Psalms 135:8
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He struck down the firstborn of Egypt, of both man and beast.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Worthy is He to be praised, for He is the Redeemer out of Egypt. בּתוככי as in Psa 116:19, cf. Psa 105:27.
Open source ↗This is one of the Hallelujah-psalms; that is the title of it, and that is the Amen of it, both its Alpha and its Omega. I. It begins with a call to praise God, particularly a call to the "servants of the Lord" to praise him, as in the foregoing psalm (Psa 135:1-3). II. It goes on to furnish us with matter for praise. God is to be praised, 1. As the God of Jacob (Psa 135:4). 2. As the God of gods (Psa 135:5). 3. As the God of the whole world (Psa 135:6, Psa 135:7). 4. As a terrible God to the enemies of Israel (Psa 135:8-11). 5. As a gracious God to Israel, both in what he had done for them and what he would do (Psa 135:12-14). 6. As the only living God, all other gods being vanity and a lie (Psa 135:15-18). III. It concludes with another exhortation to all persons concerned to praise God (Psa 135:19-21). In singing this psalm our hearts must be filled, as well as our mouths, with the high praises of God.
Open source ↗135:8-12 The Lord was sovereign over the Exodus and the conquest of the Promised Land. 135:8-11 In the tenth and culminating plague against Egypt, God destroyed the firstborn of each family. • The miraculous signs and wonders are the ten plagues (see Exod 7–11; Deut 4:34; Neh 9:10).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
He struck all the firstborn of Egypt, the virility in the tents of Ham.
Then He struck all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their vigor.
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.
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.’
He struck down the firstborn of Egypt His loving devotion endures forever.