Psalm 78 27

Psalm 78:27 kjv

He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:

Psalm 78:27 nkjv

He also rained meat on them like the dust, Feathered fowl like the sand of the seas;

Psalm 78:27 niv

He rained meat down on them like dust, birds like sand on the seashore.

Psalm 78:27 esv

he rained meat on them like dust, winged birds like the sand of the seas;

Psalm 78:27 nlt

He rained down meat as thick as dust ?
birds as plentiful as the sand on the seashore!

Psalm 78 verses

Psalm 78 27 Meaning

Psalm 78:27 describes God's miraculous provision of food to the Israelites in the wilderness. It portrays an astounding abundance of "meat," specifically referring to feathered fowl (quail), supplied in such vast quantities that it was as common as dust and as innumerable as the sand on the seashores. This illustrates the boundless power and immediate generosity of God in meeting the desires, and at times, the demanding cravings, of His people, despite their inherent rebelliousness and lack of trust.

Psalm 78 27 Context

Psalm 78 is a maskil, a didactic or instructional psalm, recounting the history of Israel from the Exodus to the time of David. Its primary purpose is to teach the lessons of God's enduring faithfulness despite Israel's recurrent disobedience, stubbornness, and lack of faith. Verse 27 specifically refers to the episode of the miraculous provision of quails during the wilderness wandering, a key event demonstrating God's power and provision, first recorded in Exodus 16 and expanded upon with greater detail and consequences in Numbers 11. The preceding verses (78:17-26) describe Israel's tempting God by demanding food, even doubting His ability to provide meat after He had given them manna. Thus, verse 27 highlights God's immediate and abundant response to their desires, even as it sets the stage for the narrative's continued theme of Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness and the resulting divine discipline that often accompanied such provision given in the face of murmuring.

Psalm 78 27 Word analysis

• He: Refers to Yahweh, the God of Israel. It emphasizes the singular, divine source of this extraordinary event. It signifies direct, supernatural agency.
• rained: The Hebrew word is מָטַר (matar), which means to cause rain or to send down from the sky. It specifically denotes a precipitation event, but in this divine context, it transcends ordinary weather, indicating a miraculous showering down from heaven, a deliberate act of God's power. This contrasts with natural occurrences.
• meat: The Hebrew term is שְׁאֵר (sh'er), which generally means flesh, typically referring to the edible portion of an animal. In the context of the wilderness account, it refers specifically to the quails provided.
• upon them: Refers to the Israelites who were complaining and demanding meat during their Exodus journey through the wilderness. It pinpoints the recipients of this divine act.
• like dust: The Hebrew is כֶּעָפָר (kə'aphār). The word 'aphār' means dust, powder, or dry earth. The comparative 'kə-' means "like" or "as." This vivid simile emphasizes an immense, almost incomprehensible quantity. It suggests the meat literally covered the ground, indicating commonness and superfluity, as dust is everywhere. It is a hyperbole to underscore abundance.
• feathered fowl: The Hebrew is עוֹף כָּנָף ('oph kānāph), literally "bird of wing" or "winged creature." This clearly identifies the type of "meat" provided. The specification highlights it as flying creatures, consistent with the description of quails being blown in by the wind from the sea.
• like the sand of the seas: The Hebrew is כְּחוֹל יַמִּים (kəḥôl yammîm). 'Ḥôl' is sand, and 'yammîm' are seas. This is another powerful hyperbolic simile, echoing ancient Near Eastern expressions for immeasurable numbers. It reinforces the idea of boundless quantity, paralleling "like dust," making the provision appear limitless to the human eye. This emphasizes that God's resources are not bound by human limitations or scarcity.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "He rained meat upon them": This phrase highlights God's direct, active, and miraculous involvement in providing the specific food (meat) that the Israelites had craved. It signifies His divine response to their situation.
• "like dust, feathered fowl": This grouping first quantifies the supply through a hyperbole of commonness ("like dust") and then clarifies the type of provision ("feathered fowl"). This shows both the incredible volume and the specific nature of the sustenance provided by God.
• "like the sand of the seas": This final phrase reiterates and intensifies the hyperbole of abundance already established by "like dust." It uses a second, equally potent, and common ancient idiom for an unquantifiable multitude, impressing upon the reader the overwhelming scale of God's provision. Together, these similes underscore God's limitless power and the astounding magnitude of His grace and ability to give.

Psalm 78 27 Bonus section

The double hyperbole ("like dust" and "like the sand of the seas") used to describe the quantity of the feathered fowl serves not only to emphasize abundance but also echoes the Abrahamic covenant promises where descendants would be "as the dust of the earth" (Gen 13:16) and "as the sand which is on the seashore" (Gen 22:17). This subtle connection within the Psalm could implicitly remind the Israelites that the God who provided them in the wilderness with such overwhelming material blessing was the same God who faithfully promised to multiply their ancestors and was capable of fulfilling all His covenants. The divine provision of food thus symbolically links to the larger covenant narrative, demonstrating God's faithful character and immense power to sustain life and fulfill promises, regardless of circumstances or the people's faithlessness. This immense, even excessive, supply points to God's immediate responsiveness to His people's cry, though later, in the same context, it serves as a basis for the subsequent divine judgment when their craving turned into covetousness.

Psalm 78 27 Commentary

Psalm 78:27 succinctly captures a pivotal moment of divine provision in Israel's wilderness journey. It is a testament to God's profound capacity to provide, even lavishly, for His people, even when their requests stem from distrust or a longing for fleshly gratification rather than humble dependence. The language employed— "rained," "like dust," "like the sand of the seas"—elevates the provision beyond mere natural phenomenon, pointing to a supernatural, overwhelming act of God. It highlights the vast, inexhaustible resources of the Creator who is able to provide beyond human comprehension or expectation. While it undeniably showcases God's power and generosity, the broader context of Psalm 78 (and Numbers 11) implies a nuanced message: sometimes God provides exactly what is asked for, not just as a blessing, but also as a demonstration of their misplaced desires or as part of a process leading to spiritual consequence. The very abundance could expose their greed.

• Example for practical usage: When we feel overwhelmed by seemingly insurmountable needs or desires, Psalm 78:27 reminds us of God's limitless power and ability to provide. Just as He "rained meat like dust," He is capable of exceeding our expectations. However, it also subtly prompts introspection: are our cravings driven by faith and dependence, or by murmuring and distrust that could lead to spiritual "leanness"?