Psalm 105:29

Modern

He turned their waters to blood and caused their fish to die.

Traditional

He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish.

Literal

He turned their waters to blood, and He put to death their fish.

Latin

Convertit aquas eorum in sanguinem, et occidit pisces eorum.

Hebrew

English

He turned their waters to blood and caused their fish to die.

The psalmist tells the story of Moses and the plagues in Egypt (see Exodus 7:20–12:30).

This hymn praises the Lord’s faithfulness to Abraham and his descendants in all their journeys:
- from Ur to Canaan (Psalm 105:12),
- to Egypt (Psalm 105:17, 23),
- through the wilderness (Psalm 105:37, 41), and
- back to Canaan (Psalm 105:44).
These events fulfilled the Lord's promise to Abraham (Psalm 105:9, 42), which was the basis for Israel’s very existence. Joseph, whose suffering turned into glory, serves as a model of encouragement for Israel (Psalm 105:16–25).
Psalm 105:1–15 (along with 96; 106:1, 47–48) is included in David’s song of praise recorded in 1 Chronicles 16.

Theme notes and profiles

Exodus 7:20–21
Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD had commanded; in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials, Aaron raised the staff and struck the water of the Nile, and all the water was turned to blood.
Psalm 78:44
He turned their rivers to blood, and from their streams they could not drink.
Revelation 16:3
And the second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it turned to blood like that of the dead, and every living thing in the sea died.
Ezekiel 29:4–5
But I will put hooks in your jaws and cause the fish of your streams to cling to your scales. I will haul you up out of your rivers, and all the fish of your streams will cling to your scales.
Isaiah 50:2
Why was no one there when I arrived? Why did no one answer when I called? Is My hand too short to redeem you? Or do I lack the strength to deliver you? Behold, My rebuke dries up the sea; I turn the rivers into a desert; the fish rot for lack of water and die of thirst.