Psalm 105:37-39
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The verse paints a picture of Israel exiting Egypt not as ragged refugees, but loaded with riches, like a victorious army. What's often missed is that "not one feeble person" literally means "not one who stumbled" – God’s power so strengthened them that every single person, no matter their prior condition, was fit and able for the demanding journey ahead.
Then he brought out Israel with silver and gold, and there was none among his tribes who stumbled. Egypt was glad when they departed, for dread of them had fallen upon it. He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light by night.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm is recounting God's faithfulness to Israel, recalling their miraculous exodus from Egypt. The text highlights how God not only freed them but did so with immense wealth, essentially the wages for their years of forced labor. Furthermore, it emphasizes God's power in enabling every single person, regardless of age or prior condition, to make the arduous journey without faltering.
Imagine leaving behind years of brutal slavery, not just empty-handed, but loaded with wealth. How did God turn their oppression into riches?
The Exodus wasn't just a rescue; it was a divine settlement of accounts.
A Just Reward
God's people had been forced into back-breaking labor for generations without pay. The 'silver and gold' they took from the Egyptians wasn't theft, but a righteous payment – the wages due for their suffering and their forced service. God, as the ultimate owner of all things, empowered them to 'ask' (a better translation than 'borrow') for what was rightfully theirs.
Divine Dispossession
This act also represented a turning of the tables. What the Egyptians had unjustly withheld, God now took back and gave to Israel, weakening their oppressors and strengthening His chosen people as they stepped into freedom.
Thousands of people, many weakened by hardship, setting out on a grueling desert trek. How was it possible that 'not one stumbled'?
The phrase 'none stumbled' points to a profound, miraculous strength imparted to all of Israel.
More Than Physical Fitness
This doesn't mean every single person was physically robust. Some may have been elderly or infirm. Instead, it signifies that God granted universal enablement. Those who walked had the strength to do so without faltering, and even those who might have been weak were somehow supported and carried along, ensuring no one was left behind or unable to make the journey.
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An Army of the Redeemed
The psalm likens their departure to a perfectly marching army, 'harnessed' and fit for duty. This wasn't just a mass of refugees; it was God's mighty host, a testament to His power to restore and equip His people for the path He had laid out for them.
Understand the original words
Yisra'el · Hebrew Noun
The name given to Jacob by God, representing the covenant people chosen to be God's possession. It signifies those who are in relationship with Yahweh and are the recipients of His redemptive acts.
pachad · Hebrew Noun
In the Bible, this often describes a feeling of reverential awe or overwhelming fear caused by the presence, power, or judgment of God. When applied to nations regarding God's people, it denotes the terror of confronting a people divinely protected.
anan · Hebrew Noun
An atmospheric phenomenon used by God throughout Scripture, particularly during the Exodus, as a visible sign of His presence, guidance, and protection. It also serves to conceal His glory, which is too great for humans to behold directly.
esh · Hebrew Noun
A primary biblical symbol for God's holiness, judgment, and refining presence. It is frequently associated with revelation and the guidance of His people.
This psalm celebrates not just the liberation of Israel, but the incredible way God sustained them, turning their exodus into a triumphant march, not a desperate flight.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
The Exodus from Egypt
God miraculously delivered the Israelites from over 400 years of slavery in Egypt, bringing them out with great wealth and a remarkably healthy populace.
c. 1446 BC
Plundering of the Egyptians
Before their departure, the Israelites were instructed by God to ask the Egyptians for silver, gold, and clothing, effectively receiving compensation for their years of forced labor.
c. 1446 BC
Journey through the Wilderness
Following the Exodus, the Israelites embarked on a forty-year journey through the Sinai Peninsula towards the Promised Land, facing various challenges and relying on God's provision.
c. 1406 BC
Entry into the Promised Land
After forty years of wandering, the Israelites, led by Joshua, finally entered and began conquering the land of Canaan, fulfilling God's promises to their ancestors.
This passage directly describes the Israelites 'borrowing' silver and gold from the Egyptians before their departure, which is the historical event referenced in Psalm 105:37.
Isaiah 5:27This verse speaks of a time when no one will be weary or stumble, a vivid image that parallels the strength and capability of the Israelites as they left Egypt, as described in the Psalm.
Numbers 21:10-20This narrative details Israel's journey through the wilderness, highlighting God's provision and protection during their travels, which underscores the miraculous nature of their strength and health during the Exodus.
1 Corinthians 10:4This New Testament passage refers to the 'spiritual rock' that followed Israel in the wilderness, connecting their physical sustenance and protection during the Exodus to spiritual realities in Christ.
pulpitPsalms 105:37: "He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes."
Verse 37. - He brought them forth also with silver and gold (Exodus 12:35, 36; comp. 3:21, 22). And there was not one feeble person among their tribes; literally, there was not one that stumbled among their tribes, or among his tribes. Probably there were many feeble persons, who were carried on beasts of burden, or in carts, or by their friends. But all those who walked had…
ellicottPsalms 105:37: "He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes."
(37) Feeble person. —Literally, stumbling. (Comp. Isaiah 5:27 : “None shall be weary or stumble among them,” i.e., none unfit for the march and military duty.)
The verse paints a picture of Israel exiting Egypt not as ragged refugees, but loaded with riches, like a victorious army. What's often missed is that "not one feeble person" literally means "not one who stumbled" – God’s power so strengthened them that every single person, no matter their prior condition, was fit and able for the demanding journey ahead.
This psalm is recounting God's faithfulness to Israel, recalling their miraculous exodus from Egypt. The text highlights how God not only freed them but did so with immense wealth, essentially the wages for their years of forced labor. Furthermore, it emphasizes God's power in enabling every single person, regardless of age or prior condition, to make the arduous journey without faltering.
This psalm is recounting God's faithfulness to Israel, recalling their miraculous exodus from Egypt. The text highlights how God not only freed them but did so with immense wealth, essentially the wages for their years of forced labor. Furthermore, it emphasizes God's power in enabling every single person, regardless of age or prior condition, to make the arduous journey without faltering.
"Then he brought out Israel with silver and gold, and there was none among his tribes who stumbled. Egypt was glad when they departed, for dread of them had fallen upon it. He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire…" — The verse paints a picture of Israel exiting Egypt not as ragged refugees, but loaded with riches, like a victorious army. What's often missed is that "not one feeble person" literally means "not one…
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Last reviewed October 2026
