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Psalms 78:51 — Word Study

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WLCוַיַּ֣ךְ כָּל־ בְּכ֣וֹר בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם רֵאשִׁ֥ית א֝וֹנִ֗ים בְּאָהֳלֵי־ חָֽם׃

BSAHe strucknâkâh [smiteth, caused to die] allkôl the firstbornbᵉkôwr [chief, beginning] of EgyptMitsrayim [the land, the people] the virilityʼôwn [strength, first-fruits] in the tentsʼôhel [tabernacles, homes] of HamChâm [a son of Noah, his descendants]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 78
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 51 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (Cham) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 78:51quick helps
In a sentenceGod struck down all the firstborn of Egypt, showing His power over the land.
Who is speakingThe psalmist recounts God's actions during the Exodus.
Where we areThis verse is part of a historical recounting of God's judgments against Egypt.
The hard wordבְּכ֣וֹר
Take awayThe verse emphasizes God's judgment and the significance of the firstborn.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbנָכָה The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Psalms 78:51

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — God's Judgments on Egyptgenerated

50He cleared a path for His anger; He did not spare them from death but delivered their lives to the plague.
51He struck all the firstborn of Egypt, the virility in the tents of Ham.
52He led out His people like sheep and guided them like a flock in the wilderness.
53He led them safely, so they did not fear, but the sea engulfed their enemies.

Psalm 78:51 recounts the moment when God executed judgment upon Egypt by striking down their firstborn. This act was part of a series of plagues that led to the liberation of the Israelites from slavery. The psalmist reflects on this historical event to remind the people of God's power and faithfulness. The context includes other plagues and the eventual deliverance of Israel, as seen in verses surrounding this one.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 105:36Then He struck all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their vigor.
2Psalm 135:8He struck down the firstborn of Egypt, of both man and beast.
3Psalm 136:10He struck down the firstborn of Egypt His loving devotion endures forever.
4Exodus 12:12–29On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn male, both man and beast, and I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD.
5Exodus 13:15And when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both of man and beast. This is why I sacrifice to the LORD the firstborn male of every womb, but I redeem all the firstborn of my sons.’

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 11 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

the chiefGenesis 49:3

The Key Word בְּכ֣וֹר, be.Khorgenerated

The word בְּכֹר (be.Khor) means 'firstborn', referring specifically to the firstborn child or animal. In biblical narratives, the firstborn often holds a position of importance and privilege, as seen in various contexts throughout the Scriptures.

In this verse, it highlights the severity of God's judgment, as the firstborn represents not just individuals but the strength and future of a household. The use of this term underscores the gravity of the event in Egypt, where the firstborns were struck down as a direct act of divine intervention.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

Translations generally agree on the rendering of the verse, consistently conveying the act of God striking down the firstborn in Egypt.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the verse is וַיַּ֣ךְ (vai.Yakh), meaning 'and he struck down', which governs the entire sentence. The structure emphasizes the action taken by God against Egypt's firstborn.

This construction highlights the direct relationship between the subject (God) and the object (the firstborn), illustrating the severity of the judgment in a straightforward manner.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates the verb וַיַּ֣ךְ as ἐπάταχεν (epatachen), which also means 'he struck'. This choice maintains the sense of a decisive action taken by God.

The use of this Greek term aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, reinforcing the understanding of God's power in executing judgment.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 78:51 recounts how God struck down all the firstborn of Egypt, which was a significant act of judgment. This event is part of the larger narrative of God's deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, emphasizing His power and authority.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the term 'firstborn' signify in this context?

In this context, 'firstborn' refers to the first child or animal born in a family, often holding a special status and representing the strength of the household.

Why did God strike down the firstborn of Egypt?

This act was a judgment against Egypt for their oppression of the Israelites and was part of the final plague that led to their release from slavery.

What is the significance of mentioning 'the tents of Ham'?

The mention of 'the tents of Ham' connects the judgment to the descendants of Ham, often associated with Egypt, highlighting the geographical and familial context of the event.

How does this verse relate to other biblical accounts of God's judgment?

