Bible Strands
Psalms 136:10
He struck down the firstborn of Egypt His loving devotion endures forever.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses a worshiping assembly within a structured recitation of divine acts, positioned between a declaration about celestial governance and a statement about Israel’s departure from Egypt.
The words — חַסְדּוֹ (chas.do) translates literally as his covenant loyalty, while מַכֶּה (makkeh) denotes the agent who struck down.
The thread — The motif of striking Egypt’s firstborn recurs in Exodus 12:29, Psalms 78:51, and Psalms 135:8, each recording the same historical judgment.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that divine judgment operates alongside sustained covenant faithfulness, requiring the reader to track both the act and its enduring theological anchor.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Cross-references
- Exodus 12:29 Now at midnight the LORD struck down every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner in the dungeon, as well as all the firstborn among the livestock.
- Psalms 78:51 He struck all the firstborn of Egypt, the virility in the tents of Ham.
- Psalms 135:8 He struck down the firstborn of Egypt, of both man and beast.
- Exodus 12:12 On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn male, both man and beast, and I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD.
- Psalms 105:36 Then He struck all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their vigor.
- Exodus 11:5 and every firstborn son in the land of Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, to the firstborn of the servant girl behind the hand mill, as well as the firstborn of all the cattle.
- Hebrews 11:28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch Israel’s own firstborn.