Psalms 136:11

KJV

And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:

KJV (with Strong's)

And brought out {H3318} Israel {H3478} from among {H8432} them: for his mercy {H2617} endureth for ever {H5769}:

Complete Jewish Bible

and brought Isra'el out from among them, for his grace continues forever;

Berean Standard Bible

and brought Israel out from among them His loving devotion endures forever.

American Standard Version

And brought out Israel from among them; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 136:11 celebrates a pivotal moment in Israel's history: their miraculous liberation from Egyptian bondage. This verse, embedded within a liturgical psalm that systematically recounts God's mighty deeds from creation to the conquest of Canaan, underscores that this monumental rescue was solely by God's powerful hand, not human strength. It serves as a profound testament to the enduring nature of His covenantal love and unwavering faithfulness, a central theme powerfully reinforced by the psalm's recurring refrain.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 136 is a unique liturgical psalm, often referred to as the "Great Hallel" or "The Great Thanksgiving," likely employed in temple worship with a responsive refrain from the congregation. It systematically enumerates God's benevolence and power, commencing with His cosmic creative acts (verses 1-9) before transitioning to His redemptive interventions in Israel's history. Verse 11 is an integral part of a sequence (verses 10-22) that specifically details the Exodus and the subsequent journey to the Promised Land. The preceding verse, which describes the judgment on Egypt's firstborn ([Psalms 136:10](/psalms/136-10 "Psalms 136:10 - Smiting the Firstborn")), dramatically sets the stage for the miraculous liberation articulated in verse 11. The consistent, rhythmic refrain, "for his mercy endureth for ever," punctuates each declaration of God's deeds, profoundly reinforcing the eternal quality of His `chêçêd` (steadfast love) as the unchanging motivation behind all His actions.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Exodus from Egypt, comprehensively recounted in [Exodus 12](/exodus/12 "Exodus 12 - The Passover and Exodus"), stands as the singular, defining event in Israelite history. It fundamentally shaped their national identity, their theological understanding of Yahweh, and the very nature of their covenant relationship with Him. For centuries, this event served as the paradigmatic example of God's unparalleled power, unwavering faithfulness, and profound commitment to His chosen people. The harrowing memory of Egyptian slavery and the subsequent divine liberation permeated every facet of Israelite culture, influencing their foundational laws, their annual festivals (such as Passover, detailed in [Exodus 12:1-28](/exodus/12-1-28 "Exodus 12:1-28 - The Passover Institution")), and the messages of their prophets. The "bringing out" was a dramatic, public, and undeniable display of divine sovereignty over the most formidable empire of the ancient Near East, unequivocally demonstrating that Israel's God was unique, supreme, and actively involved in human affairs. This act not only established Israel as God's chosen people but also bound them to Him by an unbreakable covenant.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes that resonate throughout Psalms 136 and the broader biblical narrative. Foremost among these is the theme of **Divine Deliverance**, which highlights God's active, sovereign, and often miraculous intervention to rescue His people from oppression. This deliverance is consistently portrayed as an act of God's power, not human might. This act of liberation also profoundly underscores **God's Faithfulness to His Covenant**, as the Exodus was a direct and undeniable fulfillment of promises made to Abraham centuries earlier, particularly concerning his descendants becoming a great nation and inheriting a promised land, as recorded in [Genesis 15:13-14](/genesis/15-13-14 "Genesis 15:13-14 - God's Covenant with Abraham"). However, the most prominent and pervasive theme in this psalm, and central to this verse, is **Enduring Mercy (Chesed)**. The repeated refrain emphasizes that every single act of God, from the grand scale of creation to the intimate details of redemption, is rooted in His steadfast, loyal, and unwavering love. This `chêçêd` is not merely a fleeting emotion but a covenantal commitment that endures "for ever," providing an eternal and immutable foundation for Israel's hope and trust in God.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **brought out (Hebrew, _yâtsâʼ'_):** This primitive root (H3318) signifies "to go (causatively, bring) out" in a vast array of applications, both literal and figurative. In the context of Psalms 136:11, it powerfully conveys God's active, decisive, and sovereign act of leading Israel out of their bondage in Egypt. It implies a forceful extraction and a purposeful deliverance, emphasizing that Israel's freedom was not achieved by their own efforts but was a direct and undeniable result of divine intervention and power.
