Psalms 136:4-14

4 He alone performs great miracles; his love is eternal.

5 By his wisdom he made the heavens; ¹ his love is eternal;

6 he built the earth on the deep waters; ² his love is eternal.

7 He made the sun and the moon; ³ his love is eternal;

8 the sun to rule over the day; his love is eternal;

9 the moon and the stars to rule over the night; his love is eternal.

10 He killed the first-born sons of the Egyptians; ⁴ his love is eternal.

11 He led the people of Israel out of Egypt; ⁵ his love is eternal;

12 with his strong hand, his powerful arm; his love is eternal.

13 He divided the Red Sea; ⁶ his love is eternal;

14 he led his people through it; his love is eternal;

Psalms 136:4-14 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

• 1. 136.5Genesis 1.1.
• 2. 136.6Genesis 1.2.
• 3. 136.7-9Genesis 1.16.
• 4. 136.10Exodus 12.29.
• 5. 136.11Exodus 12.51.
• 6. 136.13-15Exodus 14.21-29.