Psalm 78:24-29
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The phrase "grain of heaven" isn't just a poetic description; it emphasizes that this manna wasn't earthly produce, but a special provision directly from God's realm, highlighting His power and the Israelites' unique dependence on Him. This celestial sustenance, meant to nourish them, starkly contrasts with their later grumbling, revealing a profound disconnect between divine generosity and human gratitude.
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)
This psalm is recounting Israel's wilderness journey, highlighting God's consistent provision and protection, which was met with persistent grumbling and lack of faith. The narrative emphasizes how God sent manna, a miraculous "grain of heaven," to feed the people, yet they continued to doubt and complain about their circumstances instead of trusting His abundant care.
Imagine waking up in a vast, empty desert with no grocery stores in sight. What would you do? For the Israelites, God provided a daily miracle.
The psalm recalls the incredible event of manna, a food that God rained down daily for the Israelites in the wilderness. This wasn't just any food; it was a direct provision from heaven, described as 'grain of heaven.'
A Miracle for a Need
This incredible provision wasn't just about filling their stomachs; it was a lesson in trust and dependence on God.
Why would the psalmist remind a later generation about manna? It was more than just a historical event; it was a potent symbol.
The remembrance of the manna in Psalm 78 serves as a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and the Israelites' repeated unfaithfulness. It's a call to learn from history.
A Lesson in Gratitude and Obedience
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This historical account is held up to teach later generations to remember God's past faithfulness and to avoid the same patterns of doubt and ingratitude.
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 as a powerful illustration of God's faithfulness, highlighting how this divine 'bread from heaven' was met with Israel's persistent ingratitude and forgetfulness.
c. 1440 BC
Israelites Leave Egypt
Following the Exodus from Egypt and God's miraculous parting of the Red Sea, the Israelites begin their journey into the wilderness of Sinai.
c. 1440 BC— this verse
Manna and Quail Provided
As the Israelites grumble about lack of food in the desert, God "rains down" manna, a fine, flaky substance, and later provides quail, sustaining them miraculously.
c. 1400 BC - 1000 BC
Period of the Judges
This psalm likely reflects on the recurring cycle of Israel's faithfulness and unfaithfulness during the era of the Judges, a time of both divine mercy and national calamity.
c. 1000 BC
David Established as King
The psalm concludes by referencing David's rise to kingship, suggesting it was composed or compiled during or after his reign, looking back on Israel's history.
This passage directly recounts the event of God raining down manna from heaven for the Israelites to eat, mirroring the description in Psalm 78.
John 6:31-32Jesus references the manna given in the wilderness, calling it 'bread from heaven,' and contrasts it with Himself as the true bread of God, highlighting the spiritual significance of the manna.
Nehemiah 9:15This prayer explicitly recalls God providing 'bread from heaven' for His people, linking the manna directly to God's miraculous provision and faithfulness.
Psalm 105:40This Psalm, like Psalm 78, recounts God's faithfulness to Israel, mentioning that He 'also rained down manna for them to eat' and gave them 'grain of heaven,' reinforcing the theme of divine sustenance.
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 "grain of heaven" isn't just a poetic description; it emphasizes that this manna wasn't earthly produce, but a special provision directly from God's realm, highlighting His power and the Israelites' unique dependence on Him. This celestial sustenance, meant to nourish them, starkly contrasts with their later grumbling, revealing a profound disconnect between divine generosity and human gratitude.
This psalm is recounting Israel's wilderness journey, highlighting God's consistent provision and protection, which was met with persistent grumbling and lack of faith. The narrative emphasizes how God sent manna, a miraculous "grain of heaven," to feed the people, yet they continued to doubt and complain about their circumstances instead of trusting His abundant care.
This psalm is recounting Israel's wilderness journey, highlighting God's consistent provision and protection, which was met with persistent grumbling and lack of faith. The narrative emphasizes how God sent manna, a miraculous "grain of heaven," to feed the people, yet they continued to doubt and complain about their circumstances instead of trusting His abundant care.
"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 "grain of heaven" isn't just a poetic description; it emphasizes that this manna wasn't earthly produce, but a special provision directly from God's realm, highlighting His power and the I…
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Last reviewed October 2026
