Psalms 136:5-25

5 who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever.
6 who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever.
7 who made the great lights— His love endures forever.
8 the sun to govern the day, His love endures forever.
9 the moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever.
10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt His love endures forever.
11 and brought Israel out from among them His love endures forever.
12 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm; His love endures forever.
13 to him who divided the Red Sea[a] asunder His love endures forever.
14 and brought Israel through the midst of it, His love endures forever.
15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea; His love endures forever.
16 to him who led his people through the wilderness; His love endures forever.
17 to him who struck down great kings, His love endures forever.
18 and killed mighty kings— His love endures forever.
19 Sihon king of the Amorites His love endures forever.
20 and Og king of Bashan— His love endures forever.
21 and gave their land as an inheritance, His love endures forever.
22 an inheritance to his servant Israel. His love endures forever.
23 He remembered us in our low estate His love endures forever.
24 and freed us from our enemies. His love endures forever.
25 He gives food to every creature. His love endures forever.

Psalms 136:5-25 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 136

This psalm was very probably composed by David, and given to the Levites to sing every day, 1Ch 16:41. Solomon his son followed his example, and made use of them in singing at the dedication of the temple, 2Ch 7:3,6; as Jehoshaphat seems to have done when he went out to war against his enemies, 2Ch 20:21. The subject of it is much the same with the preceding psalm; its composition is very singular; the half of every verse: in it is, "for his mercy endureth for ever"; this is the burden of the song; and the design of it is to show, that all blessings of every kind flow from the grace, goodness, and mercy of God, which is constant and perpetual; and to impress a sense of it upon the minds of men: the inscription of the Syriac version is,

``it is said of Moses and Israel praising the Lord for those who were delivered; and concerning the deliverance of souls out of hell from Pharaoh, the devil, by Christ our Saviour, the Redeemer of them.''

R. Obadiah says it is an exhortation to the children of God in the days of the Messiah to praise the Lord.

Cross References 26

  • 1. Proverbs 3:19; Jeremiah 51:15
  • 2. S Genesis 1:1
  • 3. Genesis 1:9; S Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 42:5; Jeremiah 10:12; Jeremiah 33:2
  • 4. S Genesis 1:6; Psalms 24:2
  • 5. Genesis 1:14,16; Psalms 74:16; James 1:17
  • 6. S Genesis 1:16
  • 7. S Exodus 4:23; S Exodus 12:12; Exodus 12:29; Psalms 135:8
  • 8. S Exodus 6:6; Exodus 12:51; Exodus 13:3; Psalms 105:43
  • 9. S Exodus 3:20; S Deuteronomy 5:15
  • 10. S Deuteronomy 9:29; Deuteronomy 4:34; Psalms 44:3
  • 11. Exodus 14:21; S Psalms 78:13
  • 12. Exodus 14:22; Psalms 106:9
  • 13. S Exodus 14:27; Psalms 135:9
  • 14. S Exodus 13:18; Psalms 78:52
  • 15. Numbers 21:23-25; Joshua 24:8-11; Psalms 78:55; Psalms 135:9-12
  • 16. Deuteronomy 29:7; S Joshua 12:7-24
  • 17. Numbers 21:21-25
  • 18. Numbers 21:33-35
  • 19. Joshua 12:1
  • 20. S Deuteronomy 1:38; S Joshua 14:1
  • 21. S Deuteronomy 29:8; Psalms 78:55
  • 22. Isaiah 20:3; Isaiah 41:8; Isaiah 42:19; Isaiah 43:10; Isaiah 44:1,21; Isaiah 45:4; Isaiah 49:5-7
  • 23. Psalms 78:39; Psalms 103:14; Psalms 115:12; Psalms 113:7
  • 24. S Joshua 10:14; S Nehemiah 9:28
  • 25. S Deuteronomy 6:19; Psalms 107:2
  • 26. S Genesis 1:30; S Matthew 6:26; Psalms 104:27; Psalms 145:15

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or the Sea of Reeds; also in verse 15
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