Bible Strands
Psalms 78:51
He struck all the firstborn of Egypt, the virility in the tents of Ham.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses the assembly while recounting the Exodus, placing this declaration between the description of God's judgment on Egypt and the account of Israel's guided departure.
The words — וַיַּךְ (va.Yakh) means "and he struck down," and אֹנִים ('Onim) denotes "manly vigor." The text literally reports that God struck down every firstborn in Egypt, specifically the prime strength within Ham's tents.
The thread — Psalm 135:8 repeats the striking of Egypt's firstborn, while Psalms 105:23 and 106:22 place these events in the land of Ham.
Why it lands — The text states God's decisive destruction of Egyptian power immediately before describing His guidance of Israel. It requires the reader to see divine judgment and deliverance as a single, ordered act.
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
And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:
Cross-references
- Psalms 105:23 Then Israel entered Egypt; Jacob dwelt in the land of Ham.
- Psalms 106:22 wondrous works in the land of Ham, and awesome deeds by the Red Sea.
- Psalms 135:8 He struck down the firstborn of Egypt, of both man and beast.
- Psalms 105:36 Then He struck all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their vigor.
- Psalms 136:10 He struck down the firstborn of Egypt His loving devotion endures forever.
- 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.
- Exodus 13:15 And when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both of man and beast. This is why I sacrifice to the LORD the firstborn male of every womb, but I redeem all the firstborn of my sons.’
- Genesis 49:3 Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power.
- 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.
- Genesis 9:22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers outside.