Read Time:9 Minute, 4 Second

By William Van Zyl

Published in May 2025.

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Imagine three things you have said – or three things you have written – are listed as the world’s most famous quotes.

I have those 3 quotes for you.

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It was written almost 3000 years ago and repeated about 2000 years ago. Those quotes were written and printed billions of times. And this year, those quotes will be printed over 100 million times,

Yes, you have guessed it, it is the BIBLE.

The Bible is the most printed book in history. While an exact number is difficult to determine due to the vast number of translations, versions, and publishers worldwide, here are the best estimates:

Since the invention of the printing press in the 15th century, over 5 billion copies of the Bible have been printed (Gutenberg Bible, around 1455).
More than 100 million Bibles, including whole Bibles, New Testaments, and portions (like Psalms or Gospels), are printed or distributed globally annually.
The Gideons International alone have distributed over 2 billion copies of the Bible since 1908.

According to organisations like Wycliffe Bible Translators and the United Bible Societies, these figures include Bibles in over 3,600 languages, either in whole or in part.

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Table of Contents

David knew God so intimately that Jesus quoted him on the cross.

Are you serious? Yes, I am. God planned and orchestrated the whole crucifixion before it even happened. He gave these words to David to write down, and then, about a thousand years later, Jesus quoted David on the cross. Remarkable!

Key Intervals

David to Jesus: ~1,000 years
Jesus to Today: ~2,000 years
David to Today: ~3,000 years (*Estimated timeline).

King David wrote most of the Psalms. We know that David had a very close relationship with the Lord; when we read the Psalms, we see the relationship with the Father and Jesus.

David had a revelation, which he continuously refers to. As a young boy and man, David heard about a rock that moved with the Israelites through the desert. David also read about the events in the Torah (scrolls). His parents, teachers, and elders probably told him these stories, which were included in his day-to-day education.

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Historical and Biblical Evidence: “Was the Torah available to David? Could he read it from a scroll?”

1. The Torah was already written by David’s time

Moses (c. 1400–1200 BC, depending on dating) is traditionally believed to have written the Torah (Genesis–Deuteronomy), including the Exodus narrative.
King David reigned c. 1010–970 BC, so the Torah had existed for several centuries.

2. Scrolls (Sefer) were in use

The Hebrew word sefer means “book” or “scroll” and appears frequently in the Old Testament.
Scrolls were made from animal skins (parchment) or papyrus, and writing was done with ink.
Deuteronomy 17:18-19 (KJV) commands that a king should write a copy of the law: “And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book… And it shall be with him…”

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This implies King David was expected to read and know the Torah, including the events of the Exodus.

In the cool morning desert breeze, the Israelites would go to the rock and speak to it, like doing prayers when one wakes up. The Rock would then rise, and water would gush from it.

IMAGE: “The ROCK in the desert.” AI-generated image. PROMPT: A dramatic, highly detailed painting in the style of Gustave Doré depicting a massive rock formation in a sun-drenched desert landscape, water gushing forth from its side. Numerous figures, identifiable as Israelites, are gathered around the base of the rock, their expressions conveying awe and wonder. The scene is rendered in warm, earthy tones with contrasting cool blues and whites from the flowing water. The painting employs chiaroscuro lighting to highlight the central rock and the figures surrounding it, creating a sense of sacred wonder—Credit Canva (AI-created in May 2025).

Imagine they had travelled for a day, gone to bed, and risen early in the morning, thirsty. Yes, they needed thousands of litres of water per day. Where would they get the fresh water? The ROCK would move with them.

David heard this fantastic story from his parents and his elders.

This fascinating event ties into Jewish and Christian interpretations of the rock that gave water in the wilderness. Let’s look at both:

Hebrew Scripture (Torah) Account

The event appears in Numbers 20:7–11 (KJV):

Numbers 20:7–11 (KJV):
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.
And Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as he commanded him.
And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?
And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.

In Exodus 17:6, a similar earlier incident is recorded:

Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink.

Chabad / Jewish Understanding

In traditional Jewish commentary (like Rashi and the Talmud), this “rock” is sometimes referred to as the “Well of Miriam”—a miraculous stone that accompanied the Israelites in the wilderness and provided water.

The Chabad.org article titled “The Rock That Travelled” explains this tradition:

“Our Sages tell us that this was a miraculous stone that accompanied the Israelites throughout their journeys in the desert, providing them with fresh water. This rock is known as the Well of Miriam, in merit of Moses’ sister Miriam.”

(See Chabad.org – “The Rock That Travelled,” for more.)

David speaks about the ROCK throughout the Psalms:

But David knew that God not only listened, but He could also do something about his pain.

In Psalm 61, he writes, “I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the ROCK (Jesus) that is higher than I” (Psalm 61:2). God was his “refuge” (v. 3)—the “ROCK” to which David ran.

The ROCK (Yeshua) is always with us.

Hebrews 13:5 quotes God as saying, “I will never leave you nor forsake you”.

Christian Interpretation (New Testament)

In Christian theology, the Apostle Paul gives a typological interpretation that connects the Rock to Jesus Christ:

1 Corinthians 10:4 (KJV):
And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

Paul spiritualises the story, asserting that Christ was the Rock that sustained them, following or accompanying them during their journey through the wilderness.

Summary:

Tradition	Description
Torah (Exodus/Numbers)	God provides water from a rock in the desert; Moses is told to speak to it (but he strikes it instead).
Chabad/Jewish	The rock is the “Well of Miriam” and miraculously follows the Israelites, providing water.
Christian (1 Cor. 10:4)	Paul says the Rock that followed them was Christ, symbolising His sustaining presence.

What are the 3 famous quotes?

David had an amazingly close relationship with God and Yeshua (“The Rock”).

“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalm 18:2 (New International Version).

The Psalms are a testament to that. Here are the three quotes Jesus made on the cross that directly echo the Psalms of David:

1. “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

Matthew 27:46 / Mark 15:34

“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying… My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

Psalm 22:1 (KJV)

“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?”

Context: Psalm 22 is a prophetic psalm of David that vividly describes suffering and mockery, closely mirroring the crucifixion.

2. “I thirst.”

John 19:28

“After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.”

Psalm 69:21 (KJV)

“They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”

Context: This verse refers to the suffering of the righteous and is fulfilled when Jesus is offered vinegar on the cross.

3. “Into thy hands I commend my spirit.”

Luke 23:46

“And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.”

Psalm 31:5 (KJV)

“Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.”

Context: David trusts God’s deliverance, and Jesus echoes this, fully entrusting Himself to the Father at the moment of death.

Dear reader, we serve a God who knows everything. Nothing surprises Him. He knows your name, your pain, the breakthrough you need, and your joy. Yes, he loves you, and He is your hope. He has a future for you. He is your destiny.

He will never leave you nor forsake you. Like the ROCK in the desert, Jesus will be there for you every day, every moment of the day.

If you don’t know the ROCK personally, here is an invitation:

Come and drink from the Rock of Ages—Living Water.

“But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
— John 4:14 (NIV)

A similar metaphor appears later in John’s Gospel: