Psalm 78 44

Psalm 78:44 kjv

And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink.

Psalm 78:44 nkjv

Turned their rivers into blood, And their streams, that they could not drink.

Psalm 78:44 niv

He turned their river into blood; they could not drink from their streams.

Psalm 78:44 esv

He turned their rivers to blood, so that they could not drink of their streams.

Psalm 78:44 nlt

For he turned their rivers into blood,
so no one could drink from the streams.

Psalm 78 verses

Psalm 78 44 Meaning

Psalm 78:44 describes one of God's powerful acts of judgment against Egypt, specifically the first plague where the vital water sources were miraculously transformed. God supernaturally turned their rivers, primarily the Nile and its extensive network of tributaries and floods, into blood. This rendered all their water undrinkable, causing severe distress and demonstrating divine sovereignty over life itself and over the very deities the Egyptians worshipped as life-givers. It illustrates God's unchallengeable power and His intervention in history on behalf of His people.

Psalm 78 44 Context

Psalm 78 is a didactic (teaching) psalm that recounts Israel's history from the Exodus to the establishment of the Davidic covenant. Its primary purpose is to instruct future generations about God's faithfulness and Israel's recurrent cycles of rebellion and unbelief despite witnessing divine miracles and judgment. The plagues on Egypt, including the transformation of the Nile, serve as the initial, foundational examples of God's power and righteous judgment, establishing Him as the sovereign Lord. These miraculous acts are juxtaposed with Israel's subsequent ingratitude and disobedience, setting the stage for the psalm's larger message of remembering God's works and trusting in Him. Historically, the turning of the Nile to blood directly challenged the economic and religious backbone of ancient Egypt, whose entire civilization depended on the Nile River and who worshipped various deities associated with its life-giving properties, such as Hapi (god of the Nile flood) and Osiris (god of the underworld and fertility). This act underscored Yahweh's supreme authority over life and death, even over their most sacred gods.

Psalm 78 44 Word analysis

• And turned (הָפַךְ - hāphaḵ): This Hebrew verb signifies a radical transformation or reversal, to overturn, to change completely. It indicates not a mere discoloration or a drying up, but an active, supernatural re-composition of the water into blood. The sudden and complete nature of this transformation emphasizes God's immediate and total control over the very fabric of creation, challenging natural laws.
• their rivers (יְאֹרֵיהֶם - yə’ōrêhem): The term ye'or (singular of yə’ōrêhem) specifically refers to the Nile River, Egypt's lifeline and the perceived source of its prosperity and sustenance. To "turn their rivers into blood" signifies a targeted judgment on Egypt's most precious and central resource, which was also revered as a deity by the Egyptians. It's an attack on their economic and theological foundations, asserting Yahweh's dominion over what they held sacred.
• into blood (דָּם - dām): Blood here denotes impurity, death, and defilement according to Levitical law (e.g., blood is forbidden for consumption). More broadly, it symbolizes the loss of life, pestilence, and judgment. For the Egyptians, the life-giving waters turning into something associated with death and corruption was horrifying and existentially threatening, turning their very means of survival into a source of demise. It was not just a symbol but a tangible, odorous reality of death (Exo 7:21).
• and their floods (וְנֹזְלֵיהֶם - wənōzəlêhem): This refers to flowing streams, canals, and other watery outflows from the Nile, signifying the comprehensive and pervasive nature of the plague. It emphasizes that all accessible water became undrinkable, affecting not just the main river but its entire circulatory system throughout the land. This indicates no escape from the judgment, covering both surface waters and likely groundwater used for consumption.
• that they could not drink (לֹא יִשְׁתּוּן - lō’ yištûn): This phrase highlights the immediate and practical consequence: utter thirst and the impossibility of hydration. The denial of the most basic human need underscored the severity of the plague and the vulnerability of the Egyptians. It was a tangible suffering that impacted every aspect of daily life, driving home the reality of God's judgment and power over even the fundamental elements of life.

Words-group Analysis:

• "turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink": This entire phrase encapsulates the first plague's destructive and comprehensive impact. It paints a picture of complete natural and economic upheaval, orchestrated by God. The direct and unavoidable suffering of the Egyptians, denied the most basic necessity for survival, powerfully communicates Yahweh's supremacy over life, nature, and the false gods revered by a powerful empire. It serves as a stark reminder within Psalm 78 of God's initial demonstrations of power to Israel, contrasting with their subsequent lack of faith.

Psalm 78 44 Bonus section

The transformation of water into blood (Exo 7:14-25) was more than a disruptive event; it bore profound symbolic and theological weight. In addition to being an attack on Egyptian gods, it highlighted a crucial contrast: the very blood of Passover (Exo 12) was applied for life and deliverance for Israel, while the Nile's transformation into blood brought death and judgment to Egypt. This reversal underscored the different covenant relationships. Furthermore, the ability of the Egyptian magicians to replicate the turning of water into blood on a smaller scale (Exo 7:22) did not diminish the impact of God's plague but intensified the crisis, showing that they could add to the misery but not alleviate it, confirming the unparalleled power of the God of Israel who caused the initial widespread affliction. This plague foreshadows the future judgments mentioned in Revelation, where water also turns to blood, serving as a timeless sign of divine wrath and ultimate sovereignty over life.

Psalm 78 44 Commentary

Psalm 78:44 succinctly describes the first of the ten plagues that God brought upon Egypt, an event pivotal in Israel's history of redemption. This verse, presented within the psalm's recounting of God's mighty acts, focuses on the Nile River—Egypt's very lifeline. The act of "turning their rivers into blood" was a direct, irrefutable display of Yahweh's sovereignty. The Nile was not merely a source of water and fertility; it was central to Egyptian religion and was even deified. By corrupting the river into a substance of death and defilement, God launched a polemic against the false gods of Egypt, particularly Hapi and Osiris, demonstrating their impotence against the one true God.

The phrase "that they could not drink" highlights the immediate, existential impact. Water, fundamental for survival, became a source of horror and suffering. This miracle was not subtle; it transformed the very nature of the element, illustrating God's complete power over creation. In the broader narrative of Psalm 78, this specific act serves as an early, profound example of God's faithfulness and power toward His people, contrasting sharply with Israel's persistent unbelief despite witnessing such astounding interventions. It calls later generations to remember God's awesome deeds and to respond with faithful obedience, unlike their forefathers. The significance extends beyond physical judgment; it teaches that life's very essentials are entirely at God's disposal, challenging human self-sufficiency and reliance on anything other than the Almighty.