Psalm 78:51
◄  Psalm 78:51  ►
New International Version (©2011)
He struck down all the firstborn of Egypt, the firstfruits of manhood in the tents of Ham.

New Living Translation (©2007)
He killed the oldest son in each Egyptian family, the flower of youth throughout the land of Egypt.

English Standard Version (©2001)
He struck down every firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of their strength in the tents of Ham.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
And smote all the firstborn in Egypt, The first issue of their virility in the tents of Ham.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
He struck all the firstborn in Egypt, the first progeny of the tents of Ham.

International Standard Version (©2012)
He struck every firstborn in Egypt, the first fruits of their manhood in the tents of Ham.

NET Bible (©2006)
He struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of their reproductive power in the tents of Ham.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
He killed all the firstborn of Egypt, the first of all their children in the tents of Ham.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
He slaughtered every firstborn in Egypt, the ones born in the tents of Ham when their fathers were young.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And struck down all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:

American King James Version
And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:

American Standard Version
And smote all the first-born in Egypt, The chief of their strength in the tents of Ham.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt: the firstfruits of all their labour in the tabernacles of Cham.

Darby Bible Translation
And he smote all the firstborn in Egypt, the first-fruits of their vigour in the tents of Ham.

English Revised Version
And smote all the firstborn in Egypt, the chief of their strength in the tents of Ham:

Webster's Bible Translation
And smote all the first-born in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:

World English Bible
and struck all the firstborn in Egypt, the chief of their strength in the tents of Ham.

Young's Literal Translation
And He smiteth every first-born in Egypt, The first-fruit of the strong in tents of Ham.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

78:40-55. Let not those that receive mercy from God, be thereby made bold to sin, for the mercies they receive will hasten its punishment; yet let not those who are under Divine rebukes for sin, be discouraged from repentance. The Holy One of Israel will do what is most for his own glory, and what is most for their good. Their forgetting former favours, led them to limit God for the future. God made his own people to go forth like sheep; and guided them in the wilderness, as a shepherd his flock, with all care and tenderness. Thus the true Joshua, even Jesus, brings his church out of the wilderness; but no earthly Canaan, no worldly advantages, should make us forget that the church is in the wilderness while in this world, and that there remaineth a far more glorious rest for the people of God.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 51. - And smote all the firstborn in Egypt (see Exodus 12:29). The chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham; or, "the beginning (literally, firstfruits) of their strength" (comp. Genesis 49:3). "The tabernacles of Ham" is a periphrasis for "Egypt" - the Egyptians, according to the author of Genesis (Genesis 10:6), being descendants of Ham (comp. Psalm 105:23, 27; 6:22). There are no sufficient grounds for connecting the name of Ham either with the Egyptian Kem, Kemi - the native name for the country - or with Khem, one of the principal Egyptian goes. The literation is, no doubt, close in the latter case; but etymologists lay it down that close approximations are especially deceptive.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And smote all the firstborn in Egypt,.... From the prince to the peasant; and not only the firstborn of men, but of beasts also, Exodus 12:29,

the chief of their strength; or first of it, as the firstborn is called, Genesis 49:3,

in the tabernacles of Ham; in the several cities, towns, villages, and houses of the Egyptians, the descendants of cursed Ham; for Mizraim, from whom the Egyptians have their name, and from whence they sprung, was a son of Ham's, Genesis 10:6. Perhaps No Ammon may be particularly meant, Nahum 3:8, the same with Memphis, and which signifies the mansion or palace of Ammon, that is, Ham; and so Chemmis, another city in Egypt, signifies the same (n); of which see Psalm 105:23 this was the tenth and last plague: according to Suidas (o), the plagues of Egypt continued forty days.

(n) Dickinson Delph. Phoeniciz. cap. 4. (o) In voce

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

51. chief of their strength—literally, "first-fruits," or, "first-born" (Ge 49:3; De 21:17).

Ham—one of whose sons gave name (Mizraim, Hebrew) to Egypt.

Psalm 78:51 Parallel Commentaries

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I will Open My Mouth in Parables
…50He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence; 51And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham: 52But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. …

Romans 8:23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.
Genesis 49:3 "Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, the first sign of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power.
Exodus 11:5 Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the female slave, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well.
Exodus 12:29 At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well.
Psalm 105:23 Then Israel entered Egypt; Jacob resided as a foreigner in the land of Ham.
Psalm 105:27 They performed his signs among them, his wonders in the land of Ham.
Psalm 105:36 Then he struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their manhood.
Psalm 106:22 miracles in the land of Ham and awesome deeds by the Red Sea.
Psalm 135:8 He struck down the firstborn of Egypt, the firstborn of people and animals.
Psalm 136:10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt His love endures forever.