Psalms 78:51
He struck down every firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of their strength in the tents of Ham.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrase "firstfruits of their strength" powerfully highlights that God struck down not just the eldest sons, but the very hope and future of Egypt, their most prized possessions. Calling Egypt the "tents of Ham" also subtly emphasizes their lineage from a cursed ancestor, making them a fitting target for divine judgment.
This section of the psalm recounts the plagues God sent upon Egypt, not chronologically, but thematically to highlight Israel's persistent ingratitude. After detailing earlier plagues like turning rivers to blood and sending swarms of insects, the psalm culminates in the final, devastating plague. This plague directly struck at the heart of Egyptian society and its perceived power – the firstborn sons, the future of every family and the nation itself.
Why did God target the firstborn? This wasn't just any group; they represented Egypt's hope and future.
The tenth plague, the death of the firstborn, was the most devastating blow against Egypt. The text calls them the 'chief of their strength' and the 'firstfruits of their strength'.
Symbol of Hope
In ancient cultures, the firstborn son was heir to the family name, fortune, and legacy. He was the continuation of the family line, the embodiment of their future prosperity and influence. To strike the firstborn was to strike at the very heart of Egypt's hope for continuity and power.
Divine Judgment
This wasn't random violence. The phrase 'tents of Ham' refers to Egypt, the descendants of Ham, a lineage often associated with curses in biblical tradition. God's judgment, while fierce, was precise and aimed at the source of Egypt's oppressive power. It was a demonstration that the 'strength' Egypt relied upon was ultimately no match for God's power.
How can God 'make a way' for His anger? This plague was the culmination of judgment, but also a pivotal act of deliverance.
The plague of the firstborn wasn't an uncontrolled outburst of rage. The psalmist notes that God 'made a way to his anger.' This implies intentionality and purpose behind the judgment.
The Purpose of Wrath
God's wrath is not arbitrary. It is a righteous response to prolonged sin and oppression. By 'making a way,' God was orchestrating the final act of judgment that would force Pharaoh to let His people go. It was the necessary, albeit terrible, step to achieve Israel's freedom.
The Intersection of Judgment and Mercy
While devastating for the Egyptians, this act was the ultimate expression of God's mercy toward Israel. It was the final, decisive blow that secured their liberation from slavery. The very force that destroyed Egypt's power simultaneously paved the way for Israel's exodus. This highlights a profound biblical truth: God's judgment is often intertwined with His redemptive purposes for His people.
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.
This verse recalls the final, devastating plague God sent upon Egypt – the death of the firstborn. It highlights God's fierce judgment against those who oppress His people and serves as a stark reminder of the immense power He wields, even against powerful nations, to bring about His redemptive purposes.
c. 15th-13th century BC
Israelite enslavement in Egypt
The Israelites lived in Egypt for centuries, eventually becoming enslaved and forced into hard labor under Egyptian rule.
c. 1446 BC
The Exodus from Egypt
God led the Israelites out of Egypt through Moses, performing mighty signs and wonders.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
The Ten Plagues of Egypt
As Pharaoh repeatedly refused to let the Israelites go, God sent ten devastating plagues upon Egypt, culminating in the death of every firstborn Egyptian.
c. 1446 BC
Wilderness Wandering
Following the Exodus, the Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years due to their disobedience and lack of faith.
This passage directly describes the tenth plague of Egypt, the death of the firstborn, which is the event referenced in Psalm 78:51. It highlights the finality and severity of God's judgment upon Egypt.
Genesis 49:3This verse defines the 'firstborn' as the 'firstfruits of his strength,' a phrase echoed in Psalm 78:51. It connects the concept of firstborn sons to their father's power and lineage, emphasizing the devastating loss when they were struck down.
Genesis 10:6This verse identifies Ham as the ancestor of Mizraim, the progenitor of the Egyptians, thus explaining why the Psalmist refers to Egypt as the 'tents of Ham' in Psalm 78:51. It grounds the historical and geographical reference in the biblical lineage.
Psalm 105:36This Psalm recounts the Exodus and the plagues of Egypt, and directly parallels Psalm 78:51 by stating, 'He smote all the firstborn of their land, the chief of all their strength.' It reinforces the historical narrative and the significance of this plague within God's redemptive actions for Israel.
Numbers 33:3-4These verses also recall the plagues of Egypt, specifically mentioning the death of the firstborn as a judgment 'against their gods.' This adds another layer of understanding to Psalm 78:51, suggesting that the plague was not just a physical blow but also a spiritual one against Egyptian deities.
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" powerfully highlights that God struck down not just the eldest sons, but the very hope and future of Egypt, their most prized possessions. Calling Egypt the "tents of Ham" also subtly emphasizes their lineage from a cursed ancestor, making them a fitting target for divine judgment.
This section of the psalm recounts the plagues God sent upon Egypt, not chronologically, but thematically to highlight Israel's persistent ingratitude. After detailing earlier plagues like turning rivers to blood and sending swarms of insects, the psalm culminates in the final, devastating plague. This plague directly struck at the heart of Egyptian society and its perceived power – the firstborn sons, the future of every family and the nation itself.
This section of the psalm recounts the plagues God sent upon Egypt, not chronologically, but thematically to highlight Israel's persistent ingratitude. After detailing earlier plagues like turning rivers to blood and sending swarms of insects, the psalm culminates in the final, devastating plague. This plague directly struck at the heart of Egyptian society and its perceived power – the firstborn sons, the future of every family and the nation itself.
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c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan
After 40 years of wandering, the Israelites, under Joshua's leadership, entered and began conquering the Promised Land.
c. 1000 BC
Reign of King David
The psalm's reference to David suggests a date after his anointing and establishment as king over all Israel.
"He struck down every firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of their strength in the tents of Ham." — The phrase "firstfruits of their strength" powerfully highlights that God struck down not just the eldest sons, but the very hope and future of Egypt, their most prized possessions. Calling Egypt the…
