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Psalms 77:17

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 77:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “The clouds poured out water; The skies sent out a sound: Thine arrows also went abroad.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

The clouds poured out water; The skies sent out a sound: Thine arrows also went abroad.
Psalms 77:17 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 77

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
14Thou art the God that doest wonders: Thou hast made known thy strength among the peoples.
15Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
16The waters saw thee, O God; The waters saw thee, they were afraid: The depths also trembled.
17The clouds poured out water; The skies sent out a sound: Thine arrows also went abroad.
18The voice of thy thunder was in the whirlwind; The lightnings lightened the world: The earth trembled and shook.
19Thy way was in the sea, And thy paths in the great waters, And thy footsteps were not known.
20Thou leddest thy people like a flock, By the hand of Moses and Aaron. Psalm 78 Maschil of Asaph.
← Psalms 77:16Psalms 77:18 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The clouds poured out water - Margin, “The clouds were poured forth with water.” The translation in the text is the more correct. This is a description of a storm; but to what particular storm in history does not appear. It was evidently some exhibition of the divine greatness and power in delivering the children of Israel, and may have referred to the extraordinary manifestation of God at Mount Sinai, amidst lightnings, and thunders, and tempests. Exodus 19:16. For a general description of a storm, as illustrating this passage, see Job 36:26-33, notes; Job 37:1-5, notes; and Psalms 29:1-11. The skies sent out a sound - The voice of thunder, which seems to come from the sky. Thine arrows…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Poured - When the Israelites passed over the sea. Arrows - Hail - stones or lightnings. Psalms 77:19”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“poured out like water, Heb. were poured forth with water, Psa 68:8, Psa 68:9 thine: Psa 18:14, Psa 144:6; Sa2 22:15; Hab 3:11 Psalms 77:18”
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Related study paths

Read Psalms 77 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification