Psalms 135:10 — Word Study
WLCשֶֽׁ֭הִכָּה גּוֹיִ֣ם רַבִּ֑ים וְ֝הָרַ֗ג מְלָכִ֥ים עֲצוּמִֽים׃
BSAHe struck downnâkâh■ [smote, overcame, destroyed] manyrab [numerous, great] nationsgôwy [Gentiles, non-Hebrew peoples] and slaughteredhârag■ [killed, slew] mightyʻâtsûwm [powerful, strong] kingsmelek [royal rulers, monarchs]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| שֶֽׁ֭הִכָּה | who struck down | Particle, verb hiphil perfect third person masculine singular |
| גּוֹיִ֣ם | nations | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| רַבִּ֑ים | many | Adj |
| וְ֝הָרַ֗ג | and he killed | Verb, Qal, sequential perfect third person masculine singular |
| מְלָכִ֥ים | kings | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| עֲצוּמִֽים׃ | mighty | Adj |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | He struck down many nations and slaughtered mighty kings: |
| KJV | Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings; |
| ASV | Who smote many nations, And slew mighty kings, |
| YLT | Who smote many nations, and slew strong kings, |
| WEB | He struck many nations, and killed mighty kings— |
| BBE | He overcame great nations, and put strong kings to death; |
Where they part company is רַבִּ֑ים and עֲצוּמִֽים׃ — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence consists of two main clauses connected by a conjunction, clearly delineating God's actions.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
verbהָרַג
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 135:10
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — God's Sovereignty Over Nationsgenerated
Psalm 135:10 reflects on God's might as He struck down many nations and slaughtered mighty kings, illustrating His power and authority over all peoples. The psalmist recalls specific victories, emphasizing God's role in granting Israel their inheritance, as seen in the following verses. This theme of divine judgment and deliverance recurs throughout the Psalms, reinforcing the idea that God is actively involved in the affairs of nations.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 44:2–3 | With Your hand You drove out the nations and planted our fathers there; You crushed the peoples and cast them out. |
| 2 | Psalm 136:17–22 | He struck down great kings His loving devotion endures forever. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שֶֽׁ֭הִכָּה, She.hi.kahgenerated
The verb נָכָה (nakah) means to strike or smite, encompassing actions from lightly hitting to delivering fatal blows. It conveys a sense of divine judgment, as seen in various contexts throughout the Bible, such as the plagues in Egypt.
In this verse, it highlights God's decisive actions against His enemies, portraying Him as a powerful warrior who overcomes those who oppose Him. The use of the perfect tense indicates completed actions, emphasizing the certainty of God's victories.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses struck down and slaughtered, aligning with the overall theme of divine conquest. The KJV and ASV also maintain similar language, emphasizing God's might.
Where translations differ is primarily in the rendering of רַבִּ֑ים and עֲצוּמִֽים׃. The BSB, along with several versions, opts for many and mighty, while others like the KJV choose great and strong.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse is structured around two finite verbs: הִכָּה (He struck down) and הָרַ֗ג (and he killed), which govern the actions described. Each verb is followed by its respective objects, creating a clear depiction of God's actions against nations and kings.
The syntax emphasizes the directness of God's actions, with the verbs leading the sentence and the objects following, which underscores the impact of His might.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates שֶֽׁ֭הִכָּה as ἐπάταχεν (he struck), indicating a direct and forceful action. This choice aligns with the Hebrew meaning of decisive judgment.
For מְלָכִ֥ים, the term βασιλεῖς (kings) is used, maintaining the royal connotation of the original text, thus preserving the sense of authority being defeated.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 135:10 tells us that God struck down many nations and killed powerful kings. This verse highlights God's strength and His role in defeating those who oppose Him, showing His sovereignty over all peoples.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies God's power and authority over nations that oppose Him, demonstrating His ability to deliver judgment.
They refer to powerful rulers who stood against God's people, representing the might of earthly kingdoms.
It illustrates God's faithfulness in granting Israel victory over their enemies, fulfilling His promise of land and protection.
It emphasizes the total defeat of opposing powers, reinforcing the idea that God is the ultimate authority over all rulers.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How can I recognize God's power in my own life today?
