Psalms 78:25
in Psalms 78Man ate the bread of angels; He sent them food in abundance.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Man did eat the bread of the mighty: He sent them food to the full.
KJV
Man did eat angels’ food: he sent them meat to the full.
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This verse in Psalms 78
Commentary
11 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Man did eat angels’ food - Food that came from heaven; food so directly and manifestly from heaven that it might be supposed to be the same kind that was eaten there, and that had now been sent down by a special miracle for man; food so delicate and so free from the ordinary coarse properties of food, that it might be supposed to be such as angels feed on. The word rendered “angels” - אביר 'abbı̂yr - means properly “strong, mighty,” and may be applied to people in general, Jdg 5:22; Lam 1:15; Jer 46:15; to animals, Psa 22:13 (“bulls of Bashan”); to princes, Psa 68:31; or to nobles, Job 24:22. It might be rendered here food of nobles, or princes; that is, food of richer quality, or of a more delicate nature, than common food; such as nobles or princes have on their tables. The immediate connection, however, would rather seem to demand the rendering in our version, as the food is said to have come down from heaven. It is rendered food of angels in the Septuagint, in the Latin Vulgate, in the ancient versions generally, and also by Luther. DeWette renders it, “Each one ate the food of princes;” that is, they all lived like princes. He sent them meat to the full - Food to satisfy; or, as much as they wanted.
This site's exposition
He commanded the clouds above
on Psalms 78:23-29
The doubt is answered with the gift, manna rained down, grain from heaven, the bread of angels. An east wind and a south wind brought meat like dust and birds like the sand of the sea. They ate and were filled with what they craved.
This site's exposition
Man ate the bread of angels
Barnes said the Hebrew for angels here means the mighty ones, a word used of princes and even of bulls. Clarke called the bread food for the tables of the great. He also followed Paul, who calls it spiritual food in 1 Corinthians 10:3.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
Let us turn back to the one who performed these miracles. He is himself the bread that came down from heaven; but bread that nourishes and never diminishes; bread that can be eaten but cannot be eaten up. This bread was also signified by manna, of which it was said, "He gave them the bread of heaven; people ate the bread of angels. Who can the bread of heaven be, but Christ? But for people to eat the bread of angels, the Lord of angels became a human being. Because if he had not become this, we would not have his flesh; if we did not have his flesh, we would not eat the bread of the altar.
This is where you are going; the same one is the way by which you are going. You do not go through one thing to something else; you do not come through something else to Christ. You come through Christ to Christ. How through Christ to Christ? Through Christ the man to Christ the God, through the Word made flesh to the Word which in the beginning was God with God, from that which people ate to that which every day the angels eat. For so it was written, "He gave them the bread of heaven; people ate the bread of the angels." Who is the bread of angels? "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." How did people eat the bread of angels? "And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us."
Lastly, when both these things have been briefly touched, afterwards he is evidently following out the order of the narrative. "Because they believed not in God, nor hoped in His saving health." For when he had told why fire was lighted in Jacob, and anger went up upon Israel, that is to say, "because they believed not in God, nor hoped in His saving health:" immediately subjoining the evident blessings for which they were ungrateful, he saith, "and He commanded the clouds above, and opened the doors of Heaven." "And He rained upon them manna to eat, and gave them bread of Heaven." "Bread of angels man did eat: dainties He sent them in abundance." "He brought over the South Wind from Heaven, and in His virtue He led in the South West Wind." "And He rained upon them fleshes like dust, and winged fowls like the sand of the sea." "And they fell in the midst of their camp, around their tabernacles." "And they ate and were filled exceedingly; and their desire He brought to them: they were not deprived of their desire." Behold why He had delayed. But what He had delayed let us hear. "Yet the morsel was in their mouths, and the anger of God came down upon them." Behold what He had delayed. For before "He delayed:" and afterwards, "fire was lighted in Jacob and anger went up upon Israel." He had delayed therefore in order that He might first do what they had believed that He could not do, and then might bring upon them what they deserved to suffer. For if they placed their hope in God, not only would their desires of the flesh but also those of the spirit have been fulfilled. […]
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Man did eat angels' food,....
God, who has the key of the clouds, opened the doors of heaven, and that is more than opening the windows, which yet is spoken of as a great blessing, Mal. iii. To all that by faith and prayer ask, seek, and knock, these doors shall at any time be opened; for the God of heaven is rich in mercy to all that call upon him.
