The Meaning of Psalms 136:15 Explained

Psalms 136:15

KJV: But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.

YLT: And shook out Pharaoh and his force in the sea of Suph, For to the age is His kindness.

Darby: And overturned Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever;

ASV: But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But overthrew  Pharaoh  and his host  in the Red  sea:  for his mercy  [endureth] for ever. 

What does Psalms 136:15 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 136:13-26 - Deliverance From Enemies
This psalm is no mere running commentary on the ways of God. It is a song of redemption. Pharaoh, Sihon, Og opposed God's redeeming purpose, though there were abundant evidences throughout the Exodus that it was of supernatural origin, and they came under the divine judgment. It was a mercy for all after-ages that their ideals did not prevail. Was there not ineffable wisdom and benevolence in the substitution of monotheism and the honor of womanhood and the assertion of individual rights for the degradation of their type of civilization? We must take large views of God's dealings in providence and history.
Men are apt to forget us when we are in low estate, but that is the time when God seems more thoughtful, Psalms 136:23. He has delivered, does deliver, and will deliver, Psalms 136:24. Will God make provision for all living creatures and neglect His children, Psalms 136:25? Let us trust in the love of God, which remains constant amid our fluctuations, and unaffected by our failures and sins, so long as we return from our backslidings with repentance on our lips. It is very comforting to realize that the essence of this psalm will be sung on the other side. See Revelation 15:3. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 136

1  An exhortation to give thanks to God for particular mercies

What do the individual words in Psalms 136:15 mean?

But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Sea Red for ever His mercy [endures]
וְנִ֘עֵ֤ר פַּרְעֹ֣ה וְחֵיל֣וֹ בְיַם־ ס֑וּף כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ

וְנִ֘עֵ֤ר  But  overthrew 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָעַר 
Sense: to shake, shake out or off.
פַּרְעֹ֣ה  Pharaoh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: פַּרְעֹה  
Sense: the common title of the king of Egypt.
וְחֵיל֣וֹ  and  his  army 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: חַיִל 
Sense: strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army.
בְיַם־  in  the  Sea 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: יָם  
Sense: sea.
ס֑וּף  Red 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: סוּף  
Sense: reed, rush, water plant.
לְעוֹלָ֣ם  ever 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹולָם  
Sense: long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world.
חַסְדּֽוֹ  His  mercy  [endures] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: חֶסֶד 
Sense: goodness, kindness, faithfulness.