Psalm 136:12 kjv
With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalm 136:12 nkjv
With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, For His mercy endures forever;
Psalm 136:12 niv
with a mighty hand and outstretched arm; His love endures forever.
Psalm 136:12 esv
with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever;
Psalm 136:12 nlt
He acted with a strong hand and powerful arm.
? His faithful love endures forever.
Psalm 136 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 4:34 | "...the LORD your God carried out for you in Egypt...by a strong hand and a stretched-out arm..." | God's power in Exodus |
| Deut 5:15 | "...the LORD your God brought you out...by a strong hand and a stretched-out arm..." | Basis for Sabbath observance |
| Deut 7:19 | "...the great trials which your eyes saw, and the signs and wonders, and the strong hand and the stretched-out arm..." | Reminder of God's mighty deliverance |
| Deut 11:2 | "...His greatness, His strong hand and His stretched-out arm..." | Admonition to remember God's acts |
| Deut 26:8 | "...the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand and an outstretched arm..." | Recalling the Exodus during firstfruit offering |
| Josh 4:24 | "...that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty..." | Red Sea & Jordan crossings by God's power |
| Ps 135:9 | "He sent signs and wonders into your midst, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh and all his servants." | Preceding Psalm's similar theme |
| Jer 32:21 | "You brought Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders and with a strong hand and an outstretched arm..." | Jeremiah's prayer reflecting Exodus |
| Acts 13:17 | "The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and made the people prosperous during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out of it." | Paul's sermon on God's salvation history |
| Ex 6:6 | "...I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage...with an outstretched arm..." | God's promise to Israel |
| Ex 13:3 | "...By a strong hand the LORD brought you out from this place..." | Moses' command regarding Passover |
| Ex 3:19-20 | "...surely the LORD will strike Egypt with all His wonders...after that he will let you go." | God's prior declaration to Moses |
| Ps 77:15 | "You have with Your arm redeemed Your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph." | God's redeeming power |
| Ps 89:13 | "You have a mighty arm; Your hand is strong, Your right hand is exalted." | Affirmation of God's omnipotent power |
| Ps 98:1 | "...His own right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory." | God's triumph and salvation |
| Isa 51:9-10 | "Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD...Was it not You who cut Rahab in pieces, Who pierced the dragon? Was it not You who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep; Who made the depths of the sea a pathway for the redeemed to cross over?" | Poetic invocation for God's power like Exodus |
| Lk 1:51 | "He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered those proud in the thoughts of their hearts." | Mary's Magnificat on God's active power |
| Lam 3:22-23 | "The LORD’s mercies indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning..." | God's unfailing mercy |
| Ps 100:5 | "For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations." | General declaration of God's eternal mercy |
| Ps 107:1 | "Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting." | Call to thanksgiving for enduring mercy |
| Rom 5:8 | "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." | God's supreme demonstration of "hesed" |
| Eph 2:4-5 | "But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ..." | Salvation through God's rich mercy |
| Tit 3:5 | "...He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy..." | Salvation solely by God's mercy |
| Heb 13:8 | "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." | Immutability of God's character and mercy |
Psalm 136 verses
Psalm 136 12 Meaning
Psalm 136:12 declares that the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt was accomplished by God's mighty, active intervention, characterized by His sovereign power and unwavering faithfulness. It emphasizes that every powerful act of God, especially the miraculous Exodus, is fundamentally rooted in His steadfast and eternal lovingkindness.
Psalm 136 12 Context
Psalm 136 is a hymn of thanksgiving, often referred to as the "Great Hallel" and used in liturgical worship, particularly during Passover. It recounts a condensed history of God's saving acts for Israel, starting with creation and moving through the Exodus, wilderness journey, and conquest of the promised land. Each clause describing a divine act is followed by the refrain, "for his mercy endureth for ever." Verse 12 specifically concludes the description of God leading Israel out of Egypt, emphasizing the mighty nature of this liberation. The historical context is the period of the Exodus, a pivotal event demonstrating God's sovereign power over both the might of Egypt and the forces of nature, all motivated by His enduring covenant loyalty to His people.
Psalm 136 12 Word analysis
- with a strong hand (Hebrew: bəyāḏ ḥăzaqāh - בְּיָד חֲזָקָה):
- bəyāḏ (with a hand): "Yaḏ" (hand) is a common biblical metaphor for power, ability, or agency. When attributed to God, it signifies His direct and personal intervention.
- ḥăzaqāh (strong): Conveys intensity, might, firmness, and unwavering power. It suggests an irresistible force, a deliberate exertion of divine authority that cannot be opposed or defeated.
- and with a stretched out arm (Hebrew: ūḇiźərōaʿ nəṭūyāh - וּבִזְרֹועַ נְטוּיָה):
- ūḇiźərōaʿ (with an arm): "Zəroaʿ" (arm) similarly denotes strength and active power, often implying an exertion of force, particularly in combat or execution of judgment.
- nəṭūyāh (stretched out): Implies deliberate action, an arm extended not casually, but with purpose and full intent, signifying a resolute and unhesitating demonstration of power. It's often used for a warrior preparing to strike or act.
- for his mercy endureth for ever (Hebrew: kî lə‘ôlām ḥas’dō - כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ):
- kî (for): Connects the mighty act to its divine motivation, providing the "why."
- lə‘ôlām (for ever): Emphasizes eternal duration, perpetuity, and unwavering constancy. God's character of hesed is not temporary or conditional.
- ḥas’dō (his mercy): "Hesed" is a profound theological term meaning steadfast love, lovingkindness, covenant loyalty, mercy, and grace. It describes God's faithful devotion to His covenant promises and His people, demonstrating active concern and unwavering faithfulness even when undeserved.
Psalm 136 12 Bonus section
The repetitive nature of the refrain in Psalm 136 served a crucial pedagogical and theological purpose for the Israelites. By continuously linking every demonstration of God's power and sovereignty to "his mercy endureth for ever," it deeply imprinted upon their collective consciousness that hesed was the enduring quality behind all divine action. This taught them to recognize God's unfailing covenant love not just in quiet moments but most profoundly in His powerful historical interventions. This repeated affirmation acts as a bulwark against the misconception of God as merely a detached, powerful force or a vengeful deity. Instead, it positions Him as an actively involved, compassionate Deliverer whose power serves His eternal purpose of steadfast love for His people, foreshadowing the ultimate act of divine mercy in Christ's redemption.
Psalm 136 12 Commentary
Psalm 136:12 succinctly encapsulates a foundational truth of divine action: God's awesome power is invariably an expression of His eternal lovingkindness. The dual imagery of "strong hand" and "stretched out arm" points to the totality and directness of God's intervention, particularly recalling the Exodus from Egypt. This was not a passive event but a forceful, deliberate liberation. It underscores His sovereign might, demonstrated through plagues and the parting of the Red Sea, effectively overpowering the greatest empire of the time. The profound repetition, "for his mercy endureth for ever," reveals that this immense power is always tethered to His covenant faithfulness and unfailing love. God acts decisively, not out of whim, but from a changeless character of 'hesed.' This provides enduring assurance that God's power is always exercised for the good of His people, consistent with His compassionate nature and eternal promises. It transforms mere power into redemptive grace, revealing the God who is both omnipotent and infinitely loving.