Psalm 136 24

Psalm 136:24 kjv

And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalm 136:24 nkjv

And rescued us from our enemies, For His mercy endures forever;

Psalm 136:24 niv

and freed us from our enemies. His love endures forever.

Psalm 136:24 esv

and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever;

Psalm 136:24 nlt

He saved us from our enemies.
? His faithful love endures forever.

Psalm 136 verses

Psalm 136 24 Meaning

Psalm 136:24 celebrates God's consistent and powerful act of deliverance, specifically rescuing His chosen people, Israel, from the threats and oppression of their adversaries. This salvific action is rooted in and continually demonstrated by God's unchanging and loyal covenant love, which endures for all eternity. The verse serves as a declaration of thanks and an affirmation of God's faithful intervention in the face of danger.

Psalm 136 24 Context

Psalm 136 is a hymn of thanksgiving, traditionally used in Israelite worship as an antiphonal response. Each verse, or segment of a verse, proclaiming a specific mighty deed or characteristic of God, is followed by the refrain, "for His steadfast love endures forever." The psalm meticulously recounts God's sovereign acts from creation (Ps 136:1-9), to the Exodus and the destruction of Egypt's power (Ps 136:10-15), the journey through the wilderness (Ps 136:16), and the conquest of the Amorite kings Sihon and Og and the granting of their land as an inheritance to Israel (Ps 136:17-22).

Verse 24 specifically summarizes God's ongoing protection of Israel, "us," from their persistent "adversaries." This encompasses the numerous historical threats faced by the nation, highlighting God's continuous and active involvement in their protection, not just isolated incidents. It looks beyond specific historical battles to the general reality of Israel being surrounded by hostile nations. The entire psalm aims to instill a deep and abiding confidence in God's unwavering faithfulness, grounded in His hesed.

Psalm 136 24 Word analysis

• And rescued: The Hebrew verb is wayyiṣṣilēnû (וַיַּצִּילֵנוּ), derived from the root nāṣal (נָצַל), meaning "to snatch away," "to deliver," "to pull out," or "to set free." It often denotes divine intervention to extricate someone from danger, oppression, or harm. The form indicates a past action with ongoing effect, emphasizing God's powerful, decisive act of salvation. This word strongly implies a grave peril from which one cannot deliver oneself, necessitating external, divine help.
• us: Refers to the people of Israel, God's covenant nation. In a broader sense, for the New Testament believer, it includes all who are in Christ and adopted into God's family, representing the community of faith whom God protects and delivers.
• from our adversaries: The Hebrew term is miṣṣārēnû (מִצָּרֵינוּ), where tsār (צַר) means "adversary," "foe," "oppressor," or "one who causes distress." The plural suffix indicates multiple enemies or forms of distress, reflecting Israel's continuous struggle with surrounding nations and internal conflicts throughout its history. This is not just physical enemies but also situations of oppression and difficulty.
• for His steadfast love: The crucial phrase is ki le'olam hasdo (כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ). "For" (kî) indicates the reason or basis for the preceding statement. "Steadfast love" is ḥesed (חֶסֶד), a rich theological term meaning loyal love, unfailing kindness, covenant faithfulness, and mercy. It describes God's constant and unwavering devotion to His covenant people, not dependent on their worthiness but on His own character. This love is active and demonstrative, leading Him to save and protect.
• endures forever: le'olam (לְעוֹלָם) means "to eternity," "forever," "perpetually," "without end." This emphasizes the unending nature of God's hesed, signifying its permanence and reliability across generations and circumstances. It reassures the worshiper that God's loving-kindness is a foundational, eternal truth.

Words-group Analysis:

• "And rescued us from our adversaries": This phrase encapsulates God's consistent historical intervention on behalf of His people against those who seek their harm. It emphasizes the active, redemptive role of God in their real-world struggles, directly saving them from oppressive forces and immediate dangers. It underscores that salvation is an act of divine power and will, executed for a specific people.
• "for His steadfast love endures forever": This phrase is the unshakeable foundation and motive for all of God's redemptive acts. It reveals that His deliverances are not arbitrary or whimsical but are always rooted in His eternal, covenant-keeping character. It is the theological bedrock of the entire psalm, explaining why God acts as He does. It reassures that past deliverance promises future deliverance because His love is constant and unchanging.

Psalm 136 24 Bonus section

The repetitive structure of Psalm 136, with the fixed refrain ki le'olam hasdo, serves several significant purposes:

1. Pedagogical Reinforcement: It helps embed the truth of God's enduring steadfast love into the collective memory and faith of the community.
2. Liturgical Engagement: It creates a dynamic, responsive worship environment, fostering active participation and affirmation of faith.
3. Theological Emphasis: By consistently linking God's specific actions to His hesed, it highlights that all His deeds, from creation to historical deliverance, flow from His unchanging character of covenant loyalty and mercy. It makes clear that His power is always benevolent towards His own.
4. Assurance: The repetition builds assurance for the worshiper that God's goodness and love are not fleeting but are utterly dependable and eternal, providing hope in times of current or future distress. It contrasts God's eternal truth with the transient nature of human suffering and earthly adversaries.

Psalm 136 24 Commentary

Psalm 136:24 concisely reaffirms God's faithful character through His protective acts toward Israel. This verse, like others in the psalm, serves as a powerful declaration in communal worship, designed to evoke gratitude and confidence. God's hesed is not passive; it actively drives Him to intervene and "snatch" His people from their enemies. This isn't just about ancient history; it applies to all generations, affirming God's ongoing watchcare. For the believer, it provides a deep assurance: just as God delivered Israel from powerful physical adversaries out of His enduring love, He delivers us from our spiritual and temporal enemies, ultimately from sin and death, through Christ Jesus, demonstrating the same everlasting hesed. It calls us to trust in His consistent nature, no matter the threat, and to respond with endless praise.