He struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their strength.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "the firstfruits of all their strength" is a powerful way to describe the firstborn, highlighting them as the peak of Egypt's prosperity and virility. It reveals how this plague wasn't just about loss, but about God dismantling the very source of Egypt's pride and power. This wasn't merely an attack on a demographic group, but a divine judgment on the heart of their strength and their claim to superiority.
He struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their strength.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage comes at the climax of the plagues God sent on Egypt to force them to release Israel. It describes the final, devastating plague that struck down every firstborn son and animal, a terrible blow to the heart of Egyptian life and strength. The psalm is recounting God's mighty acts of deliverance, moving towards the moment Israel finally marched out of Egypt, freed and provided for.
Imagine the ultimate loss. This wasn't just an inconvenience; it was the severing of lineage, the extinguishing of futures, and the devastating end of Egypt's strength.
The tenth plague, striking down every firstborn son in Egypt, was the absolute final act in God's judgment against Pharaoh's stubborn refusal to let Israel go. It wasn't a partial loss, but a complete and utter decimation.
The Scope of the Strike
This plague was the crescendo of God's power, demonstrating that He could dismantle the very foundations of Egypt's society and claim. It was the ultimate leverage that finally broke Pharaoh's will.
While a devastating judgment for Egypt, this event was simultaneously the birth pang of Israel's freedom. What does this dual nature reveal about God's character?
The striking down of Egypt's firstborn serves as a powerful Old Testament foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice that would bring about spiritual freedom for God's people.
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The Passover Parallel
The judgment on Egypt's firstborn highlights the terrible cost of sin and rebellion, while simultaneously showcasing God's plan of redemption through a substitute sacrifice, a theme that finds its perfect fulfillment in Jesus.
Understand the original words
bekhor · Hebrew Noun
In biblical contexts, this refers to the eldest son who, by law and tradition, held the rights of inheritance and represented the family's vitality. It is often used as a theological symbol of the devotion or offering due to God, who claims the firstborn as His own.
reshith · Hebrew Noun
The initial portion of a harvest given to God as a thanksgiving offering, signifying that the entire harvest belongs to Him. Metaphorically, it represents the best or the primary source of strength and productivity.
on · Hebrew Noun
Used in Scripture to describe a person's generative power or productivity. It emphasizes the physical vitality that produces offspring and sustenance.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Exodus from Egypt
Following the ten plagues, God's people were finally released from Egyptian bondage after 400 years. This event marked their liberation and the beginning of their journey to the Promised Land.
c. 1446 BC
The Tenth Plague
As the final plague, God struck down every firstborn male in Egypt, from Pharaoh's royal line to the lowest servant, and the firstborn of all livestock. This devastating blow finally broke the Egyptians' will and compelled them to let Israel go.
c. 1446 BC
Israel Departs Egypt
Under God's mighty hand, the Israelites left Egypt, taking with them riches and provisions. They were not a feeble or struggling people, but strong and ready for their journey.
This passage directly recounts the tenth plague, which is explicitly referenced here in Psalms 105:36, showing the specific historical event that the psalm is commemorating.
Psalm 78:51This psalm also recounts God's mighty acts for Israel, and uses very similar phrasing ('the chief of all their strength') to describe the firstborn struck down in Egypt, highlighting a consistent theological theme of divine judgment on oppressors.
Genesis 49:3This early patriarchal blessing uses the phrase 'firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength' to describe Reuben, illustrating the ancient cultural significance of the firstborn as representing the peak of a family's or nation's power, which makes their destruction in Egypt particularly devastating.
Deuteronomy 21:17This passage discusses the legal rights of the firstborn son, reinforcing the deep cultural and familial importance attached to this position, making the plague that struck them all all the more a profound and complete destruction of Egypt's future.
pulpitPsalms 105:36: "He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength."
Verse 36. - He smote also all the firstborn in their land (see Exodus 12:29). The chief of all their strength (comp. Psalm 78:51).
ellicottPsalms 105:36: "He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength."
(36) See Psalm 78:51 .
The phrase "the firstfruits of all their strength" is a powerful way to describe the firstborn, highlighting them as the peak of Egypt's prosperity and virility. It reveals how this plague wasn't just about loss, but about God dismantling the very source of Egypt's pride and power. This wasn't merely an attack on a demographic group, but a divine judgment on the heart of their strength and their claim to superiority.
This passage comes at the climax of the plagues God sent on Egypt to force them to release Israel. It describes the final, devastating plague that struck down every firstborn son and animal, a terrible blow to the heart of Egyptian life and strength. The psalm is recounting God's mighty acts of deliverance, moving towards the moment Israel finally marched out of Egypt, freed and provided for.
This passage comes at the climax of the plagues God sent on Egypt to force them to release Israel. It describes the final, devastating plague that struck down every firstborn son and animal, a terrible blow to the heart of Egyptian life and strength. The psalm is recounting God's mighty acts of deliverance, moving towards the moment Israel finally marched out of Egypt, freed and provided for.
"He struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their strength." — The phrase "the firstfruits of all their strength" is a powerful way to describe the firstborn, highlighting them as the peak of Egypt's prosperity and virility. It reveals how this plague wasn't jus…
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Last reviewed October 2026