Psalm 136:20 kjv
And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psalm 136:20 nkjv
And Og king of Bashan, For His mercy endures forever?
Psalm 136:20 niv
and Og king of Bashan? His love endures forever.
Psalm 136:20 esv
and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures forever;
Psalm 136:20 nlt
and Og king of Bashan.
? His faithful love endures forever.
Psalm 136 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 2:30 | "But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass... for the Lord... hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that He might deliver him..." | God hardens hearts to fulfill His plan |
| Num 21:24 | "Israel struck him with the edge of the sword, and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok..." | Historical account of Sihon's defeat |
| Josh 12:2 | "Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon and ruled from Aroer..." | Enumeration of conquered kings |
| Neh 9:22 | "You gave them kingdoms and nations and divided them into districts... so they took possession of the land of Sihon..." | Divine hand in conquest acknowledged |
| Ps 135:10-11 | "He struck down many nations and slew mighty kings, Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan..." | Parallel psalm recognizing the same victories |
| Ps 136:21 | "And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:" | Direct continuation: outcome of Sihon's defeat |
| Ex 14:13-14 | "The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." | God actively fights for His people |
| Deut 4:1 | "Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules... that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land..." | Obedience linked to inheriting the land |
| Deut 6:23 | "He brought us out from there in order to bring us in, to give us the land that He swore to our fathers." | God's purpose: deliver and bring to land |
| Ex 34:6-7 | "The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness..." | God's character defined by steadfast love |
| Ps 100:5 | "For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever..." | Affirmation of God's perpetual loyal love |
| Ps 103:17 | "But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him..." | God's faithful love is eternal |
| Ps 107:1 | "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever!" | Call to thanksgiving for enduring love |
| Lam 3:22-23 | "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning..." | God's loyal love is constant and renewing |
| Joel 2:13 | "Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love..." | Repentance appealing to God's character |
| Isa 43:3-4 | "For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior... I gave Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you." | God uses nations for His people's sake |
| Rom 9:17 | "For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, 'For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show My power in you...'" | God's sovereign control over rulers |
| Acts 7:45 | "Our fathers in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our fathers." | New Testament perspective on the conquest |
| Col 2:15 | "He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him." | Spiritual victory over hostile powers |
| Rev 11:15 | "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever." | Ultimate reign of Christ's kingdom |
| Ps 18:47-49 | "The Lord lives, and blessed be my Rock... God who executes vengeance for me... who delivers me from my enemies." | God as personal Deliverer |
Psalm 136 verses
Psalm 136 20 Meaning
Psalm 136:20 states God's triumph over Sihon, king of the Amorites, and immediately attributes this significant victory to His enduring mercy, which is the recurring theme throughout the psalm. It signifies that even in acts of conquest and the overthrow of powerful earthly rulers, God's underlying motivation and character remain steadfast loyal love for His people. This defeat was not merely a display of raw power, but a purposeful action rooted in His covenant faithfulness to Israel, clearing the way for their promised inheritance.
Psalm 136 20 Context
Psalm 136 is a hymn of praise known for its responsorial refrain, "for His mercy endureth for ever," which follows each declaration of God's mighty acts. It systematically recounts the foundational elements of Israel's faith: creation (vv. 4-9), the Exodus (vv. 10-15), the wilderness journey (vv. 16), and crucial conquests leading to the promise of the land (vv. 17-22). Verse 20 falls within this historical sequence, specifically detailing God's divine intervention in the Transjordan region. Sihon was a formidable ruler who barred Israel's passage, making his defeat a critical moment that underscored God's power and faithfulness in clearing the path for His people to enter the land promised to their ancestors. The recounting of this victory in the Psalm reminds the community of God's active, faithful, and continuing role in their history.
Psalm 136 20 Word analysis
- And Sihon (וּלְסִיחֹון, UleSîḥōn): "Sihon" was the king of the Amorites whose capital was Heshbon. His resistance to Israel's passage (Numbers 21:21-35) was met with God's judgment, allowing Israel to conquer his territory. His inclusion in this Psalm emphasizes a pivotal, seemingly insurmountable obstacle that God removed. His specific name recalls a real historical event and person, reinforcing the tangibility of God's past intervention. The prefix u (and) links this event directly to previous mighty acts.
- king of the Amorites (מֶלֶךְ הָאֱמֹרִי, Meleḵ hāʾĔmōrî): "Amorites" refers to a powerful and prominent Canaanite people group mentioned throughout the Old Testament. They were often depicted as giant, fearsome warriors, reinforcing the magnitude of God's power in defeating them (Amos 2:9). The term "king" highlights Sihon's authority and military strength, making his defeat all the more significant as a demonstration of God's absolute sovereignty over earthly powers.
- for his mercy endureth for ever (כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ, kî ləʿôlām ḥasdô): This is the unchanging refrain of the psalm, connecting every divine act, including the defeat of enemies, back to God's fundamental character.
- כִּי (kî): Means "for" or "because," indicating the reason or explanation for the preceding action. God's victory over Sihon is directly rooted in His enduring nature.
- לְעוֹלָם (ləʿôlām): "Forever" or "everlasting." This emphasizes the eternal and unceasing nature of God's loyal love, confirming it is not a temporary disposition but an immutable aspect of His being.
- חַסְדּוֹ (ḥasdô): "His mercy/steadfast love/loyal love/covenant faithfulness." This term, ḥeseḏ, is a rich Hebrew theological concept referring to a loyal and steadfast love that stems from commitment and covenant. It goes beyond mere pity, encompassing active benevolence, faithfulness, and an unwavering devotion that manifests in action. Here, it demonstrates that even acts of judgment and conquest against His people's enemies are ultimately expressions of God's covenant loyalty to Israel, clearing their way to inheritance.
Psalm 136 20 Bonus section
The consistent liturgical repetition of the refrain in Psalm 136 was not merely poetic; it served as a profound catechesis for the worshipping community. Each recital of God's historical acts, followed by "for His mercy endureth for ever," indelibly linked every specific divine action to the eternal character of God's ḥeseḏ. This ensured that the congregation did not view God's acts as random or arbitrary, but as consistent demonstrations of His loyal, covenant love. The defeat of Sihon and the subsequent taking of his land (verse 21) highlight a divine strategy of displacement for divine placement, a powerful prefigurement of God's ongoing work to dismantle systems that oppose His kingdom and establish His sovereign reign.
Psalm 136 20 Commentary
Psalm 136:20 stands as a profound testament to the active and purposeful nature of God's loyal love, or ḥeseḏ. In the larger narrative of the Psalm, which meticulously catalogues God's acts of creation, deliverance, and provision, the defeat of Sihon is not an isolated incident of warfare. Rather, it is highlighted as a distinct manifestation of divine intervention rooted in His enduring faithfulness to His people. God's ḥeseḏ is not a passive sentiment; it is an energetic, active force that engages with human history, overcoming formidable obstacles like the militarily strong Amorites under Sihon, to bring about His purposes. This verse confirms that every detail of Israel's journey, even moments of conflict, ultimately served to demonstrate God's unwavering commitment to His covenant with them. It implies that when human power rises in opposition to God's will for His chosen, His steadfast love will ultimately ensure victory for His people, paving the way for the fulfillment of His promises.