This verse parallels other accounts of divine judgment in the Bible, such as the plagues in Exodus, illustrating God's sovereignty and power over nations.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What does this verse teach us about God's judgment and mercy?
  2. How can we understand the significance of the firstborn in our own lives today?
  3. In what ways does this historical account impact our understanding of God's character?
  4. How can we apply the lessons from this judgment to our own actions and decisions?

The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it

Early Church Fathers have commented on this verse, often highlighting God's judgments and their significance in biblical history.

Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 78 354–430
The Psalm proceeds then after the commemoration of the plagues of the Egyptians [Psalms 78:51] and says, "And He took away like sheep His people,
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 78 →

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 78:51 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And smote all the firstborn in Egypt,.... From the prince to the peasant; and not only the firstborn of men, but of beasts also, Exodus 12:29, the chief of their strength; or first of it, as the

Read John Gill on Psalms 78 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 78 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

The chief of their strength; another expression noting the first-born, who are so called, . Of Ham; of the Egyptians, the posterity of Ham, ; which title he there gives them, to intimate that they were the cursed children of a cursed parent, Ham, , and therefore were proper objects for Divine wrath and vengeance.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 78 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 78:51 And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of [their] strength in the tabernacles of Ham:Ver. 51. And smote all the firstborn in Egypt] Certo pestis genere perniciocissimo et acutissimo. The Rabbis say that in each house was a dead corpse, viz. the chieftain of the family, whether there were a firstborn in it or not, Exodus 12:30. In the tabernacle of Ham] Who was the father of Mizraim, the founder of the Egyptians, Genesis 10:6, who vainly boasted that they were αυτοχθονες, as ancient as their land. Herodotus, the author of that story, tells us also of a certain great town in Egypt called Chemmim, from Cham likely.

Read John Trapp on Psalms 78 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

51. the chief of their strength] The beginning, or, firstlings of strength, a term applied to firstborn sons in Genesis 49:3; Deuteronomy 21:17. So Psalms 105:36. in the tabernacles of Ham] R.V. tents. Ham was the ancestor of Mizraim, i.e. Egypt, Genesis 10:6. Cp. Psalms 105:23; Psalms 105:27; Psalms 106:22.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 78 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And smote all the firstborn in Egypt - See Exodus 11:4-5; Exodus 12:29-30. The chief of their strength - Those on whom they relied; their firstborn; their pride; their glory; their heirs. Compare Genesis 49:3.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 78 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

51. Smote all the firstborn—The last and effectual plague. The greatness of the judgment, and its singular feature in falling only upon the “firstborn,” marked it as a direct visitation of God.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 78 →

The verse in English, compared — 16 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

He struck all the firstborn of Egypt, the virility in the tents of Ham.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

and struck all the firstborn in Egypt, the chief of their strength in the tents of Ham.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

He struck all the firstborn of Egypt, the virility in the tents of Ham.

NETBNew English Translation2006

He struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of their reproductive power in the tents of Ham.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And smote all the first-born in Egypt, The chief of their strength in the tents of Ham.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And smote all the firstborn in Egypt, the chief of their strength in the tents of Ham:

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And smote all the first-born in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And smote al the firstborne in Egypt, euen the beginning of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And he smote all the firstborn in Egypt, the first-fruits of their vigour in the tents of Ham.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And He smiteth every first-born in Egypt, The first-fruit of the strong in tents of Ham.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And He strikes every firstborn in Egypt, || The first-fruit of the strong in tents of Ham.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And he smote all the first-born in Egypt; the first of their strength in the tents of Ham;

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

He killed all the firstborn in Egypt, the firstborn of their strength in the tents of Ham.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

He struck down all the firstborn of Egypt, the first to be conceived in the tents of Ham.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

He gave to destruction all the first sons of Egypt; the first-fruits of their strength in the tents of Ham;

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

וַandclauseclauseverbיַּ֣ךְhe.struck.downnoun phrase · objectכָּלeveryבְּכ֣וֹרfirstbornprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּinמִצְרָ֑יִםEgyptclausenoun phrase · objectרֵאשִׁ֥ית[the].beginningא֝וֹנִ֗יםof.generative.power(s)prepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּinnoun phraseאָהֳלֵיthe.tentsחָֽםof.Ham

