but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever;
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Hebrew word used here for "overthrew" isn't just about defeat; it's more like God "shook off" Pharaoh and his army, as if they were unwanted pests. This highlights the utter contempt and finality with which God dealt with them, all while demonstrating His enduring love for Israel.
but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever;
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm is a grand recounting of God's faithfulness, moving from creation to His deliverance of Israel. Right before this verse, it praises God for parting the Red Sea and leading His people through it. This verse then focuses on the devastating defeat of Pharaoh and his army in those same waters, highlighting God's power to both save His people and destroy their enemies.
The word for 'overthrew' here isn't just about a forceful defeat. It paints a vivid picture of divine dismissal.
The Hebrew word used here, often translated as 'overthrew,' literally means 'to shake off.' Think of shaking dust off your sandals or a tree shedding its leaves. This imagery suggests God didn't just defeat Pharaoh and his army; He dislodged them, casting them off as something unwanted and insignificant. It implies a decisive, almost contemptuous rejection of their power and threat. This wasn't a wrestling match; it was a divine eviction. The destruction of Pharaoh's host wasn't just a military victory; it was a declaration that they were worthless in the face of God's power and His people's freedom.
How can the destruction of an entire army be described as an act of 'steadfast love'?
This verse throws us into a profound theological truth: God's steadfast love for His people is so powerful that it can be expressed even through the judgment of their enemies. The destruction of Pharaoh and his army wasn't just a display of divine wrath; it was the necessary means for Israel's liberation. Their annihilation secured Israel's safety and future. So, while judgment fell on the Egyptians, the purpose and outcome for Israel was rescue and deliverance. This reveals that 'steadfast love' isn't always gentle comfort; it's a fierce, protective commitment that will remove any obstacle standing between God and His beloved, even if that obstacle is a powerful army.
Understand the original words
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Par'oh · Hebrew Proper Noun
A royal title for the ancient Egyptian monarchs; in Scripture, he represents the oppressive, defiant worldly power that stands against God and His people.
chayil · Hebrew Noun
A military force or army; in this context, the collective organized strength of the oppressor that was defeated by the power of God.
This verse recalls the dramatic climax of the Exodus: God's powerful deliverance of Israel by destroying Pharaoh's pursuing army in the Red Sea. It highlights that even in acts of judgment against enemies, God's 'steadfast love' for His people is the driving force.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
After generations in slavery, the Israelites are miraculously led out of Egypt by God through Moses.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Parting of the Red Sea
God miraculously parts the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to escape Pharaoh's pursuing army.
c. 1446 BC
Destruction of Pharaoh's Army
As the Israelites cross, the Red Sea returns to its place, drowning Pharaoh and his entire army.
c. 1446 BC
Song of the Sea
Moses and the Israelites sing a powerful song of praise and thanksgiving to God for their deliverance.
c. 1445-1405 BC
Wandering in the Wilderness
The Israelites journey through the Sinai wilderness for forty years, sustained by God's provision and guidance.
This passage describes the same event, using a similar verb to 'overthrew,' which the original Hebrew suggests means 'shook off,' emphasizing God's decisive action against Pharaoh's army.
Exodus 15:1-21This is the song of Moses and the Israelites immediately after crossing the Red Sea, celebrating God's deliverance from Pharaoh and His steadfast love.
Romans 8:37This New Testament passage echoes the enduring nature of God's love, stating that nothing can separate believers from it, much like Pharaoh's destruction didn't negate God's enduring love for Israel.
Jeremiah 31:35-36This prophetic passage speaks of God's enduring covenant and faithfulness, assuring His people that their nation will continue forever, paralleling the eternal nature of His steadfast love shown in the Red Sea event.
cambridgePsalms 136:15: "But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever."
15 . And he hath lifted up a horn for his people, a praise for all his beloved, even the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Hallelujah, ( Psalm 148:14 ). If this hymn was composed by Ben Sira, it proves that he was familiar with Psalms, some of which have been regarded as among the latest in the Psalter, and it affords a strong presumption that the Psalter was complete before b.c. 180.…
barnesPsalms 136:15: "But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever."
But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea - Margin, as in Hebrew, shaked off. The word is applicable to a tree shaking off its foliage. Isaiah 33:9 . The same word is used in Exodus 14:27 : "And the Lord overthrew (Margin, shook off) the Egyptians in the midst of the sea," He shook them off as if he would no longer protect them. He left them to perish. For his mercy ... - Their destructi…
The Hebrew word used here for "overthrew" isn't just about defeat; it's more like God "shook off" Pharaoh and his army, as if they were unwanted pests. This highlights the utter contempt and finality with which God dealt with them, all while demonstrating His enduring love for Israel.
This psalm is a grand recounting of God's faithfulness, moving from creation to His deliverance of Israel. Right before this verse, it praises God for parting the Red Sea and leading His people through it. This verse then focuses on the devastating defeat of Pharaoh and his army in those same waters, highlighting God's power to both save His people and destroy their enemies.
This psalm is a grand recounting of God's faithfulness, moving from creation to His deliverance of Israel. Right before this verse, it praises God for parting the Red Sea and leading His people through it. This verse then focuses on the devastating defeat of Pharaoh and his army in those same waters, highlighting God's power to both save His people and destroy their enemies.
"but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever;" — The Hebrew word used here for "overthrew" isn't just about defeat; it's more like God "shook off" Pharaoh and his army, as if they were unwanted pests. This highlights the utter contempt and finality…
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Last reviewed October 2026