Psalms 136:11-21

11 He led the people of Israel out of Egypt; 1 his love is eternal;
12 with his strong hand, his powerful arm; his love is eternal.
13 He divided the Red Sea; 2 his love is eternal;
14 he led his people through it; his love is eternal;
15 but he drowned the king of Egypt and his army; his love is eternal.
16 He led his people through the desert; his love is eternal.
17 He killed powerful kings; his love is eternal;
18 he killed famous kings; his love is eternal;
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites; 3 his love is eternal;
20 and Og, king of Bashan; 4 his love is eternal.
21 He gave their lands to his people; his love is eternal;

Psalms 136:11-21 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 4

  • 1. 136.11Exodus 12.51.
  • 2. 136.13-15Exodus 14.21-29.
  • 3. 136.19Numbers 21.21-30.
  • 4. 136.20Numbers 21.31-35.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.