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint generally agree in the wording of this verse, with 7 of the 8 words matched. The Septuagint's structure and articles differ, but the core message remains consistent.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וַיַּ֣ךְ כָּל־ בְּכ֣וֹר בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם רֵאשִׁ֥ית א֝וֹנִ֗ים בְּאָהֳלֵי־ חָֽם׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיַּ֣ךְἐπάταχενכָּל־πᾶνבְּכ֣וֹרπρωτότοκονבְּמִצְרָ֑יִםαἰγύπτῳרֵאשִׁ֥יתἀπαρξὴνבְּאָהֳלֵי־σκηνώμασιחָֽם׃ξαμ

7 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Psalms 78:51נָכָהand he struand he struck dנָכָהכֹּלeveryeveryכֹּלבְּכוֹרfirstbornfirstbornבְּכוֹרמִצְרַ֫יִםin Egyptin Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםרֵאשִׁית[the] begin[the] beginningרֵאשִׁיתאוֹןmanly vigormanly vigorאוֹןאֹ֫הֶלin [the] tein [the] tents אֹ֫הֶלחָםHamHamחָםכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלבָּכַרto be/bearto be/bear firsבָּכַראָהַלto shineto shineאָהַלמָצוֹרEgyptEgyptמָצוֹררֹאשׁheadheadרֹאשׁאָ֫וֶןevil: wickevil: wickednesאָ֫וֶןחָםhothotחָםמַכָּהwoundwoundמַכָּהפְּלִשְׁתִּי(Sea of th(Sea of the) Phפְּלִשְׁתִּיעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָהפָּדָהto ransomto ransomפָּדָהכּוּשׁEthiopiaEthiopiaכּוּשׁפַּרְעֹהPharaohPharaohפַּרְעֹהעֲרִיסָהdoughdoughעֲרִיסָהאוֹןstrengthstrengthאוֹןרֵאשִׁיתfirst: begfirst: beginninרֵאשִׁיתכֹּחַreptilereptileכֹּחַ
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Psalms 78:51

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

and he struck down every firstborn in Egypt [the] beginning of manly vigor in [the] tents of Ham
וַיַּ֣ךְvai.Yakh and he struck down H5221 Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
500× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to strike or hit something, and it's used in many different ways, like in Exodus when God strikes down the Egyptians. It can also mean to punish or destroy, as seen in Isaiah. The word is used to describe God's judgment.
Amplified meaning
smiteth, caused to die
Tyndale gloss
to smite
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָכָה (nakah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to strike or smite, encompassing a range of actions from lightly hitting to fatal blows. It appears in various forms, indicating actions like attacking, punishing, or causing disease. The entries suggest its use in both literal and figurative contexts, including divine judgment and applause. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[נָכָה] 501 vb. smite (not in Qal)

Niph. and he shall be smitten [struck by weapon in battle] and die

Pu. both be smitten down by the hail

Hiph.

lit., smite (with a single, non-fatal, blow), strike

smite repeatedly, beat a man

and they clapped hands (in applause)

give a thrust (with fork) into pot; strike roots

rarely smite (in battle) so as (merely) to wound

smite, of sun

Smite fatally

Smite = attack, attack and destroy a company

Of God

smite with a plague, disease, etc.

smite = chastise, or send judgment upon

of God’s destroying palaces

Hoph. be smitten

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5221 נָכָה smite (not in Qal) . and he shall be smitten [struck by weapon in battle] and die

. both be smitten down by the hail

. . . lit., smite (with a single, non-fatal, blow), strike

. smite repeatedly, beat a man

. and they clapped hands (in applause)

. give a thrust (with fork) into pot; strike roots

. rarely smite (in battle) so as (merely) to wound

. smite, of sun

. Smite fatally

. Smite = attack, attack and destroy a company

. Of God . smite with a plague, disease, etc.

. smite = chastise, or send judgment upon

. of God’s destroying palaces

. be smitten

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5221 nakah naw-kaw'

a primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally

or figuratively):--beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), X

go forward, X indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer,

punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike,

be stricken, (give) stripes, X surely, wound.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָכָה (na.khah) — to smite.

