Psalm 136:10
New International Version
to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt His love endures forever.

New Living Translation
Give thanks to him who killed the firstborn of Egypt. His faithful love endures forever.

English Standard Version
to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for his steadfast love endures forever;

Berean Standard Bible
He struck down the firstborn of Egypt His loving devotion endures forever.

King James Bible
To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:

New King James Version
To Him who struck Egypt in their firstborn, For His mercy endures forever;

New American Standard Bible
To Him who struck the Egyptians, that is, their firstborn, For His faithfulness is everlasting,

NASB 1995
To Him who smote the Egyptians in their firstborn, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,

NASB 1977
To Him who smote the Egyptians in their first-born, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,

Legacy Standard Bible
To Him who struck the Egyptians through their firstborn, For His lovingkindness endures forever,

Amplified Bible
To Him who struck the firstborn of Egypt, For His lovingkindness endures forever;

Christian Standard Bible
He struck the firstborn of the Egyptians His faithful love endures forever.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He struck the firstborn of the Egyptians His love is eternal.

American Standard Version
To him that smote Egypt in their first-born; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever;

Contemporary English Version
God struck down the first-born in every Egyptian family. God's love never fails.

English Revised Version
To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Give thanks to the one who killed the firstborn males in Egypt- because his mercy endures forever.

Good News Translation
He killed the first-born sons of the Egyptians; his love is eternal.

International Standard Version
to the one who struck the firstborn of Egypt, for his gracious love is everlasting—

Majority Standard Bible
He struck down the firstborn of Egypt His loving devotion endures forever.

NET Bible
to the one who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for his loyal love endures,

New Heart English Bible
To him who struck down the Egyptian firstborn; for his loving kindness endures forever;

Webster's Bible Translation
To him that smote Egypt in their first-born: for his mercy endureth for ever:

World English Bible
to him who struck down the Egyptian firstborn, for his loving kindness endures forever;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
To Him striking Egypt in their firstborn, "" For His kindness [is] for all time.

Young's Literal Translation
To Him smiting Egypt in their first-born, For to the age is His kindness.

Smith's Literal Translation
To him striking Egypt in their first-born: for his mercy is forever.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Who smote Egypt with their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Catholic Public Domain Version
He struck Egypt along with their first-born, for his mercy is eternal.

New American Bible
Who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for his mercy endures forever;

New Revised Standard Version
who struck Egypt through their firstborn, for his steadfast love endures forever;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
To him who smote the first-born of Egypt; for his mercy endures for ever;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
To him who struck the firstborn of Egypt, for his mercies are to eternity.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
To Him that smote Egypt in their first-born, For His mercy endureth for ever;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
To him who smote Egypt with their first-born; for his mercy endures for ever.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
His Loving Faithfulness Endures Forever
9the moon and stars to govern the night. His loving devotion endures forever. 10He struck down the firstborn of Egypt His loving devotion endures forever. 11and brought Israel out from among them His loving devotion endures forever.…

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.

Exodus 11:4-5
So Moses declared, “This is what the LORD says: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt, / 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.

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.

Exodus 12:30
During the night Pharaoh got up—he and all his officials and all the Egyptians—and there was loud wailing in Egypt; for there was no house without someone dead.

Numbers 33:4
who were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had struck down among them; for the LORD had executed judgment against their gods.

Psalm 78:51
He struck all the firstborn of Egypt, the virility in the tents of Ham.

Psalm 105:36
Then He struck all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their vigor.

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.

1 Corinthians 10:10
And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.

Acts 7:36
He led them out and performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and for forty years in the wilderness.

Revelation 11:8
Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city—figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where their Lord was also crucified.

Jude 1:5
Although you are fully aware of this, I want to remind you that after Jesus had delivered His people out of the land of Egypt, He destroyed those who did not believe.

Romans 9:17
For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”

Exodus 4:23
and I told you to let My son go so that he may worship Me. But since you have refused to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son!’”

