The Meaning of Psalms 78:51 Explained

Psalms 78:51

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

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

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

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Psalms 78:51 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 78:49-58 - Safely Led, Yet Bent On Wandering
This section of the psalm deals largely with the books of Joshua and Judges. The failures that had characterized the Wilderness crossed the Jordan with the Chosen People, and were the reason of their sufferings and captivities in what might otherwise have been a period of uninterrupted blessedness. In fact, the sins of the Land of Promise were even more disastrous. The Israelites were intended to be to Jehovah what the bow is to the huntsman or warrior; but they absolutely failed Him. They were turned aside like a deceitful bow, Psalms 78:57.
The lesson for older believers is very searching. Some readers of these words may recall that, at a notable period in the past, they crossed the river of death to sin and life unto God. Jordan stands for consecration. It should be remembered, however, that no matter how rich and lofty have been the experiences of past blessing, we cannot be immune from failures, unless we watch and pray and live in abiding fellowship with Jesus Christ. The soul which has passed the Jordan is attacked by the principalities and powers in the heavenlies, Ephesians 6:12, and has an even harder time of it. The nearer the Captain, the more perilous the position. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 78

1  An exhortation both to learn and to preach, the law of God
9  The story of God's wrath against the incredulous and disobedient
67  The Israelites being rejected, God chose Judah, Zion, and David

What do the individual words in Psalms 78:51 mean?

And destroyed all the firstborn in Egypt the first of [their] strength in the tents of Ham
וַיַּ֣ךְ כָּל־ בְּכ֣וֹר בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם רֵאשִׁ֥ית א֝וֹנִ֗ים בְּאָהֳלֵי־ חָֽם

וַיַּ֣ךְ  And  destroyed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָכָה  
Sense: to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill.
בְּכ֣וֹר  the  firstborn 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: בְּכֹר  
Sense: firstborn, firstling.
בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם  in  Egypt 
Parse: Preposition-b, 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”.
רֵאשִׁ֥ית  the  first 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: רֵאשִׁית  
Sense: first, beginning, best, chief.
א֝וֹנִ֗ים  of  [their]  strength 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֹון  
Sense: vigour, generative power.
בְּאָהֳלֵי־  in  the  tents 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֹהֶל  
Sense: tent.
חָֽם  of  Ham 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: חָם  
Sense: 2nd son of Noah, father of Canaan and of various peoples which were inhabitants of southern lands.