1) to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill

1a)(Niphal) to be stricken or smitten

1b) (Pual) to be stricken or smitten

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to smite, strike, beat, scourge, clap, applaud, give a thrust

1c2) to smite, kill, slay (man or beast)

1c3) to smite, attack, attack and destroy, conquer, subjugate, ravage

1c4) to smite, chastise, send judgment upon, punish, destroy

1d) (Hophal) to be smitten

1d1) to receive a blow

1d2) to be wounded

1d3) to be beaten

1d4) to be (fatally) smitten, be killed, be slain

1d5) to be attacked and captured

1d6) to be smitten (with disease)

1d7) to be blighted (of plants)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vhw3ms
and he struck down every firstborn in Egypt [the] beginning of manly vigor in [the] tents of Ham
כָּל־kol- every H3605 Noun common · masculine singular construct
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

Absolutely:

without the art., all things, all

with the art. הַכֹּל

where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all

. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3605 kol kole

or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;

hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a

plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any

(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as

many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,

whoso(-ever).

see HEBREW for 03634

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּל (kol) — all.

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he struck down every firstborn in Egypt [the] beginning of manly vigor in [the] tents of Ham
בְּכ֣וֹרbe.Khor firstborn H1060 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
122× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word refers to the firstborn child or animal, often holding a special status or responsibility. It appears in stories like Genesis and Exodus, highlighting the importance of birth order. The KJV translates it as 'eldest' or 'firstborn'.
Amplified meaning
chief, beginning
Tyndale gloss
firstborn
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בְּכוֹר (bekor) means 'first-born' and can refer to both humans and animals. It denotes the eldest son or daughter and can also be used figuratively. The word is derived from a root that emphasizes the concept of being first or chief.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בְּכוֹר 122 n.m. first-born

men and women

animals

figurative

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1060 בְּכוֹר first-born

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1060 bkowr bek-ore'

from 1069; firstborn; hence, chief:--eldest (son),

firstborn(-ling).

see HEBREW for 01069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בְּכוֹר (be.khor) — firstborn.

1) firstborn, firstling

1a) of men and women

1b) of animals

1c) noun of relation (fig.)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Smith's Bible Dictionary

Under the law, in memory of the exodus (when the first-born of the Egyptians were slain), the eldest son was regarded as devoted to God, and was in very case to be redeemed by an offering not exceeding five shekels, within one month from birth. If he died before the expiration of thirty days, the Jewish doctors held the father excused, but liable to the payment if he outlived that time. (Exodus 13:12-15,16; Leviticus 27:6) The eldest son received a double portion of the father’s inheritance, (21:17) but not of the mother’s. Under the monarchy the eldest son usually, but no always, as appears in the case of Solomon, succeeded his father in the kingdom. (1 Kings 1:30; 2:22) The male first-born of animals was also devoted to God.…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

This phrase is not always to be understood literally; it is sometimes taken for the prime, most excellent, most distinguished of things, Ps 89:27 Ro 8:29 Heb 1:4-6. Thus Jesus Christ is "the firstborn of every creature," Col 1:15, inasmuch as he was the "Only begotten" of the Father before any creature was produced. He is "the firstborn from the dead," Col 1:18, because he is the beginning, and the author of the resurrection of all who die in faith.

After the destroying angel had slain the firstborn of the Egyptians, God ordained that all the Jewish firstborn, both of men and of beasts for service, should be consecrated to…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Of man and beast, reserved to himself by God Ex 13:2,12-16; 22:29,30; 34:19,20; Le 27:26; Nu 3:13; 8:17,18; De 15:19-23; Ne 10:36