- What does this verse teach about the nature of God's judgment?
- In what ways can I trust God to fight my battles?
- How does understanding God's sovereignty impact my faith?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Augustine of Hippo comments on this verse, noting God's sovereignty in conquering nations for His people.
"Who smote many nations," who possessed that land, which God willed to give His people.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 135 →
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 135:10 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleWho smote great nations, and slew mighty kings. Or "many nations" (l).
Read John Gill on Psalms 135 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryWho smote great nations, and slew mighty kings; Who smote ... Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bushan - the first of the subdued kings, and among the most powerful (Amos 2:9-10).
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 135 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 135:10 Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings;Ver. 10. Who smote great nations] Who, by their great sins, had greatly polluted their land; and filled it with filth from one end to another, Ezra 9:11. And slew mighty kings] Heb. bony, big, massive fellows, quasi ossatos, sive torosos, as the word signifieth.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 135 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges10. great nations] Or, many nations. Cp. Deuteronomy 7:1.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 135 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleWho smote great nations ... - To wit, those specified in the following verse.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 135 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible10-12. Smote… nations—From the judgments of Egypt, the writer passes over the desert life of the Israelites, and proceeds to narrate the conquest of the land east of Jordan.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 135 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
He struck down many nations and slaughtered mighty kings:
He struck many nations, and killed mighty kings—
He struck down many nations and slaughtered mighty kings:
He defeated many nations, and killed mighty kings –
Tyndale line
Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings;
Who smote many nations, And slew mighty kings,
Who smote many nations, and slew mighty kings;
Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings;
He smote many nations, and slew mightie Kings:
Strictly literal
Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings,
Who smote many nations, and slew strong kings,
Who struck many nations, and slew strong kings,
Who smote many nations, and slew mighty kings;
He attacked many nations and killed mighty kings,
From the Latin
Who smote Egypt with their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Simplified
He struck down many nations, he killed powerful kings, such as
He overcame great nations, and put strong kings to death;
Word by word, the decisions they made
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint align closely, with all six words matched in meaning. The Dead Sea Scrolls fragment shows partial agreement, with most words intact, confirming the consistency of the text across these witnesses.
שֶֽׁ֭הִכָּה גּוֹיִ֣ם רַבִּ֑ים וְ֝הָרַ֗ג מְלָכִ֥ים עֲצוּמִֽים׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[שהכה] גוים רבים מלכים עצומים
5 words of the verse are on this fragment — 1 partly restored, 1 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 135:10
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
נָכָה (nakah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to strike or smite, encompassing a range of actions from lightly hitting to fatal blows. It appears in various forms, indicating actions like attacking, punishing, or causing disease. The entries suggest its use in both literal and figurative contexts, including divine judgment and applause. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
[נָכָה] 501 vb. smite (not in Qal)
Niph. and he shall be smitten [struck by weapon in battle] and die
Pu. both be smitten down by the hail
Hiph.
lit., smite (with a single, non-fatal, blow), strike
smite repeatedly, beat a man
and they clapped hands (in applause)
give a thrust (with fork) into pot; strike roots
rarely smite (in battle) so as (merely) to wound
smite, of sun
Smite fatally
Smite = attack, attack and destroy a company
Of God
smite with a plague, disease, etc.
smite = chastise, or send judgment upon
of God’s destroying palaces
Hoph. be smitten
base
H5221 נָכָה smite (not in Qal) . and he shall be smitten [struck by weapon in battle] and die
. both be smitten down by the hail
. . . lit., smite (with a single, non-fatal, blow), strike
. smite repeatedly, beat a man
. and they clapped hands (in applause)
. give a thrust (with fork) into pot; strike roots
. rarely smite (in battle) so as (merely) to wound
. smite, of sun
. Smite fatally
. Smite = attack, attack and destroy a company
. Of God . smite with a plague, disease, etc.
. smite = chastise, or send judgment upon
. of God’s destroying palaces
. be smitten
5221 nakah naw-kaw'
a primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally
or figuratively):--beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), X
go forward, X indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer,
punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike,
be stricken, (give) stripes, X surely, wound.
