and he rained down on them manna to eat and gave them the grain of heaven.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "corn of heaven" highlights the manna as a unique provision, not just food from the sky, but a kind of grain that defied natural explanation. This detail elevates the miracle beyond simple sustenance, underscoring God's deliberate and wondrous provision for His people.
and he rained down on them manna to eat and gave them the grain of heaven.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm is looking back at Israel's history, specifically their time in the wilderness after escaping Egypt. The psalmist is reminding the people of all the amazing things God did for them, even when they repeatedly grumbled and doubted. This verse highlights God's miraculous provision of manna, a special food that rained down from the sky to sustain them.
Did you know that the food God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness was meant to be more than just sustenance? It was a profound sign pointing to something greater.
The verse describes God raining down manna, calling it 'the grain of heaven.' This wasn't just ordinary food; it was a divine provision, a daily miracle.
A Heavenly Miracle
The commentators highlight that 'grain of heaven' refers to the manna that fell directly from the sky. It was a constant reminder that God was actively sustaining His people, even in the harshness of the desert. This miraculous sustenance was meant to be a tangible sign of God's faithfulness and His power to provide.
Symbol of Divine Provision
This heavenly bread served a dual purpose: it fed their bodies, but it was also intended to feed their faith. By providing something so extraordinary, God was demonstrating His ability to meet every need. It was a gift, a sign of His presence and care, pointing beyond the immediate to His ultimate plan for them.
Even with daily miracles falling from the sky, the Israelites often grumbled and complained. What does this teach us about our own tendency towards ingratitude?
While Psalm 78:24 celebrates God's incredible provision, the broader context of this psalm reveals a heartbreaking pattern of Israelite unfaithfulness. Despite the daily manna, they frequently longed for the 'dainty foods' of Egypt, forgetting the source of their current sustenance.
A Pattern of Discontent
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The commentators point out that the Israelites' complaints, even while eating the manna, were a serious offense. They were receiving 'bread of the mighty' – food fit for angels – yet their hearts remained fixed on earthly comforts. This ingratitude was not a minor oversight; it was a deep-seated rebellion against God's goodness.
Present Blessings, Past Faithlessness
The psalm uses the manna as a stark example of how present blessings can be overshadowed by a lack of faith and a longing for what's been left behind. This shows us that God's provision is often met with human forgetfulness and discontent, a spiritual hazard we must guard against.
Understand the original words
man · Hebrew Noun
The miraculous food provided by God to the Israelites in the wilderness. It represents God’s gracious, daily sustenance and His direct provision for His people.
dagan shamayim · Hebrew Noun Phrase
A reference to the sustenance God provided from above. The phrase signifies that the provision was not merely earthly but originated from the direct intervention of God.
Psalm 78 recounts Israel's history as a lesson, highlighting God's faithful provision of manna in the wilderness. This divine 'bread of heaven' was a tangible sign of His care, yet the people's repeated grumbling and forgetfulness underscored their deep ingratitude, a theme the psalm emphasizes for later generations.
c. 1440 BC
Israelites leave Egypt
After centuries of slavery, the Israelites, led by Moses, were miraculously freed from Egyptian bondage, marking the beginning of their journey toward the Promised Land.
c. 1440 BC— this verse
Manna and Quail provided in the Wilderness
During their arduous journey through the Sinai wilderness, the Israelites frequently complained about hunger. God responded by miraculously providing manna, a fine, flaky substance, and quail, to sustain them.
c. 1440-1400 BC
Forty Years of Wilderness Wandering
Due to their persistent unbelief and rebellion, the Israelites wandered in the Sinai desert for forty years. During this time, God continued to provide for their physical needs, including the daily manna.
c. 1400 BC
Israel enters the Promised Land
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites finally crossed the Jordan River and began the conquest of Canaan, the land promised to Abraham and his descendants.
c. 1000 BC - 500 BC
Composition of the Psalter
Psalms, including Psalm 78, were composed and compiled over centuries, reflecting Israel's history, theology, and worship, often in light of later national experiences like the divided kingdom and exile.
This passage directly describes God's provision of manna, referred to as 'bread from heaven,' mirroring the 'corn of heaven' mentioned in Psalms 78:24 and highlighting God's miraculous sustenance for His people.
John 6:31Jesus refers to the manna as 'bread from heaven,' connecting it to Himself as the true spiritual nourishment, which deepens the understanding of the manna in Psalms 78:24 as a physical precursor to a greater divine provision.
Nehemiah 9:15This prayer recounts God's provision of 'bread from heaven' for His people, echoing the language of Psalms 78:24 and underscoring the historical memory of God's miraculous sustenance in the wilderness.
Psalm 105:40This psalm also recalls God raining down manna, calling it 'grain of heaven,' which provides a parallel testimony to the event described in Psalms 78:24 and emphasizes God's faithfulness in providing for Israel.
clarkePsalms 78:24: "And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven."
The corn of heaven - The manna. It fell about their camp in the form of seeds; and as it appeared to come down from the clouds, it was not improperly termed heavenly corn, or heavenly grain, דגן שמים degan shamayim. The word shamayim is frequently taken to express the atmosphere.
expositorsPsalms 78:1-72: "Maschil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth."
Psalm 78:1-72 THIS psalm is closely related to Psalm 105:1-45 ; Psalm 106:1-48 ; Psalm 107:1-43 . Like them, it treats the history of Israel, and especially the Exodus and wilderness wanderings, for purposes of edification, rebuke, and encouragement. The past is held up as a mirror to the present generation. It has been one long succession of miracles of mercy met by equally continu…
The phrase "corn of heaven" highlights the manna as a unique provision, not just food from the sky, but a kind of grain that defied natural explanation. This detail elevates the miracle beyond simple sustenance, underscoring God's deliberate and wondrous provision for His people.
This psalm is looking back at Israel's history, specifically their time in the wilderness after escaping Egypt. The psalmist is reminding the people of all the amazing things God did for them, even when they repeatedly grumbled and doubted. This verse highlights God's miraculous provision of manna, a special food that rained down from the sky to sustain them.
This psalm is looking back at Israel's history, specifically their time in the wilderness after escaping Egypt. The psalmist is reminding the people of all the amazing things God did for them, even when they repeatedly grumbled and doubted. This verse highlights God's miraculous provision of manna, a special food that rained down from the sky to sustain them.
"and he rained down on them manna to eat and gave them the grain of heaven." — The phrase "corn of heaven" highlights the manna as a unique provision, not just food from the sky, but a kind of grain that defied natural explanation. This detail elevates the miracle beyond simple…
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Last reviewed October 2026