* **mercy (Hebrew, _chêçêd'_):** This rich theological term (H2617) denotes "kindness" or "piety," often translated as "lovingkindness" or "steadfast love." It encompasses profound ideas of covenant faithfulness, unwavering loyalty, and enduring commitment. In the context of the psalm, `chêçêd` is the unchanging attribute of God that motivates all His redemptive acts. It signifies His loyal love towards His covenant people, a love that persists despite their failures and ensures His continued faithfulness to His promises across generations.
* **for ever (Hebrew, _ʻôwlâm'_):** This word (H5769), derived from a root meaning "concealed" or "the vanishing point," refers to time out of mind, encompassing both past and future, practically signifying eternity. When combined with `chêçêd`, as in the psalm's ubiquitous refrain, it emphasizes the eternal, perpetual, and unending nature of God's mercy. It assures the worshiper that His loyal love is not temporary or conditional but an enduring, intrinsic characteristic of His being, providing a secure and constant foundation for His relationship with humanity throughout all time.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And brought out Israel from among them":** This clause directly references the Exodus, the climactic and foundational event of Israel's liberation from centuries of Egyptian slavery. The verb "brought out" (from `yâtsâʼ`) emphatically highlights God's active agency, immense power, and sovereign initiative in this deliverance. "Israel" refers to the entire nation, the descendants of Jacob, who had multiplied significantly while enslaved in Egypt. "From among them" specifically denotes their distinct separation from the Egyptians, emphasizing a clear act of divine intervention that set God's chosen people apart from their oppressors. This was a tangible, historical event, yet profoundly spiritual in its implications, demonstrating God's supreme power over human empires and His unique relationship with His covenant people.
* **"for his mercy endureth for ever":** This is the psalm's recurring refrain, providing the essential theological rationale and interpretive lens for every divine act mentioned. The "for" (Hebrew `kî`) indicates causation or explanation: God brought Israel out *because* His mercy endures forever. "His mercy" (from `chêçêd`) refers to God's steadfast, covenantal love, loyalty, and unwavering faithfulness. "Endureth for ever" (from `ʻôwlâm`) underscores the eternal, unchanging, and perpetual nature of this divine attribute. This phrase elevates the historical event into a timeless testimony to God's unwavering character, assuring the worshiper that His `chêçêd` is the constant, immutable foundation of His dealings with humanity, providing a secure hope that spans past, present, and future.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 136:11, like the entire psalm, prominently features **Repetition**, with the refrain "for his mercy endureth for ever" appearing after every declarative statement of God's deeds. This serves as a powerful mnemonic device, aiding communal worship and deeply embedding the central theological truth of God's enduring `chêçêd` into the hearts and minds of the worshipers. The psalm's structure also masterfully employs **Parallelism**, specifically a form of **Staircase Parallelism** or **Anaphoric Parallelism**, where each new line builds upon the previous one, culminating in the same repeated refrain. This creates a cumulative effect, emphasizing the vastness, consistency, and inexhaustible nature of God's mercy across diverse acts of creation and redemption. The phrase "brought out Israel" can also be seen as an instance of **Synecdoche**, where "Israel" represents the entire nation, encompassing all its individuals, families, and tribes, highlighting God's comprehensive and holistic care for His covenant people.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 136:11 profoundly connects the historical act of the Exodus to the eternal character of God. The deliverance of Israel from Egypt is presented not as an isolated incident but as a direct and undeniable manifestation of God's enduring mercy (`chêçêd`). This establishes a foundational theological truth: God's actions in history are consistently rooted in His unchanging, steadfast love. This principle provides immense comfort and assurance to believers across generations, demonstrating that the God who acted powerfully in the past remains the same God who is eternally faithful in the present and future. It teaches that divine intervention, whether in grand historical movements or personal circumstances, is always an expression of His loyal commitment to His covenant people, assuring them that His promises are secured by His eternal nature and unfailing love.