Exodus 6:1
But the LORD said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh, for because of My mighty hand he will let the people go; because of My strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”


Treasury of Scripture

To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endures for ever:

Psalm 78:51
And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:

Psalm 105:36
He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.

Psalm 135:8
Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.

Jump to Previous
Born Death Egypt Egyptian Egyptians Endures Endureth Everlasting Firstborn First-Born First-Fruits Forever Kindness Loving Loving-Kindness Mercy Smiting Smote Steadfast Struck Unchanging
Jump to Next
Born Death Egypt Egyptian Egyptians Endures Endureth Everlasting Firstborn First-Born First-Fruits Forever Kindness Loving Loving-Kindness Mercy Smiting Smote Steadfast Struck Unchanging
Psalm 136
1. An exhortation to give thanks to God for particular mercies.














He struck down
This phrase refers to a decisive and powerful action taken by God. The Hebrew root word here is "נָכָה" (nakah), which means to strike, smite, or defeat. This action is not arbitrary but is a demonstration of God's sovereignty and justice. In the context of the Exodus narrative, it signifies God's intervention to liberate His people from bondage. The act of striking down the firstborn was a direct challenge to the Egyptian gods and a demonstration of God's supremacy over all false deities. It serves as a reminder of God's power to deliver His people and execute judgment against oppressors.

the firstborn of Egypt
The firstborn in ancient cultures, including Egypt, held a place of prominence and inheritance. The Hebrew word "בְּכוֹר" (bekhor) signifies the eldest son, who was often seen as the future leader of the family or nation. The striking down of the firstborn was a profound judgment against Egypt, symbolizing the dismantling of their future and strength. Historically, this event is recorded in the book of Exodus as the final plague that compelled Pharaoh to release the Israelites. It underscores the seriousness of defying God's commands and the lengths to which God will go to fulfill His promises to His people.

His loving devotion endures forever
This phrase is a recurring refrain throughout Psalm 136, emphasizing the steadfast and eternal nature of God's love. The Hebrew word "חֶסֶד" (chesed) is often translated as lovingkindness, mercy, or steadfast love. It conveys a sense of loyalty and covenantal faithfulness. Despite the severity of the judgment on Egypt, this phrase reassures believers of God's unwavering commitment to His covenant people. It highlights the dual aspects of God's character: His justice in dealing with sin and His mercy in preserving and caring for His chosen ones. This enduring loving devotion is a source of hope and encouragement, reminding believers that God's love is not fleeting but is a constant and eternal reality.

(10) For his mercy.--Here the refrain, after the mention of the destruction of the Egyptian first-born, and subsequently after that of war and slaughter, sounds harsh to Christian ears. But the word mercy (khesed) in the Hebrew motto implies distinctly covenant grace, that special favour of Jehovah in which the heathen did not share, and which was often most signally shown in their destruction.

Verse 10. - To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn. The parallelism with Psalm 135, here becomes very close, and so continues till the end of ver. 22. Five verses, however, are expanded into thirteen. For his mercy, etc.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He struck down
לְמַכֵּ֣ה (lə·mak·kêh)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5221: To strike

the firstborn
בִּבְכוֹרֵיהֶ֑ם (biḇ·ḵō·w·rê·hem)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1060: Firstborn, chief

of Egypt
מִ֭צְרַיִם (miṣ·ra·yim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa

His loving devotion
חַסְדּֽוֹ׃ (ḥas·dōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2617: Kindness, piety, reproof, beauty

endures forever.
לְעוֹלָ֣ם (lə·‘ō·w·lām)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5769: Concealed, eternity, frequentatively, always


Links
Psalm 136:10 NIV
Psalm 136:10 NLT
Psalm 136:10 ESV
Psalm 136:10 NASB
Psalm 136:10 KJV

Psalm 136:10 BibleApps.com
Psalm 136:10 Biblia Paralela
Psalm 136:10 Chinese Bible
Psalm 136:10 French Bible
Psalm 136:10 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Psalm 136:10 To him who struck down the Egyptian (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 136:9
Top of Page
Top of Page