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Psalm 78:21

Therefore the LORD heard, and was angry. A fire was kindled against Jacob, anger also went up against Israel,

19Yes, they spoke against God. They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?
20Behold, he struck the rock, so that waters gushed out, and streams overflowed. Can he give bread also? Will he provide meat for his people?”
21Therefore the LORD heard, and was angry. A fire was kindled against Jacob, anger also went up against Israel,
22because they didn’t believe in God, and didn’t trust in his salvation.
23Yet he commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven.
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← Psalm 78:20Psalm 78:22 →
Notice

Fire against Jacob makes God's anger hard to pass over, as the surrounding lines name distrust after water had flowed from the rock.

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

What troubles you about fire being kindled against the people God had given water?

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How does the stated reason in verse 22 shape your reading of God's anger?

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Connect

Where else Scripture says this

9 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
Numbers 11:1The people were complaining in the ears of the LORD. When the LORD heard it, his anger burned; and the LORD’s fire burned among them, and consumed some of the …Both passages describe the LORD hearing his people, becoming angry, and sending fire against them.
1 Corinthians 10:11Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come.The psalm recounts judgment against Israel; Paul explains that recorded events from the past serve as examples and warnings.
Jude 1:5Now I desire to remind you, though you already know this, that the Lord, having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who didn’t …Both passages describe judgment among God's people, with the psalm's surrounding lines and Jude naming unbelief as the cause.
Numbers 11:10Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, every man at the door of his tent; and the LORD’s anger burned greatly; and Moses was displeased.Both passages describe the LORD's anger burning amid Israel's distress over provision in the wilderness.
Hebrews 12:29for our God is a consuming fire.Fire marks God's judgment in the psalm, while Hebrews describes God himself as a consuming fire.
Deuteronomy 32:22For a fire is kindled in my anger, that burns to the lowest Sheol, devours the earth with its increase, and sets the foundations of the mountains on fire.Both passages speak of fire kindled in connection with God's anger, presenting his judgment as destructive.
Psalm 78:31when the anger of God went up against them, killed some of their strongest, and struck down the young men of Israel.Both verses describe God's anger rising against Israel; verse 31 names the deaths that followed.
1 Corinthians 10:5However with most of them, God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.Both passages recount God's displeasure with Israel in the wilderness and the judgment his people faced.
Psalm 78:63Fire devoured their young men. Their virgins had no wedding song.Both verses describe fire striking Israel; verse 63 records young men devoured and wedding songs absent.
Where this verse fits

Sermon or Bible study notes. doubt.

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One step

Something small to carry out of this verse

Read Psalm 78:19–23 and note why God was angry

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Encouragement

God's anger here has a stated cause: Israel did not trust his salvation despite his provision. His care for his people does not make unbelief harmless.

Now put it in your words.

Start an entry on Psalm 78:21. 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 78 · 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).