Psalm 78 29

Psalm 78:29 kjv

So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;

Psalm 78:29 nkjv

So they ate and were well filled, For He gave them their own desire.

Psalm 78:29 niv

They ate till they were gorged? he had given them what they craved.

Psalm 78:29 esv

And they ate and were well filled, for he gave them what they craved.

Psalm 78:29 nlt

The people ate their fill.
He gave them what they craved.

Psalm 78 verses

Psalm 78 29 Meaning

Psalm 78:29 describes the outcome of God's abundant provision for the Israelites in the wilderness. After complaining and craving meat, the Lord gave them vast quantities of quail, enough to satisfy them completely. The verse highlights that God granted their deep craving or "desire," yet as the broader context of the psalm and other scriptures show, this fulfillment was not purely a blessing but a divine act revealing their sinful discontent and leading to a subsequent judgment.

Psalm 78 29 Context

Psalm 78 is an historical psalm recounting God's faithful acts toward Israel from the Exodus through their settlement in Canaan, and in stark contrast, Israel's repeated rebellion, unfaithfulness, and ingratitude. Verse 29 is embedded within a section (Ps 78:17-31) that specifically details the wilderness wandering, focusing on Israel's complaints about food despite God providing manna. They "tested God in their heart by asking food according to their desire" (Ps 78:18), rejecting His provision of manna. In response, God supernaturally brought an abundance of quail, as detailed in the verses immediately preceding Ps 78:29. This verse marks the peak of God's response to their craving, providing meat in extraordinary quantity, which directly sets up the immediate judgment described in the subsequent verses (Ps 78:30-31), where "the fattest of them were cut off." Historically, this refers to the incident at Kibroth-hattaavah (Num 11), "the graves of craving," where those who indulged in their lust were struck down. The cultural context is that of a nomadic people who were being divinely sustained in a barren wilderness, yet their lack of faith led them to despise God's miraculous provision.

Psalm 78 29 Word analysis

• So they ate: (וַיֹּאכְלוּ - vayyokhlû, from אָכַל - akhal) Indicates a straightforward act of consuming food. In the narrative, this highlights the fulfillment of their craving for meat.
• and were well filled: (וַיִּשְׂבָּעוּ - vayyiśbā‘û, from שָׂבַע - sava‘) Denotes being completely satisfied, even to the point of satiation or excess. This is not just eating but being "stuffed." The implication here, especially given the context of a negative "desire," is not merely contentedness but overindulgence, highlighting the massive quantity of the provision and their unbridled consumption.
• for he granted them: (וַיָּבֵא - vayyavê’, from בּוֹא - bo, Hiphil) Literally, "and he brought" or "he caused to come." This signifies a direct, active divine intervention. God himself brought their desired food, emphasizing His sovereign power and immediate response to their demands.
• their own desire: (תַּאֲוָתָם - ta'avatam, from תַּאֲוָה - ta'avah) This is a crucial term. While it can simply mean "desire," in many biblical contexts, especially when associated with God's provision or Israel's rebellion, it carries the negative connotation of "craving," "lust," "inordinate appetite," or "passionate longing for something forbidden or inappropriate" (e.g., Num 11:4). Here, it refers to the fleshly craving for meat that superseded their trust in God's daily manna. The addition of "their own" emphasizes the personal, self-driven nature of this desire, distinguishing it from a righteous hunger.

Words-group analysis:

• So they ate and were well filled: This phrase vividly portrays the abundant nature of God's provision. He didn't just give them a little; He gave them more than enough, demonstrating His capacity to answer even unreasonable demands. It sets the stage for the dramatic irony where their desired fullness becomes part of their downfall.
• for he granted them their own desire: This highlights divine irony. God, in His sovereignty, provided exactly what they intensely craved. However, this granting was not an endorsement of their desire but an accommodation that exposed their spiritual malady and allowed their lust to run its course, leading to divine judgment. It emphasizes God's direct involvement in their historical experience, fulfilling even their unhealthy wants.

Psalm 78 29 Bonus section

The concept of God "giving them their desire" is echoed elsewhere in Scripture, often with a negative connotation, indicating a form of judgment where people are allowed to pursue their lusts, ultimately leading to their own ruin. This serves as a warning that not all answered prayers or fulfilled desires are expressions of divine favor; some may be a judicial allowing of a sinful course to run its destructive path, or a demonstration that God is indeed able to grant desires, but doing so exposes a deeper heart issue or sets a stage for subsequent lessons. This particular event is foundational for later New Testament warnings about avoiding the sins of Israel in the wilderness, emphasizing the danger of discontentment and the "lust for evil things."

Psalm 78 29 Commentary

Psalm 78:29 culminates the account of God's overwhelming provision of quail for the Israelites in the wilderness. Having tested God by complaining and demanding meat (their "desire" or ta'avah), they were given an extraordinary amount, so much that they "ate and were well filled." This verse showcases God's immense power and His capacity to fulfill even the greedy cravings of His people. However, this act of "granting their own desire" carries a profound, often ironic, theological weight. It was not a sign of pure blessing or divine approval for their faithless grumbling. Instead, it demonstrates God's judicial permission, allowing them to experience the destructive consequences of pursuing their own fleshly cravings over His benevolent and faithful provision (manna). The satisfaction was immediate, but the ensuing judgment (Ps 78:30-31) indicates that receiving one's fervent desire can, in God's wisdom, become a means of divine discipline, revealing the heart's true allegiance and teaching a painful lesson about covetousness and unfaithfulness.