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Psalm 78:51
and struck all the firstborn in Egypt, the chief of their strength in the tents of Ham.
49He threw on them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, indignation, and trouble, and a band of angels of evil.
50He made a path for his anger. He didn’t spare their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence,
51and struck all the firstborn in Egypt, the chief of their strength in the tents of Ham.
52But he led out his own people like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
53He led them safely, so that they weren’t afraid, but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
Notice
The death of Egypt’s firstborn interrupts any easy reading of Israel’s rescue, confronting you with the severity of God’s judgment.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What troubles you as you read that God struck Egypt’s firstborn?
Write on thisHow does calling the firstborn Egypt’s strength shape your reading of this judgment?
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Where else Scripture says this
11 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; Exodus names the reach of that judgment, from Pharaoh’s household to the captive and livestock.
Psalm 105:23Israel also came into Egypt. Jacob lived in the land of Ham.Both use Ham as a name associated with Egypt, where Israel lived before the judgment recalled in Psalm 78.
Genesis 49:3“Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in dignity, and excelling in power.Both associate the firstborn with strength: Jacob speaks of Reuben, while the psalm speaks of Egypt’s firstborn.
Psalm 135:8He struck the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and animal.Both recount God striking Egypt’s firstborn, with Psalm 135 naming both human and animal deaths.
Psalm 106:22wondrous works in the land of Ham, and awesome things by the Red Sea.Both recall God’s acts in the land associated with Ham; Psalm 78 names the deaths of Egypt’s firstborn.
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 …Exodus announces the death of Egypt’s firstborn, while Psalm 78 recalls that judgment as an event that took place.
Psalm 136:10to him who struck down the Egyptian firstborn, for his loving kindness endures forever;Both remember God striking Egypt’s firstborn; Psalm 136 includes this judgment within its repeated declaration of his enduring loving kindness.
Exodus 13:15When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of …Both recount the killing of Egypt’s firstborn; Exodus connects the event with Pharaoh’s refusal and Israel’s practice of redeeming firstborn sons.
Genesis 10:6The sons of Ham were: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.The shared name is Ham: Genesis lists his sons, while the psalm uses his name in describing Egypt.
Genesis 14:5In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and struck the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh …Both contain the name Ham, though Genesis describes a military attack rather than the death of Egypt’s firstborn.
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 links that day with his claim on Israel’s firstborn.
Where this verse fits
Doubt. sermon or Bible study notes.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
The deaths remain hard to read. The psalm records them as God’s judgment, then tells how that same God guided his people like a flock.
Now put it in your words.
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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).