→ Redemption of Ex 13:13; 34:20; Le 27:27; Nu 3:40-51; 18:15-17

→ Levites taken instead of firstborn of the families of Israel Nu 3:12,40-45; 8:16-18

and he struck down every firstborn in Egypt [the] beginning of manly vigor in [the] tents of Ham
בְּמִצְרָ֑יִםbe.mitz.Ra.yim in Egypt H4714 Preposition · noun proper
641× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means Egypt, a country in northeastern Africa, and is used in the Bible to describe the land and its people. It appears in books like Genesis and Isaiah, often referring to the Nile River and the Egyptians. Egypt is an important setting for many biblical events.
Amplified meaning
the land, the people
Tyndale gloss
(Sea of) Egypt
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִצְרַ֫יִם (mitsrayim) refers to Egypt, a country in northeastern Africa known for the Nile River. The term can denote both the land and its inhabitants, the Egyptians. It is derived from a dual form suggesting Upper and Lower Egypt, and is linked to the biblical figure Mizraim, a son of Ham. The lexicons note its significance in the context of the table of nations.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִצְרַ֫יִם 681 n.pr.terr. et gent. Egypt, Egyptians

of land, Egypt

combinations

of people:

in table of nations, personif. as second son of Ham

= Egypt (as a people), Egyptians

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4714 מִצְרַ֫יִם Egypt, Egyptians . . of land, Egypt

. combinations

. of people: . in table of nations, personif. as second son of Ham

. = Egypt (as a people), Egyptians

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4714 Mitsrayim mits-rah'-yim

dual of 4693; Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt:--Egypt,

Egyptians, Mizraim.

see HEBREW for 04693

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִצְרַ֫יִם (mits.ra.yim) — Egypt.

§ Egypt = "land of the Copts"

a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows

Egyptians = "double straits"

מִצְרַ֫יִם (mits.ra.yim) — Egypt.

A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.10.6;

son of: Ham (H2526);

brother of: Canaan (H3667), Cush (H3568) and Put (H6316);

father of: Ludim (H3866), Anamim (H6047), Lehabim (H3853), Naphtuhim (H5320), Pathrusim (H6625), Casluhim (H3695) and Caphtorim (H3732)

§ Egypt = "land of the Copts"

1) a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows

Egyptians = "double straits"

adj

2) the inhabitants or natives of Egypt

מִצְרַ֫יִם (mits.ra.yim) — (Sea of) Egypt.

§ Egypt = "land of the Copts"

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun proper
HR/Npl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

e'-jipt:

I. THE COUNTRY

1. The Basis of the Land 2. The Nile Valley 3. Earliest Human Remains 4. Climate 5. Conditions of Life 6. The Nile 7. The Fauna 8. The Flora 9. The Prehistoric Races

II. THE HISTORY

1. 1st and 2nd Ages: Prehistoric 2. 3d Age: Ist and IInd Dynasties 3. 4th Age: IIIrd through VIth Dynasties 4. 5th Age: VIIth through XIVth Dynasties 5. 6th Age: XVth through XXIVth Dynasties 6. 7th Age: XXVth Dynasty to Roman Times 7. 8th Age: Arabic 8. Early Foreign Connections

III. THE OLD TESTAMENT CONNECTIONS

1. Semitic Connections 2. Abramic Times 3. Circumcision 4. Joseph 5. Descent into Egypt 6. The Oppression 7. The Historic Position 8. The Plagues 9. Date of the Exodus 10. Route of the Exodus 11. Numbers of the Exodus 12. Israel in Canaan 13. Hadad 14. Pharaoh's Daughter 15. Shishak 16. Zerakh 17. The Ethiopians 18. Tahpanhes 19. Hophra 20. The Jews of Syene 21. The New Jerusalem…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Egypt

The land of the Nile and the pyramids, the oldest kingdom of which we have any record, holds a place of great significance in Scripture.

The Egyptians belonged to the white race, and their original home is still a matter of dispute. Many scholars believe that it was in Southern Arabia, and recent excavations have shown that the valley of the Nile was originally inhabited by a low-class population, perhaps belonging to the Nigritian stock, before the Egyptians of history entered it. The ancient Egyptian language, of which the latest form is Coptic, is distantly connected with the Semitic family of speech.

Egypt consists geographically of two halves, the northern being the Delta, and the southern Upper Egypt, between Cairo and the First Cataract. In the Old Testament, Northern or Lower Egypt is called Mazor, “the fortified land” (Isa.…

A celebrated country in the north of Africa, at the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. The Hebrews called it Mizraim, Ge 10:6, and hence it is now called by the Arabs, Mizr. The Greeks and Romans called it Aegyptus, whence Egypt; but the origin of this name is unknown.

