78:15 | "He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep." | Echoes the splitting of the rock. |
| Psa 78:16 | "He made streams come out of the rock and caused waters to flow down like rivers." | Directly parallels Psa 105:41 with river imagery. |
| Psa 78:20 | "He struck the rock, so that water gushed out..." | Reinforces the miracle of water provision. |
| Neh 9:15 | "...You brought water for them out of the rock for their thirst..." | Nehemiah recounts God's wilderness provision. |
| Isa 43:20 | "The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and ostriches, for I provide water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert..." | Prophetic echo of God providing water in desolate places. |
| Isa 48:21 | "They did not thirst when he led them through the deserts; he made water flow for them from the rock..." | God's continued miraculous leading and provision. |
| 1 Cor 10:4 | "...and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ." | New Testament interpretation of the rock as Christ. |
| John 7:37-38 | "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" | Jesus as the source of living water. |
| Rev 21:6 | "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment." | God provides ultimate spiritual refreshment. |
| Exod 16:35 | "The people of Israel ate the manna forty years, till they came to a habitable land." | God's comprehensive provision during wilderness. |
| Num 21:16 | "From there they continued to Beer; that is the well of which the Lord said to Moses, 'Gather the people together, so that I may give them water.'" | God leads to a well after rock incident. |
| Psa 107:35 | "He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water..." | General principle of God transforming deserts. |
| Psa 23:2 | "He leads me beside still waters." | God as provider and shepherd. |
| Deut 2:7 | "For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He knows your journey through this great wilderness." | God's care throughout the wilderness journey. |
| Matt 7:7 | "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." | Principle of asking God for needs. |
| Isa 35:6-7 | "...for waters will break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert... the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water..." | Prophecy of abundant water in desert. |
| Jer 2:13 | "...They have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters..." | God as the source of life, contrasted with broken cisterns. |
| Ezek 47:1-9 | Describes water flowing from the temple, bringing life everywhere it goes. | Metaphorical life-giving river of God. |
Psalm 105 verses
Psalm 105 41 Meaning
Psalm 105:41 describes God's miraculous provision of water for the Israelites during their wilderness journey. It recounts a specific historical event where God caused water to flow abundantly from a rock, sustaining His people in the desolate desert, emphasizing His power, faithfulness, and covenant commitment to His chosen nation.
Psalm 105 41 Context
Psalm 105 is a historical psalm, recounting God's faithful dealings with Israel from the time of Abraham (vv. 8-15) through their oppression in Egypt (vv. 16-25), the Exodus (vv. 26-38), and their wilderness journey (vv. 39-41). The psalm is a call to remember, thank, and seek the Lord. Verse 41 specifically recalls a pivotal moment during the wilderness wanderings, often referenced alongside God's provision of manna and quail. It serves to underscore God's persistent care for His covenant people, even when they faced dire conditions in the barren wilderness, thereby establishing a foundation for His unwavering faithfulness.
Psalm 105 41 Word analysis
- He opened: The subject "He" refers to God, underscoring His direct, omnipotent involvement. The Hebrew word for "opened" (פָּקַע - paqa‘) suggests bursting forth, breaking open, or cleaving with power, implying an active and miraculous intervention, not a passive seep. It's a sudden, forceful act of creation or transformation. This highlights God's initiative and supreme authority over creation.
- the rock: The Hebrew word צוּר (tsur) refers to a large, firm mass of stone, a boulder, or cliff. In the biblical context, a "rock" can symbolize stability, strength, and a refuge (Psa 18:2). Here, it becomes the unlikely vessel for life-sustaining water, demonstrating God's ability to use any means to provide. It was specifically "the rock" at Horeb/Rephidim (Exod 17) and Kadesh/Meribah (Num 20), emphasizing God's direct interaction with creation to meet human need.
- and water gushed out: The word "water" (מַיִם - mayim) is plural, often signifying abundance. The phrase "gushed out" (also derived from paqa‘, as "opened") reinforces the idea of an uncontrolled, powerful flow. This wasn't a trickle but a forceful discharge, implying ample provision beyond mere subsistence for a multitude, demonstrating divine abundance and generosity.
- it flowed: The verb "flowed" (הָלְכוּ - haləḵû) in the Hebrew is the common verb "to go" or "to walk," used metaphorically here for the steady, continuous movement of the water. Unlike "gushed out" which is instantaneous, "flowed" implies continuity and sustenance over time, essential for the desert journey.
- in the desert: The Hebrew word for "desert" (צִיָּה - tziyyah) refers to a dry, parched, desolate land, lacking water and vegetation. It epitomizes a place of hardship and death. The contrast between this barren environment and the flowing water highlights the miraculous nature of God's provision and His ability to bring life to the most impossible situations. It also served as a constant reminder of their absolute dependence on God.
- like a river: The Hebrew word נָהָר (nahar) for "river" signifies a large, permanent body of flowing water. In the Middle East, rivers are synonymous with life, fertility, and prosperity. Describing the water in the desert as "like a river" emphasizes not just the volume of water but also its consistent availability and life-giving capacity, mirroring a sustained, reliable source of refreshment in an otherwise deadly environment. This imagery goes beyond mere survival, painting a picture of overwhelming provision.
- "He opened the rock... it flowed in the desert like a river": This phrase encapsulates God's mastery over nature. He transforms a symbol of barrenness (rock, desert) into a symbol of abundant life (gushing water, river). It presents a stark polemic against pagan deities often tied to localized natural phenomena or requiring human sacrifice. The God of Israel provides freely and miraculously out of His own power, without limitations or preconditions based on human effort, simply by commanding the physical world. This miraculous intervention also served to distinguish Yahweh as the unique and all-sufficient God to both Israel and surrounding nations.
Psalm 105 41 Bonus section
The spiritual interpretation of this event is paramount. 1 Corinthians 10:4 reveals that "the rock was Christ," indicating that the physical provision of water was a foreshadowing of the spiritual provision found in Jesus Christ. Just as the rock was struck to give life, Christ was "struck" (crucified) to provide "living water" (John 7:38) for eternal spiritual thirst. The repeated miracle of water from the rock across the wilderness journey underscores God's persistent grace despite Israel's frequent complaining and disobedience. This consistent provision served to demonstrate that God’s covenant promises were always more steadfast than human failings. The imagery of a river in the desert also foreshadows eschatological visions of abundant life and blessing flowing from God (Ezek 47, Rev 22), transforming the desolate into flourishing landscapes.
Psalm 105 41 Commentary
Psalm 105:41 is a succinct yet profound declaration of God's faithful and miraculous provision for His people in their desperate need. It draws directly from the Exodus narrative (Exod 17:6, Num 20:11), highlighting how God met a fundamental necessity—water—in the most challenging circumstances of the parched desert. The language used, such as "gushed out" and "like a river," underscores the abundant nature of this provision, far exceeding a mere trickle necessary for survival. This divine act demonstrated God's covenant loyalty, His omnipotence over creation, and His capacity to bring life from barrenness. It served as a historical foundation for Israel's trust in Him, a reminder that the Lord is their unceasing source of life and sustenance, capable of performing the impossible. The miracle wasn't just about water; it was about the continuous demonstration of God's active presence and care, echoing into the New Testament where Christ is identified as the spiritual Rock from whom living water flows. This verse encourages believers to remember God's past faithfulness when facing present "deserts" and to trust in His inexhaustible supply.