נָכָה (na.khah) — to smite.
1) to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill
1a)(Niphal) to be stricken or smitten
1b) (Pual) to be stricken or smitten
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to smite, strike, beat, scourge, clap, applaud, give a thrust
1c2) to smite, kill, slay (man or beast)
1c3) to smite, attack, attack and destroy, conquer, subjugate, ravage
1c4) to smite, chastise, send judgment upon, punish, destroy
1d) (Hophal) to be smitten
1d1) to receive a blow
1d2) to be wounded
1d3) to be beaten
1d4) to be (fatally) smitten, be killed, be slain
1d5) to be attacked and captured
1d6) to be smitten (with disease)
1d7) to be blighted (of plants)
Rel | V-Hiphil-Perf-3ms — Particle · verb hiphil perfect third person masculine singularHTr/Vhp3ms
גּוֹי (goy) refers to a nation or people, often indicating non-Hebrew groups, but can also encompass descendants of Abraham and Israel. It may figuratively describe a swarm of locusts or animals. The plural form, גּוֹיִם (goyim), is noted as a proper noun referring to the people of Goim, specifically mentioned in Genesis 14:1.
גּוֹי 661 n.m. nation, people
base
גּוֹיִם n.pr.gent. Tid‛al king of Goim
base
H1471a גּוֹי nation, people H1471b גּוֹיִם n. pr. gent. Tid‛al king of Goim
1471 gowy go'-ee
rarely (shortened) goy {go'-ee}; apparently from the same
root as 1465 (in the sense of massing); a foreign nation;
hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a
flight of locusts:--Gentile, heathen, nation, people.
see HEBREW for 01465
גּוֹי (goy) — nation.
1) nation, people
1a) nation, people
1a1) usually of non-Hebrew people
1a2) of descendants of Abraham
1a3) of Israel
1b) of swarm of locusts, other animals (fig.)
גּוֹיִם (go.yim) — Goiim.
People descended from Goy(?), first mentioned at Gen.14.1
§ Goyim (Tidgal, king of)
גּוֹי (goy) — Gentile.
1) nation, people
1a) nation, people
1a1) usually of non-Hebrew people
1a2) of descendants of Abraham
1a3) of Israel
1b) of swarm of locusts, other animals (fig.)
1c) Goyim? = "nations"
Also named: ethnos (ἔθνος "Gentiles" G1484)
גּוֹי (goy) — (Harosheth)-hagoyim.
Goyim (Tidgal, king of)
Combined with cha.ro.shet (חֲרֹ֫שֶׁת "Harosheth" H2800)
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
na'-shunz.
See GENTILES; GOIIM; HEATHEN; TABLE OF NATIONS.
רַב (rav) means much, many, or great, often used in contrast to מְעַט (me'at). It can describe abundance in quantity or rank and is also used as a noun for chief or captain. The word conveys a range of meanings from numerous to exceedingly, and it can function as both an adjective and a noun.
רַב 429 adj. much, many, great
(oft. opp. מְעַט)
much: of substances
esp. of collectives, numerous
pl. many
רַב as subst. coll. pers.
cstr. = abounding in
מִן comp. = more numerous than
רַב = abundant, enough
as adv. much, exceedingly
less oft. great
base
רַב 49 n.m. chief
base
H7227a רַב much, many, great . (oft. opp. מְעַט) . . much: of substances
. esp. of collectives, numerous
. pl. many
. רַב as subst. coll. pers.
. cstr. = abounding in
. + מִן comp. = more numerous than
. רַב = abundant, enough
. as adv. much, exceedingly
. less oft. great
H7227b רַב chief
7227 rab rab
by contracted from 7231; abundant (in quantity, size, age,
number, rank, quality):--(in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly),
captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man,
one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold,
things, a time), ((ship-))master, mighty, more, (too, very)
much, multiply(-tude), officer, often(-times), plenteous,
populous, prince, process (of time), suffice(-lent).
see HEBREW for 07231
רַב (rav) — many.
adj
1) much, many, great
1a) much
1b) many
1c) abounding in
1d) more numerous than
1e) abundant, enough
1f) great
1g) strong
1h) greater than
adv
1i) much, exceedingly
רַב (rav) — chief.
captain, chief
Aramaic equivalent: rav.re.van (רַבְרְבָן "noble" H7261)
רַב (rav) — (Sidon) the Great.