The habitable land of Egypt is for the most part a great valley, through which the river Nile pours its waters, extending in a straight line from north to south, and skirted on the east and west by ranges of mountains, which approach and recede from the river more or less in different parts. Where this valley terminates, towards the north, the Nile divides itself, about forty or fifty miles from the seacoast, into several arms, which inclose the so-called Delta. The ancients numbered seven arms and mouths; the eastern was that of Pelusium, now that of Tineh; and the…

and he struck down every firstborn in Egypt [the] beginning of manly vigor in [the] tents of Ham
רֵאשִׁ֥יתre.Shit [the] beginning of H7225 Noun common · feminine singular construct
51× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to the beginning or first part of something, like the firstfruits of a harvest. It is used in Exodus 23:19 to describe the best of the harvest. The idea is to give God the best.
Tyndale gloss
first: beginning
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רֵאשִׁית (re'shiyth) means 'beginning' or 'chief.' It is derived from a root meaning 'first' and covers concepts like the first in time, order, or rank, including firstfruits. The entries consistently emphasize its meanings related to primacy and importance.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רֵאשִׁית n.f. beginning, chief

beginning

first

first, chief

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7225 רֵאשִׁית beginning, chief . . beginning

. first

. first, chief

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7225 re'shiyth ray-sheeth'

from the same as 7218; the first, in place, time, order or

rank (specifically, a firstfruit):--beginning, chief(-est),

first(-fruits, part, time), principal thing.

see HEBREW for 07218

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רֵאשִׁית (re.shit) — first: beginning.

: beginning

1) first, beginning, best, chief

1a) beginning

1b) first

1c) chief

1d) choice part

Also means: re.shit (רֵאשִׁית ": best" H7225H)

רֵאשִׁית (re.shit) — first: best.

: best

1) first, beginning, best, chief

1a) beginning

1b) first

1c) chief

1d) choice part

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcfsc — Noun common · feminine singular construct
HNcfsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and he struck down every firstborn in Egypt [the] beginning of manly vigor in [the] tents of Ham
א֝וֹנִ֗ים'o.Nim manly vigor H202 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
13× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the book of Job, this word refers to physical strength, wealth, or ability, highlighting God's power and might.
Amplified meaning
strength, first-fruits
Tyndale gloss
strength
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אוֹן (on) encompasses concepts of strength, vigor, and wealth. It is built from the idea of effort leading to success, indicating not just physical might but also generative power and material wealth. The term appears in contexts relating to both human strength and resources.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אוֹן n.m. vigour, wealth

manly vigor

strength

wealth

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H202 אוֹן vigour, wealth . manly vigor

. strength

. wealth

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

202 'own one

probably from the same as 205 (in the sense of effort, but

successful); ability, power, (figuratively) wealth:--force,

goods, might, strength, substance.

see HEBREW for 0205

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אוֹן (on) — strength.

1) vigour, generative power

2) wealth

3) physical strength (of men and behemoth)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he struck down every firstborn in Egypt [the] beginning of manly vigor in [the] tents of Ham
בְּאָהֳלֵי־be.'o.ho.lei- in [the] tents of H168 Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct
345× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for a tent, often used to describe the tabernacle or a nomad's home. In Exodus 33:7-11, it refers to the sacred tent where God meets with Moses.
Amplified meaning
tabernacles, homes
Tyndale gloss
tent
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֹ֫הֶל (*ohel*) means 'tent' and is derived from a root meaning 'to be conspicuous.' It encompasses various meanings, including a nomad's tent, a dwelling or home, and specifically refers to the sacred tent used for worship, known as the tabernacle. The entries consistently highlight its association with transience and habitation.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֹ֫הֶל 343 n.m. tent

tent of nomad

dwelling, habitation

the sacred tent used in worship of God

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H168 אֹ֫הֶל tent

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

168 'ohel o'-hel

from 166; a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a

distance):--covering, (dwelling)(place), home, tabernacle,

tent.

see HEBREW for 0166

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֹ֫הֶל (o.hel) — tent.

