The Meaning of Psalms 136:18 Explained

Psalms 136:18

KJV: And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:

YLT: Yea, He doth slay honourable kings, For to the age is His kindness.

Darby: And slew famous kings, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever;

ASV: And slew famous kings; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And slew  famous  kings:  for his mercy  [endureth] for ever: 

What does Psalms 136:18 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 136:18 mean?

And slew kings mighty for ever His mercy [endures]
וַֽ֭יַּהֲרֹג מְלָכִ֣ים אַדִּירִ֑ים כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ

וַֽ֭יַּהֲרֹג  And  slew 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: הָרַג  
Sense: to kill, slay, murder, destroy, murderer, slayer, out of hand.
מְלָכִ֣ים  kings 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
אַדִּירִ֑ים  mighty 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: אַדִּיר  
Sense: great, majestic.
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.

What are the major concepts related to Psalms 136:18?

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