With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
With a strong {H2389} hand {H3027}, and with a stretched out {H5186} arm {H2220}: for his mercy {H2617} endureth for ever {H5769}.
with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, for his grace continues forever;
with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. His loving devotion endures forever.
With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever:
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Jeremiah 32:21
And hast brought forth thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with great terror; -
Deuteronomy 4:34
Or hath God assayed to go [and] take him a nation from the midst of [another] nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? -
Exodus 6:6
Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I [am] the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: -
Psalms 44:3
For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them. -
Isaiah 51:9
¶ Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. [Art] thou not it that hath cut Rahab, [and] wounded the dragon? -
Isaiah 51:10
[Art] thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over? -
Exodus 13:14
And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What [is] this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage:
Psalm 136 is a magnificent hymn of praise, often referred to as the "Great Hallel," characterized by its repeated refrain, "for his mercy endureth for ever." Verse 12 specifically recalls one of the most significant demonstrations of God's power and faithfulness in Israel's history.
Context
This psalm functions as a liturgical call to worship, guiding the congregation through a historical recital of God's mighty acts from creation to the Exodus, the wilderness journey, and the conquest of Canaan. Each act of divine intervention is punctuated by the unchanging truth of God's eternal mercy. Verse 12, "With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm," directly references the deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage, a foundational event in their national identity and understanding of God's character.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "strong hand, and with a stretched out arm" is a common biblical idiom. The "strong hand" emphasizes God's forceful and firm grasp, while the "stretched out arm" suggests an arm extended to perform a mighty deed, to deliver, or to punish. It conveys an image of God actively engaging with His creation and intervening in human history.
The Hebrew word for "mercy" here is chesed (חֶסֶד), which is far richer than just pity or compassion. It encompasses loyal love, covenant faithfulness, steadfast lovingkindness, and goodness. It's a love that is committed and endures eternally, providing the unwavering foundation for all of God's interactions with His people. This enduring chesed is why God's power is always exercised justly and redemptively.
Practical Application
This verse offers profound encouragement for believers today. Just as God demonstrated His power and enduring mercy in the past, He continues to do so. When facing overwhelming challenges or feeling trapped, we can remember that the same "strong hand and stretched out arm" that delivered Israel from Egypt is still at work. This truth should build our trust and inspire our praise.
The consistent refrain reminds us that God's actions are always motivated by His everlasting love. This provides comfort and assurance that even in difficult times, His mercies are new every morning and will never fail. It calls us to remember God's past faithfulness and to respond with gratitude and worship for His unwavering character.