Psalm 78 51

Psalm 78:51 kjv

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

Psalm 78:51 nkjv

And destroyed all the firstborn in Egypt, The first of their strength in the tents of Ham.

Psalm 78:51 niv

He struck down all the firstborn of Egypt, the firstfruits of manhood in the tents of Ham.

Psalm 78:51 esv

He struck down every firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of their strength in the tents of Ham.

Psalm 78:51 nlt

He killed the oldest son in each Egyptian family,
the flower of youth throughout the land of Egypt.

Psalm 78 verses

Psalm 78 51 Meaning

Psalm 78:51 recounts a pivotal act of divine judgment against ancient Egypt: God struck down every firstborn, encompassing both human and animal, representing the peak of their vigor and generational strength. This event, the tenth and final plague, was a powerful display of God's sovereignty and a key act of redemption, enabling Israel's deliverance from bondage. It underscored the absolute distinction between the God of Israel and the powerless deities of Egypt.

Psalm 78 51 Context

Psalm 78 is a Maskil, an instructional psalm, serving as a historical recount of God's dealings with Israel from the Exodus to the reign of David. It emphasizes God's faithfulness, wonders, and patience, contrasted with Israel's chronic rebellion, forgetfulness, and stubbornness. The psalm aims to teach future generations (v. 6-8) about God's character and the consequences of disobedience, so they might not repeat the mistakes of their ancestors.

Verse 51 specifically falls within the section (v. 42-53) detailing the ten plagues God inflicted upon Egypt. After describing many signs and wonders (v. 43), the psalmist moves chronologically through the various plagues, though not strictly in order or all ten are listed. The culminating event described in verse 51 – the slaying of the firstborn – is presented as the decisive act that broke Egypt's will and led to Israel's release (v. 52-53), highlighting God's power over the most vital aspects of their adversary's existence and His covenant commitment to His people. Historically, this plague solidified God's covenant with Israel, leading directly to the establishment of the Passover memorial and the dedication of the firstborn.

Psalm 78 51 Word analysis

• He struck down (וַיַּךְ, way·yak): This verb, nakah, means to strike, smite, kill. It denotes a decisive and forceful act of judgment. The prefix wa- makes it a waw-consecutive, indicating sequential action and God's direct agency in this event, emphasizing His purposeful and effective intervention. It speaks to divine omnipotence.

• all the firstborn (כָּל־בְּכוֹר, kāl-bə·ḵō·wr):

  • kāl: means "all" or "every," indicating completeness and universality of the judgment across Egypt.
  • bə·ḵō·wr: refers to the "firstborn." In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the firstborn was considered the strongest, the head of the household, and held special privileges (birthright, double inheritance). This plague, therefore, was a strike at the very foundation and future of Egyptian society, cutting off their prime strength and succession.

• in Egypt (בְּמִצְרָיִם, bə·miṣ·ra·yim): The specific geographical and political target of God's judgment. Egypt was a powerful empire, known for its polytheism and enslavement of Israel.

• the firstfruits (רֵאשִׁית, rê·šîṯ): This word typically means "beginning," "first-fruits," "best," or "prime." Here, it's used as a parallel synonym for "firstborn." It emphasizes the quality and value of what was lost, implying that the firstborn were the epitome of their strength, fertility, and hope for the future.

• of all their strength (כָּל־אוֹנָם, kāl-’ō·wnām):

  • kāl: again, "all" or "every."
  • ’ō·wnām: from 'own, meaning "vigor," "strength," "wealth," "power," "might." Combined with "firstfruits," it underscores that this judgment attacked not just specific individuals but the very essence of Egyptian power, vitality, and continuation. The firstborn embodied the strength of the nation, literally and figuratively.

• in the tents of Ham (בְּאָהֳלֵי־חָם, bə·’ā·hā·lê-ḥām):

  • ’ā·hā·lê: "tents," literally, but here signifies "dwellings," "habitations," or the "lands" where people live. It's a poetic or archaic way of referring to Egypt.
  • ḥām: Ham, one of Noah's sons, from whom the Canaanites and Egyptians (Misraim) descended (Gen 10:6). Calling Egypt the "tents of Ham" uses an older, tribal nomenclature, perhaps evoking an image of their pagan lineage. This phrase could serve as an implicit polemic against Egyptian gods, tracing their origin to Ham and associating their power and dominion (through idolatry) with human lineage, contrasted with Yahweh, the God of Abraham. It underlines that this land, despite its mighty pharaohs and elaborate temples, was ultimately under the dominion of the True God, whose judgment fell upon them.

• Word-group analysis:

  • "He struck down all the firstborn": This phrase highlights the devastating and comprehensive nature of God's action. It was not selective or partial but total within its defined scope, targeting the very promise of Egyptian future and legacy. This divine action directly contrasts the Egyptians' reliance on their false gods, especially those associated with fertility, life, and the Nile, by demonstrating that Yahweh alone controls life and death.
  • "the firstfruits of all their strength in the tents of Ham": This poetic parallelism re-emphasizes and amplifies the nature of the firstborn, clarifying that they represented the best, the most potent, and the hope of Egypt. It links this catastrophic event not just to a place (Egypt) but to its very ancestral identity ("tents of Ham"), subtly asserting God's authority over its history and origins. This phrase, "firstfruits of all their strength," further highlights the deep insult and destruction of a highly valued part of any ancient society's family and nationhood, where primogeniture and generational continuation were paramount.

Psalm 78 51 Bonus section

The Hebrew word for "firstborn" (bekhor) carries immense significance beyond just birth order. In biblical thought, the firstborn was uniquely honored and consecrated, often symbolizing preeminence, strength, and the heir. God refers to Israel as His "firstborn son" (Exod 4:22), indicating His special covenant relationship with them and their favored position among nations, a concept made real by the judgment on Egypt's firstborn. This foundational event in Psalm 78 foreshadows the ultimate "Firstborn," Jesus Christ, who is described as the "firstborn of all creation" (Col 1:15) and "the firstborn from the dead" (Col 1:18). Just as God brought life out of death and delivered His people through the death of the firstborn in Egypt, Christ, the true firstborn, provides eternal deliverance and new life through His own death and resurrection. The historical event in Psalm 78:51 thus prefigures the spiritual reality of God's greater redemption plan through His supreme Firstborn.

Psalm 78 51 Commentary

Psalm 78:51 encapsulates the decisive tenth plague, an act of judgment that profoundly altered the course of history for both Egypt and Israel. It was God's climactic declaration of His absolute power over all earthly realms and the false gods revered by the Egyptians. By targeting "all the firstborn," God directly attacked the core of Egyptian strength and future hope. This included the human firstborn, representing the heir and head of each household, and animal firstborn, vital for their economy and religious sacrifices. This specific judgment was highly polemical: it challenged deities like Ra (sun god, father of the Pharaoh and chief among gods), Osiris (god of the afterlife and fertility), Isis (goddess of motherhood and life), and animal gods, by demonstrating that they were utterly powerless to protect their devotees from the true God of Israel.

The death of the firstborn in Egypt served multiple purposes. It was a righteous judgment for Pharaoh's stubbornness and Egypt's cruelty to Israel. It compelled Egypt to release Israel, initiating their deliverance. Furthermore, it underscored God's faithfulness to His covenant people, distinguishing them through the Passover from the judgment that befell Egypt. This event established a lasting principle in Israel – the dedication of their own firstborn to God or their redemption through sacrifice, serving as a constant reminder of God's redemptive act and ownership. Thus, verse 51 is not merely a historical record but a profound theological statement about divine justice, sovereign power, and redemptive grace, revealing the God who judges evil and saves His people.