Combined with tsi.don (צִידוֹן "Sidon" H6721H)
§ captain, chief
Adj — AdjHAampa
MANY, adjective men'ny.
1. Numerous; comprising a great number of individuals.
Thou shalt be a father of many nations. Genesis 17:4.
Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 1 Corinthians 1:26.
MANY are the afflictions of the righteous. Psalms 34:12.
It is often preceded by as or so, and followed by so, indicating an equal number.
As many books as you take, so many shall be charged to your account.
So many laws argue so many sins.
It is followed by as.
As many as were willing-hearted brought bracelets. Exodus 34:1.
It precedes an or a, before a noun in the singular number.
Full many a gem of purest ray serene.
2. In low language, preceded by too, it denotes powerful or much; as, they are too many for us.
MANY, noun men'ny. A multitude; a great number of individuals; the people.
O thou fond many
The vulgar and the many are fit only to be led or driven.
הָרַג (harag) is a Hebrew verb meaning to kill or slay, often implying ruthless violence. It encompasses a range of meanings including murder, destruction, and being killed. The entries indicate its use in various contexts, such as wholesale slaughter in battle or divine judgment. The verb appears in different forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Pual, indicating various nuances of killing.
הָרַג vb. kill, slay
Qal
kill, slay, implying ruthless violence
hence of wholesale slaughter after battle
of God’s slaying in judgment
rarely of judicial killing by men (at God’s command)
of killing beasts
of killing by beasts
quite general
destroy, ruin
Niph.
shall priest and prophet be slain in the sanctuary?
pass. of Qal 1 b
Pu. be slain
base
H2026 הָרַג kill, slay
2026 harag haw-rag'
a primitive root; to smite with deadly intent:--destroy, out
of hand, kill, murder(-er), put to (death), make (slaughter),
slay(-er), X surely.
הָרַג (ha.rag) — to kill.
1) to kill, slay, murder, destroy, murderer, slayer, out of hand
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to kill, slay
1a2) to destroy, ruin
1b) (Niphal) to be killed
1c) (Pual) to be killed, be slain
Conj | V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqq3ms
The Hebrew word מֶ֫לֶךְ (*melek*) means 'king.' It is derived from a root that suggests royalty. The term appears in various contexts, including references to specific kings and locations, such as the 'King's Highway' in Numbers 20:17 and the 'King's Valley' in Genesis 14:17. The lexicons note its Aramaic equivalent and mention its use in the context of individuals like Hammelech in Jeremiah.
מֶ֫לֶךְ 2513 n.m. king
base
H4428 מֶ֫לֶךְ king
4428 melek meh'-lek
from 4427; a king:--king, royal.
see HEBREW for 04427
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — king.
1) king
Aramaic equivalent: me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4430)
הַמֶּלֶךְ (me.lekh) — `the king`.
'the king' or a name, Hammelech in KJV of Jer.36.26; 38.6- a man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;
father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";
§ A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;
father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
King's (Highway) (Num.20.17)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
Another name of she.lach (שֶׁ֫לַח "Shelah" H7975A)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — Milcom.
Another name of mo.lekh (מֹ֫לֶךְ "Molech" H4432)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
of Judah and Israel. For the list see table at the end of this volume.
עָצוּם (atsuwm) is an adjective meaning mighty or numerous. It conveys strength and power, often in the context of numbers. The word is derived from a root meaning to be powerful, and it appears in various contexts in the Old Testament, emphasizing might and abundance.
עָצוּם 31 adj. mighty, numerous
base
H6099 עָצוּם mighty, numerous
6099 `atsuwm aw-tsoom'
or matsum {aw-tsoom'}; passive participle of 6105; powerful
(specifically, a paw); by implication, numerous:--+ feeble,
great, mighty, must, strong.
see HEBREW for 06105
עָצוּם (a.tsum) — mighty.
1) mighty, vast, numerous
1a) mighty, strong (in number)
1b) numerous, countless
Adj — AdjHAampa