: tent

1) tent

1a) nomad's tent, and thus symbolic of wilderness life, transience

1b) dwelling, home, habitation

1c) the sacred tent of Jehovah (the tabernacle)

Also means: o.hel (אֹ֫הֶל ": home" H0168H)

אֹ֫הֶל (o.hel) — tent: home.

: home

1) tent

1a) nomad's tent, and thus symbolic of wilderness life, transience

1b) dwelling, home, habitation

1c) the sacred tent of Jehovah (the tabernacle)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-mp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct
HR/Ncmpc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and he struck down every firstborn in Egypt [the] beginning of manly vigor in [the] tents of Ham
חָֽם׃Cham Ham H2526 Noun proper
16× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Ham was a son of Noah and the name also refers to his descendants or their country, often associated with hot southern lands. This term appears in Genesis 5:32 and 9:18. Ham's story is significant in biblical history.
Amplified meaning
a son of Noah, his descendants
Tyndale gloss
Ham
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָם (Cham) refers to Ham, the second son of Noah, and is associated with his descendants, including various peoples from southern lands. The name also serves as a collective term for Egyptians. The word is linked to the idea of heat, reflecting the tropical habitat of the region.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָם n.pr.pers.m. and loc.

Ham, 2nd son of Noah

a name (coll.) for Egyptians

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2526 חָם . Ham, 2nd son of Noah

. a name (coll.) for Egyptians

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2526 Cham khawm

the same as 2525; hot (from the tropical habitat); Cham, a

son of Noah; also (as a patronymic) his descendants or their

country:--Ham.

see HEBREW for 02525

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָם (cham) — Ham.

A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.5.32;

son of: Noah (H5146);

brother of: Shem (H8035) and Japheth (H3315);

father of: Canaan (H3667), Cush (H3568), Egypt (H4714) and Put (H6316)

§ Ham = "hot"

1) 2nd son of Noah, father of Canaan and of various peoples which were inhabitants of southern lands

2) in late usage, a collective name for Egyptians

n pr loc

חָם (cham) — Ham.

§ Ham = "hot"

southern lands continaing the descendants of Ham

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Ham

Warm, hot, and hence the south; also an Egyptian word meaning “black”, the youngest son of Noah (Gen. 5:32; comp. 9:22,24). The curse pronounced by Noah against Ham, properly against Canaan his fourth son, was accomplished when the Jews subsequently exterminated the Canaanites.

One of the most important facts recorded in Gen. 10 is the foundation of the earliest monarchy in Babylonia by Nimrod the grandson of Ham (6, 8, 10). The primitive Babylonian empire was thus Hamitic, and of a cognate race with the primitive inhabitants of Arabia and of Ethiopia. (See ACCAD.)

The race of Ham were the most energetic of all the descendants of Noah in the early times of the post-diluvian world.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(hot; sunburnt). The name of one of the three sons of Noah, apparently the second in age. (B.C. 2448.) Of the history of Ham nothing is related except his irreverence to his father and the curse which that patriarch pronounced. The sons of Ham are stated, to have been "Cush and Mizraim and Phut and Canaan." (Genesis 10:6) comp. 1Chr 1:8 Egypt is recognized as the "land of Ham" in the Bible. (Psalms 78:51; 105:23; 106:22) The other settlements of the sons of Ham are discussed under their respective names. The three most illustrious Hamite nations--the Cushites, the Phoenicians and the Egyptians--were greatly mixed with foreign peoples. Their architecture has a solid grandeur that we look for in vain elsewhere. According to the…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. Burnt, swarthy, black, A son of Noah, Ge 5:32 7:13 9:18 10:1. The impiety revealed in his conduct towards his father, drew upon him, or rather, according to the Bible statement, on his son Canaan, a prophetic malediction, Ge 9:20-27. Ham was the father of Cush, Mizraim, Phut, and Canaan, that is, the ancestor of the Canaanites, Southern Arabians, Ethiopians, Egyptians, and the Africans in general, Ge 10:6-20.

2. A poetical name for Egypt, Ps 78:51 106:22.

3. An unknown place of the Zuzim, Ge 14:5.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

hot; heat; brown

Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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