The Meaning of Psalms 135:8 Explained

Psalms 135:8

KJV: Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.

YLT: Who smote the first-born of Egypt, From man unto beast.

Darby: Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast;

ASV: Who smote the first-born of Egypt, Both of man and beast;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Who smote  the firstborn  of Egypt,  both of man  and beast. 

What does Psalms 135:8 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 135:1-12 - God's Wonderful Power
This psalm begins and ends with Hallelujah. It contains choice extracts from various psalms, which have been culled as the flowers of a garden are gathered for one bouquet. The arguments for praise are threefold: God's glory in nature, Psalms 135:5-7; His dealings with Israel, Psalms 135:8-14; the contrast of His glorious nature with idols, Psalms 135:15-21.
Notice the arguments adduced to stimulate our praise: that God is good; that praise-giving is pleasant; that He has chosen His people to be His peculiar treasure; that He is as great as He is good; that He will take our part against our foes, etc. The moral of it all is that if we would praise God aright and with zest, we must carefully gather our materials and meditate on all His dealings with us. These are fuel for the flame. But how many more reasons than the psalmist had are there for us to praise Him, who have been adopted into His family and made joint-heirs with Christ! [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 135

1  An exhortation to praise God for his mercy
5  For his power
8  For his judgments
15  The vanity of idols
19  An exhortation to bless God

What do the individual words in Psalms 135:8 mean?

He destroyed the firstborn of Egypt from man to beast
שֶֽׁ֭הִכָּה בְּכוֹרֵ֣י מִצְרָ֑יִם מֵ֝אָדָ֗ם עַד־ בְּהֵמָֽה

שֶֽׁ֭הִכָּה  He  destroyed 
Parse: Pronoun, relative, Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָכָה  
Sense: to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill.
בְּכוֹרֵ֣י  the  firstborn 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בְּכֹר  
Sense: firstborn, firstling.
מִצְרָ֑יִם  of  Egypt 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִצְרַיִם  
Sense: a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows adj Egyptians = “double straits”.
מֵ֝אָדָ֗ם  from  man 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
בְּהֵמָֽה  beast 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: בְּהֵמָה  
Sense: beast, cattle, animal.