To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Parallel translations
- WEB To him who struck down the Egyptian firstborn; for his loving kindness endures forever;
- BSB He struck down the firstborn of Egypt His loving devotion endures forever.
- NKJV To Him who struck Egypt in their firstborn, For His mercy endures forever;
- NASB ¶To Him who struck the Egyptians, that is, their firstborn, For His faithfulness is everlasting,
- NLT Give thanks to him who killed the firstborn of Egypt. His faithful love endures forever.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God struck down Egypt's firstborn, and His love endures forever.
Overview
The psalm shifts from creation to redemption, recalling the decisive plague that freed Israel from Egypt. This act of judgment was also an act of covenant love toward God's people. The Passover deliverance foreshadows the redemption Christ accomplishes, sparing all who shelter under His blood.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Ps 78:51And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:
- Exod 12:29And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.
- Ps 135:8Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.
- Ps 105:36He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.
- Exod 12:12For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.
- Heb 11:28Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
- Exod 11:5–6And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first born of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 136:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.