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Psalm 105:39

He spread a cloud for a covering, fire to give light in the night.

37He brought them out with silver and gold. There was not one feeble person among his tribes.
38Egypt was glad when they departed, for the fear of them had fallen on them.
39He spread a cloud for a covering, fire to give light in the night.
40They asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of the sky.
41He opened the rock, and waters gushed out. They ran as a river in the dry places.
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← Psalm 105:38Psalm 105:40 →
Notice

A cloud spread overhead and fire shining at night make God's care tangible in Israel's story, down to shelter and light.

Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.

What difference does it make that the cloud is described here as a covering?

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How does God's provision of light after Israel left Egypt shape your thoughts about needing help?

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Connect

Where else Scripture says this

10 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.

This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Exodus 13:21The LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them on their way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, that they might go by …Both passages recall God's cloud and fire, with Exodus describing guidance and the psalm naming covering and light.
Nehemiah 9:12Moreover, in a pillar of cloud you led them by day; and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light in the way in which they should go.Both recall the cloud and the fire through which God cared for Israel, including light for their way at night.
Psalm 78:14In the daytime he also led them with a cloud, and all night with a light of fire.Both psalms remember God's provision of cloud and fire, with fire supplying light through the night.
Isaiah 4:5The LORD will create over the whole habitation of Mount Zion and over her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night, for …Both texts describe cloud, fire, and covering, though Isaiah speaks of what God will create over Mount Zion.
Exodus 14:24In the morning watch, the LORD looked out on the Egyptian army through the pillar of fire and of cloud, and confused the Egyptian army.Cloud and fire appear in both accounts: the psalm describes provision for Israel, while Exodus describes God confusing Egypt's army.
Nehemiah 9:19yet you in your manifold mercies didn’t forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud didn’t depart from over them by day, to lead them in the way; …Both recall God's cloud over Israel and fire at night; Nehemiah names their continued presence as evidence of his mercy.
1 Corinthians 10:1Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;Paul remembers Israel's ancestors under the cloud, while the psalm remembers God spreading that cloud as a covering.
Exodus 40:38For the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their …Both recall cloud and nighttime fire among Israel, with Exodus locating them on the tabernacle in the people's sight.
Numbers 10:34The cloud of the LORD was over them by day, when they set forward from the camp.Both describe God's cloud over Israel, with Numbers placing it above them as they set out from camp.
Numbers 9:15–22On the day that the tabernacle was raised up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, even the Tent of the Testimony. At evening it was over the tabernacle, as it …Both describe a covering cloud and fire at night; Numbers specifies the cloud covering the tabernacle.
Where this verse fits

Fear for the future. gratitude. praise and worship.

What the Bible says about fear →What the Bible says about gratitude →What the Bible says about worship →
One step

Something small to carry out of this verse

Compare the cloud here with Exodus 13:21

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Encouragement

Israel's night still needed light after the escape from Egypt. God provided it: the same account that remembers deliverance also remembers his care along the way.

Now put it in your words.

Start an entry on Psalm 105:39. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.

Keep goingPsalm 105 · the whole chapter with its connection mapPsalms · every chapterBuild a reading plan through Psalms

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).