* [Exodus 15:13](/exodus/15-13 "God's Steadfast Love Leads His People")
* [Isaiah 63:11-14](/isaiah/63-11-14 "Remembering God's Deliverance")
* [Micah 7:18-20](/micah/7-18-20 "God's Unchanging Mercy")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 136:11 offers a timeless message of profound hope and a compelling call to unwavering trust in God's character. Just as the ancient Israelites looked back to the Exodus as irrefutable proof of God's immense power and unassailable faithfulness, believers today can draw immense strength and courage from this historical precedent. No matter the "Egypt" we may face—whether it be spiritual bondage to sin, oppressive circumstances, overwhelming anxieties, or seemingly insurmountable challenges—this verse serves as a potent reminder that God's power to deliver and His mercy to sustain are eternal and undiminished. It encourages us to cultivate a posture of deep gratitude, recognizing that every blessing, every instance of protection, and every deliverance in our lives flows from the same unchanging `chêçêd` that miraculously liberated Israel. This profound truth should inspire us to live in confident reliance on Him, knowing that His steadfast love is the secure and unwavering anchor for our souls, a love that never fails, always endures, and is eternally sufficient for all our needs.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "Egypts" or forms of bondage in your life do you need God's enduring mercy to deliver you from today?**
* **How does reflecting on God's historical acts of deliverance, like the Exodus, strengthen your faith in His present and future faithfulness towards you?**
* **In what practical ways can you more consistently acknowledge and give thanks for God's "mercy that endureth for ever" in your daily life and interactions?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of the repeated phrase "for his mercy endureth for ever" in Psalms 136?**

Answer: The repeated phrase, "for his mercy endureth for ever," which appears 26 times in [Psalms 136](/psalms/136 "Psalms 136 - The Great Hallel"), serves as the theological bedrock and interpretive key of the entire psalm. It is a profound declaration that every act of God—from the grand scale of creation ([Psalms 136:5](/psalms/136-5 "God's Wisdom in Creation")) to the momentous Exodus ([Psalms 136:11](/psalms/136-11 "The Exodus")), to the faithful provision in the wilderness ([Psalms 136:16](/psalms/136-16 "God's Guidance in the Wilderness"))—is motivated, sustained, and defined by His unchanging, steadfast love (`chêçêd`). This pervasive repetition emphasizes the eternal, unwavering, and perpetual nature of God's covenant faithfulness, assuring the worshiper that His character is constant and His commitment to His people is boundless. It transforms historical events into timeless testimonies of divine grace, inviting a responsive posture of gratitude, worship, and unwavering trust.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Psalms 136:11 celebrates a historical, physical deliverance, its deepest and most profound fulfillment is found in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodies God's enduring mercy in the ultimate redemptive act. The Exodus, where Israel was "brought out" of physical slavery, powerfully foreshadows the spiritual liberation accomplished by Christ for all humanity. Just as God "brought out Israel from among them," so too did He, through Christ, "bring out" humanity from the far more pervasive and destructive bondage of sin and death, transferring us from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of His beloved Son ([Colossians 1:13](/colossians/1-13 "Delivered from Darkness")). Jesus is the ultimate Lamb of God, whose perfect and atoning sacrifice secures a new and greater Exodus, delivering His people from the dominion of darkness into His marvelous light, not with silver or gold, but with His own precious blood ([1 Peter 1:18-19](/1_peter/1-18-19 "Redeemed by Christ's Precious Blood")). The "mercy that endureth for ever" finds its most complete and glorious expression in the cross, where God's steadfast love was supremely demonstrated for us while we were still sinners, making a way for eternal salvation and reconciliation with a holy God ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "God's Love Demonstrated")). Thus, the ancient refrain of God's enduring mercy resonates with profound new meaning in the New Covenant, revealing Christ as the eternal embodiment of God's `chêçêd` for all who believe, for God so loved the world that He gave His only Son ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "God's Love for the World")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Exodus 12:51

And it came to pass the selfsame day, [that] the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.

Exodus 13:3

And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this [place]: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.

Exodus 13:17

¶ And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not [through] the way of the land of the Philistines, although that [was] near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:

1 Samuel 12:6

¶ And Samuel said unto the people, [It is] the LORD that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.

1 Samuel 12:8

When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.

Psalms 78:52

But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.

Psalms 105:37

He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and [there was] not one feeble [person] among their tribes.