Psalm 77:16

ESV When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid; indeed, the deep trembled.

NIV The waters saw you, God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed.

NASB The waters saw You, God; The waters saw You, they were in anguish; The ocean depths also trembled.

CSB The water saw you, God. The water saw you; it trembled. Even the depths shook.

NLT When the Red Sea saw you, O God, its waters looked and trembled! The sea quaked to its very depths.

KJV The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.

NKJV The waters saw You, O God; The waters saw You, they were afraid; The depths also trembled.

What does Psalm 77:16 mean?

Please see our chapter commentary on Psalm 77, verse-level content coming soon!

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Context Summary
Psalm 77:10–20 follows a pattern seen in psalms associated with Asaph. He often begins with a sense of bitterness or despair (Psalm 73:2–3; 74:1–3). Yet he always returns to the truths of God's character and his faith is renewed (Psalm 73:15–18; 74:12–23). In this case, he is so upset that he cannot sleep (Psalm 77:1–3). Yet he commits to what he already knows of the Lord. That brings him back to reassurance.

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Chapter Summary
Asaph struggles to sleep or find peace. Though he seeks to trust in God, he only feels more disturbed. This hardship causes him to question if the Lord has abandoned him, or possibly all the people of Israel. Still, Asaph is committed to remembering what he already knows about God. He remembers how God rescued His people at the Red Sea: with crashing thunder and brilliant lighting that caused the earth to tremble. Using Moses and Aaron, the Lord led Israel through the sea like a shepherd guiding sheep.

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What is the Gospel?

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