He struck down every firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of their strength in the tents of Ham.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "firstfruits of their strength" highlights how the Egyptians' most prized possessions—their firstborn sons—were destroyed. This wasn't just a random killing; it was a targeted strike at the very heart of their lineage and future, revealing the devastating extent of God's judgment.
He struck down every firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of their strength in the tents of Ham.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse appears in the latter half of Psalm 78, which recounts Israel's history to teach future generations. After detailing Israel's constant unfaithfulness and God's persistent patience, the psalm shifts to recounting God's powerful judgments against Egypt during the Exodus. The focus here is on the final, devastating plague that broke Pharaoh's will and led to Israel's liberation.
Ever heard of the 'firstfruits' of wrath? This verse uses a term usually reserved for blessing to describe a terrible judgment. What does that tell us about God's justice and mercy?
This verse calls the firstborn slain in Egypt the "firstfruits of their strength." This is a powerful literary choice.
A Term of Blessing Turned to Judgment
Normally, 'firstfruits' (Hebrew: reshit) refers to the very first and best of a harvest, which was offered to God as a sign of gratitude and trust. It represented the hope of the entire harvest to come. It was a blessing, a symbol of abundance and God's provision.
The Ultimate Loss
By calling the slain firstborn the "firstfruits of their strength," the psalm highlights the absolute devastation of the tenth plague. It wasn't just a loss; it was the destruction of Egypt's future, their pride, their hope, and their heir apparent – the very essence of their vitality and continuation. It was the most painful and devastating blow possible.
Divine Justice at Work
This wasn't random violence. The "strength" here refers to their lineage and power. By striking the firstborn, God was executing a precise and targeted judgment. It demonstrated that He sees the deep roots of pride and oppression and will not let them stand. It shows that even what a nation cherishes most can be laid bare before divine justice.
Ask a follow-up
Why does the psalm refer to Egypt as the 'tents of Ham'? This seemingly small detail carries a heavy theological weight, connecting Egypt's fate to its ancient ancestry.
The phrase "tents of Ham" is more than just a geographical descriptor; it's a theological statement carrying the weight of history and judgment.
A Cursed Legacy
Ham was one of Noah's sons, and his own son, Canaan, was cursed by Noah (Genesis 9:25). The descendants of Ham, including the Egyptians (Mizraim being a son of Ham), were seen in this ancient worldview as carrying a shadow of that ancestral curse. While this doesn't mean every individual Egyptian was inherently evil, it provides a backdrop for why God's judgment fell so heavily upon them.
Divine Sovereignty Over Nations
Calling Egypt the "tents of Ham" reminds us that God is sovereign not only over Israel but over all nations. He establishes them, judges them, and works His purposes through them, even when they are in opposition to Him. The psalm is recounting God's mighty acts, and part of that is His judgment on oppressive nations.
Judgment on Oppression
The plagues, culminating in the death of the firstborn, were a direct response to Egypt's brutal oppression of God's people. The "tents of Ham" were the very place where Israel suffered immense hardship, and God's judgment came to that place, demonstrating that He hears the cries of the oppressed.
Understand the original words
bekor · Hebrew Noun
The oldest son in a family, often holding a place of honor, inheritance rights, and symbolic representation of the entire family or nation. In Scripture, the firstborn often signifies the strength and future of a household, and the firstborn of Egypt were struck as a judgment against the gods of Egypt.
reshith · Hebrew Noun
The initial yield of a harvest, set apart as a sign of the whole. Metaphorically, it refers to the prime or best part of something, and here it emphasizes the supreme loss suffered by Egypt as a result of God's judgment.
Cham · Hebrew Noun
A geographic or ancestral designation for Egypt, tracing the line of Ham, the son of Noah. It serves as a reminder of the historical origin of the nation oppressed by God’s judgment.
Psalm 78's recounting of the plagues, especially the death of Egypt's firstborn, serves as a stark reminder of God's power and judgment, intended to impress upon the Israelites the vital importance of remembering His mighty acts and remaining faithful.
c. 1500-1300 BC
Israelites Enslaved in Egypt
Following a period of prosperity after Joseph's time, the Israelites become a large population in Egypt, eventually leading to their enslavement by a new dynasty.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
The Exodus from Egypt
God delivers the Israelites from over 400 years of slavery through a series of ten devastating plagues, culminating in the death of every firstborn Egyptian male.
c. 1446-1406 BC
Wandering in the Wilderness
After the Exodus, the Israelites spend 40 years in the wilderness, during which they repeatedly grumble against God and Moses, testing God's patience despite His provision.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites begin to conquer and settle the Promised Land, fulfilling God's covenant promises.
c. 1000 BC
Davidic Kingdom Established
David is established as king over a united Israel, marking a golden age for the nation and establishing Jerusalem as its capital.
Post-Exilic Period (after 539 BC)
Psalms Written and Compiled
Psalms like Psalm 78 are written and compiled, often reflecting on Israel's history to teach and encourage future generations.
This passage directly describes the tenth plague, the death of the firstborn in Egypt, providing the historical event that Psalm 78 recounts.
Genesis 49:3This verse uses the same imagery of 'firstborn' being the 'firstfruits of his strength,' highlighting the significance of the firstborn in ancient understanding and thus the severity of the plague.
Psalm 105:36This verse also recounts the plagues of Egypt, specifically mentioning the slaying of the firstborn and reinforcing the theme of God's judgment on Egypt for Israel's sake.
Nahum 3:8This passage refers to 'No-amon' (Thebes), the capital city of Egypt, as a place where destruction befell, echoing the devastation described in Psalm 78:51 as it targeted the heart of Egyptian strength.
poolePsalms 78:51: "And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:"
The chief of their strength; another expression noting the first-born, who are so called, Genesis 49:3 . Of Ham; of the Egyptians, the posterity of Ham, Genesis 10:6 ; which title he there gives them, to intimate that they were the cursed children of a cursed parent, Ham, Genesis 9:25 , and therefore were proper objects for Divine wrath and vengeance.
expositorsPsalms 78:1-72: "Maschil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth."
Psalm 78:1-72 THIS psalm is closely related to Psalm 105:1-45 ; Psalm 106:1-48 ; Psalm 107:1-43 . Like them, it treats the history of Israel, and especially the Exodus and wilderness wanderings, for purposes of edification, rebuke, and encouragement. The past is held up as a mirror to the present generation. It has been one long succession of miracles of mercy met by equally continu…
The phrase "firstfruits of their strength" highlights how the Egyptians' most prized possessions—their firstborn sons—were destroyed. This wasn't just a random killing; it was a targeted strike at the very heart of their lineage and future, revealing the devastating extent of God's judgment.
This verse appears in the latter half of Psalm 78, which recounts Israel's history to teach future generations. After detailing Israel's constant unfaithfulness and God's persistent patience, the psalm shifts to recounting God's powerful judgments against Egypt during the Exodus. The focus here is on the final, devastating plague that broke Pharaoh's will and led to Israel's liberation.
This verse appears in the latter half of Psalm 78, which recounts Israel's history to teach future generations. After detailing Israel's constant unfaithfulness and God's persistent patience, the psalm shifts to recounting God's powerful judgments against Egypt during the Exodus. The focus here is on the final, devastating plague that broke Pharaoh's will and led to Israel's liberation.
"He struck down every firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of their strength in the tents of Ham." — The phrase "firstfruits of their strength" highlights how the Egyptians' most prized possessions—their firstborn sons—were destroyed. This wasn't just a random killing; it was a targeted strike at th…
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Last reviewed October 2026