Psalms 78:24-29
and he rained down on them manna to eat and gave them the grain of heaven. Man ate of the bread of the angels; he sent them food in abundance. He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens, and by his power he led out the south wind; he rained meat on them like dust, winged birds like the sand of the seas; he let them fall in the midst of their camp, all around their dwellings. And they ate and were well filled, for he gave them what they craved.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrase "corn of heaven" isn't just a poetic description; it emphasizes that this food, manna, was extraordinary provision directly from God's domain, meant to highlight Israel's immense privilege and the starkness of their ingratitude for such a divine gift. It signifies more than just food from the sky; it points to sustenance directly bestowed from God's presence, a tangible sign of His direct care.
This psalm is a historical lesson, tracing Israel's journey from the Red Sea through the wilderness, highlighting their repeated failures to trust God despite His miraculous provision. The psalmist emphasizes how Israel's ingratitude and disobedience, even after experiencing incredible acts of God's power like raining down manna, ultimately led to their struggles and judgment. The verse appears within a section detailing God's generosity in the wilderness, contrasted with Israel's constant grumbling and testing of Him.
Imagine waking up in a vast, empty desert and finding your breakfast raining down from the sky. This wasn't just ordinary food; it was a tangible sign of God's presence and power.
The manna, described as both "manna" and "grain of heaven," was a miracle designed to sustain the Israelites physically during their wilderness journey.
A Divine Provision
This heavenly sustenance was a constant reminder that God was their provider, meeting their needs in the most extraordinary way, even when they were in a place of complete dependence.
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Even with a miracle feast provided daily, the Israelites often complained. What does this tell us about human nature and God's perspective?
Psalm 78's purpose is to teach and remind the people of God's faithfulness and their repeated unfaithfulness. The description of the manna isn't just about the miracle itself, but about how it was received.
A Test of Faith
This contrast reveals a core theme: God's provision, however spectacular, is often met with human forgetfulness and ingratitude. The psalm uses this history as a mirror, urging the present generation not to repeat the same patterns of spiritual blindness.
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.
lechem abbirim · Hebrew Noun Phrase
A poetic designation for manna. It emphasizes the supernatural, heavenly origin of the sustenance God provided to His people.
‘ōz · Hebrew Noun
In the biblical worldview, 'power' signifies God’s inherent, sovereign capacity to execute His will and manifest His authority over creation. It emphasizes that no force in the universe can withstand or supersede His command.
šə’ēr · Hebrew Noun
'Meat' in this context refers to animal flesh provided as food. Theologically, it highlights God's provision for physical needs, even when that provision comes in response to human ingratitude or testing.
maḥăneh · Hebrew Noun
A 'camp' refers to the designated place where God’s people gathered, particularly during the wilderness journey. It symbolizes the community of God under His presence, which is often a site of both divine grace and human rebellion.
miškan · Hebrew Noun
'Dwellings' refers to the tents or habitations of the people. It carries the nuance of the place where one rests or lives, representing the space over which individuals exercise stewardship or where they await God's blessing.
ta’ăwâ · Hebrew Noun
'Craving' or 'lust' refers to an intense, often selfish desire for something outside of God’s established order or provision. It denotes a heart condition that prioritizes human appetite over contentment with God’s will.
Psalm 78 uses the miraculous provision of manna in the wilderness not just as a historical event, but as a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness in the face of Israel's repeated forgetfulness and unfaithfulness. The psalm's purpose is to teach future generations, urging them not to repeat the mistakes of their ancestors by remembering God's wonders.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
The Israelites leave Egypt after centuries of slavery, marking the beginning of their journey to the Promised Land.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Manna and Quail Provided
In the wilderness of Sin, God miraculously provides manna for the Israelites to eat, fulfilling their desperate need.
c. 1446 BC
Water from the Rock
At Rephidim, God instructs Moses to strike a rock, from which water flows, sustaining the people and their livestock.
c. 1445 - 1405 BC
Wilderness Wanderings
The Israelites spend forty years wandering in the desert, a period characterized by both God's provision and the people's persistent rebellion and testing of God.
c. 1000 BC
Davidic Kingdom Established
King David unites the tribes and establishes Jerusalem as the capital, a significant moment in Israel's national history.
This passage directly describes God raining down manna, the 'bread from heaven,' just as Psalm 78 recounts, highlighting the miraculous provision for Israel in the wilderness.
John 6:31-35Jesus references the manna as 'bread from heaven,' explaining that He Himself is the true spiritual bread that gives eternal life, connecting the physical provision of the past with a deeper spiritual reality.
1 Corinthians 10:3-4The Apostle Paul explicitly links the manna, referred to as 'spiritual food' and 'spiritual drink,' to Christ, showing how this Old Testament miracle prefigured Christ's role as the sustainer of His people.
Nehemiah 9:15This prayer recounts God's provision of 'bread from heaven' for His people, paralleling Psalm 78's emphasis on God's faithfulness in miraculously feeding the Israelites during their wilderness journey.
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" isn't just a poetic description; it emphasizes that this food, manna, was extraordinary provision directly from God's domain, meant to highlight Israel's immense privilege and the starkness of their ingratitude for such a divine gift. It signifies more than just food from the sky; it points to sustenance directly bestowed from God's presence, a tangible sign of His direct care.
This psalm is a historical lesson, tracing Israel's journey from the Red Sea through the wilderness, highlighting their repeated failures to trust God despite His miraculous provision. The psalmist emphasizes how Israel's ingratitude and disobedience, even after experiencing incredible acts of God's power like raining down manna, ultimately led to their struggles and judgment. The verse appears within a section detailing God's generosity in the wilderness, contrasted with Israel's constant grumbling and testing of Him.
This psalm is a historical lesson, tracing Israel's journey from the Red Sea through the wilderness, highlighting their repeated failures to trust God despite His miraculous provision. The psalmist emphasizes how Israel's ingratitude and disobedience, even after experiencing incredible acts of God's power like raining down manna, ultimately led to their struggles and judgment. The verse appears within a section detailing God's generosity in the wilderness, contrasted with Israel's constant grumbling and testing of Him.
"and he rained down on them manna to eat and gave them the grain of heaven. Man ate of the bread of the angels; he sent them food in abundance. He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens, and by his power he led…" — The phrase "corn of heaven" isn't just a poetic description; it emphasizes that this food, manna, was extraordinary provision directly from God's domain, meant to highlight Israel's immense privilege…
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