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
Man did eat angel's food. The delicacies of kings were outdone, for the dainties of angels were supplied. Bread of the mighty ones fell on feeble man. Those who are lower than the angels fared as well. It was not for the priests, or the princes, that the manna fell; but for all the nation, for every man, woman, and child in the camp: and there was sufficient for them all, for he sent them meat to the full. God's banquets are never stinted; he gives the best diet, and plenty of it. Gospel provisions deserve every praise that we can heap upon them; they are free, full, and preeminent; they are of God's preparing, sending, and bestowing. He is well fed whom God feeds; heaven's meat is nourishing and plentiful. If we have ever fed upon Jesus we have tasted better than angel's food; for It will be our wisdom to eat to the full of it, for God has so sent it that we are not straitened in him, but in our own bowels. Happy pilgrims who in the desert have their meat sent from the Lord's own palace above; let them eat abundantly of the celestial banquet, and magnify the all sufficient grace which supplies all their needs, according to His riches in glory, by Christ Jesus.
Man did eat angel's food. The delicacies of kings were outdone, for the dainties of angels were supplied. Bread of the mighty ones fell on feeble man. Those who are lower than the angels fared as well. It was not for the priests, or the princes, that the manna fell; but for all the nation, for every man, woman, and child in the camp: and there was sufficient for them all, for he sent them meat to the full. God's banquets are never stinted; he gives the best diet, and plenty of it.
Man did eat angels’ food - לחם אבירים אכל איש lechem abbirim achal ish, “Man did eat the bread of the mighty ones;” or, each person ate, etc. They ate such bread as could only be expected at the tables of the rich and great, the best, the most delicate food. How little did this gross people know of the sublime excellence of that which they called light bread, and which they said their soul loathed; Num 21:5! It was a type of Jesus Christ for so says St. Paul: “They all ate the same spiritual meat, and drank the same spiritual drink,” etc., 1Co 10:3, 1Co 10:4. And our Lord calls himself “the bread that came down from heaven, that giveth life unto the world,” Joh 6:31-35: but a Jew sees nothing but with the eyes of flesh. It is true their doctors or rabbins are full of allegories, mysteries, and conceits; but they are, in general, such as would disgrace the Cabinet des Fees, and would not be tolerated in the nursery. O, how thick a veil hangs over their gross and hardened hearts.
The words behind it
8 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| לֶ֣חֶם | lechem | bread of | H3899 → | 298 times |
| אַ֭בִּירִים | ʾabirim | mighty [ones] | H47 → | 17 times |
| אָ֣כַל | ʾakhal | he ate | H398 → | 810 times |
| אִ֑ישׁ | ʾish | everyone | H376 → | 1663 times |
| צֵידָ֬ה | tzeidah | food | H6720 → | |
| שָׁלַ֖ח | shalach | he sent | H7971 → | 845 times |
| לָהֶ֣ם | lahem | to them | ||
| לָשֹֽׂבַע׃ | lasoa' | to satiety | H7648 → |
לֶ֣חֶםbread of
lechemH3899 →298 times
אַ֭בִּירִיםmighty [ones]
ʾabirimH47 →17 times
אָ֣כַלhe ate
ʾakhalH398 →810 times
אִ֑ישׁeveryone
ʾishH376 →1663 times
צֵידָ֬הfood
tzeidahH6720 →
שָׁלַ֖חhe sent
shalachH7971 →845 times
לָהֶ֣םto them
lahem
לָשֹֽׂבַע׃to satiety
lasoa'H7648 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 103:20Bless the LORD, all His angels mighty in strength who carry out His word, who hearken to the voice of His command.
it leads to
- Hebrews 1:14
Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
- Psalms 148:2
Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His heavenly hosts.
- Luke 1:19
“I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
- Matthew 26:53
Are you not aware that I can call on My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?
- Luke 2:13–14
And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying:
- Hebrews 1:14
Through
Exodus 16:8And Moses added, “The LORD will give you meat to eat this evening and bread to fill you in the morning, for He has heard your grumbling against Him. Who are we? Your grumblings…
it leads to
- Romans 13:2
Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
- 1 Samuel 8:7
And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as…
- Romans 13:2
Through
Matthew 14:20They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
it leads to
- Exodus 16:12
“I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the…
- Exodus 16:12
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies13
On this verse
About Psalms

This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments; Augustine of Hippo, SERMON 130:2; Augustine of Hippo, TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 13:4.2; Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 78; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 3; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Psalms; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.
