Read
Psalm 105:36
He struck also all the firstborn in their land, the first fruits of all their manhood.
34He spoke, and the locusts came with the grasshoppers, without number.
36He struck also all the firstborn in their land, the first fruits of all their manhood.
37He brought them out with silver and gold. There was not one feeble person among his tribes.
38Egypt was glad when they departed, for the fear of them had fallen on them.
Notice
The death of Egypt’s firstborn makes this account of deliverance hard to read, as the psalm names God as the one who struck them.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What is hardest for you to face in this account of God striking Egypt’s firstborn?
Write on thisHow does the phrase “the first fruits of all their manhood” deepen your sense of the loss?
Write on thisConnect
Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Exodus 12:29At midnight, the LORD struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who …Both recount God striking Egypt’s firstborn, with Exodus naming the reach of death from Pharaoh’s throne to the captive’s dungeon.
Genesis 49:3“Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in dignity, and excelling in power.Both describe the firstborn in terms of the beginning of a man’s strength, language that adds weight to the psalm’s loss.
Psalm 78:51and struck all the firstborn in Egypt, the chief of their strength in the tents of Ham.Both psalms recount God striking Egypt’s firstborn and describe those lost as the foremost expression of their people’s strength.
Exodus 4:23and I have said to you, “Let my son go, that he may serve me;” and you have refused to let him go. Behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’”The death of the firstborn links these passages: Exodus records God’s warning to Pharaoh, and the psalm recounts the blow.
Exodus 11:5and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the female servant who is …Both name the death of Egypt’s firstborn, with Exodus spelling out its reach across households of different rank.
Psalm 135:8He struck the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and animal.Both attribute the striking of Egypt’s firstborn to God, while Psalm 135 also names the animals.
Deuteronomy 21:17but he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the hated, by giving him a double portion of all that he has; for he is the beginning of his strength. The …Both connect the firstborn with the beginning of a father’s strength, though Deuteronomy addresses inheritance and the psalm recounts death.
Psalm 136:10to him who struck down the Egyptian firstborn, for his loving kindness endures forever;Both recount God striking Egypt’s firstborn; Psalm 136 includes that judgment in its declaration of his enduring loving kindness.
Hebrews 11:28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.Both concern the striking of the firstborn, while Hebrews describes Passover faith and sprinkled blood protecting those who kept it.
Numbers 8:17For all the firstborn among the children of Israel are mine, both man and animal. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified …Both recall God striking Egypt’s firstborn; Numbers also records his claim upon Israel’s firstborn on that day.
Numbers 33:4while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had struck among them. The LORD also executed judgments on their gods.Both name the LORD’s striking of Egypt’s firstborn, while Numbers records the Egyptians burying their dead.
Exodus 12:12For I will go through the land of Egypt in that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and animal. I will execute judgments …Both identify God as the one who strikes Egypt’s firstborn; Exodus also names judgment against Egypt’s gods.
Where this verse fits
Doubt. sermon or Bible study notes.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
You do not have to hurry past the deaths recorded here. The psalm recounts a judgment in Egypt, where God struck the firstborn before bringing his people out.
Now put it in your words.
Start an entry on Psalm 105:36. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.
Keep goingPsalm 105 · the whole chapter with its connection mapPsalms · every chapterBuild a reading plan through Psalms
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).