Psalms 136:17 Meaning: Loving Kindness in Judgment
to him who struck great kings, for his loving kindness endures forever;
To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
To him that smote great kings; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever;
To Him smiting great kings, For to the age is His kindness.
To him that smote great kings, for his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever,
Meaning in one sentence
How can God striking down great kings be an act of loving kindness? Psalm 136:17 shows God's faithful mercy at work through deliverance.
Context
Psalm 136 is a song of thanks that walks through Israel’s story. Each line names a mighty act of God, creation, the Exodus, crossing the Red Sea, leading through the wilderness, and after every line comes the same refrain: “for his loving kindness endures forever.” By the time you reach verse 17, the psalm has moved from saving Israel out of Egypt to giving them a place to live. The people who sang this in worship remembered how God had brought down the powerful kings of the Amorites, Sihon and Og, and handed their land over as an inheritance. The repeated chorus turns every victory into a sign of mercy.
Key Words
The verb behind “struck” comes from the Hebrew nakah. It means to hit, beat down, or kill, strong, concrete action. In this psalm, God is the one who does the striking. The word does not soften the blow; it names what happened. But the refrain holds it inside a larger truth.
The word at the heart of the psalm is chesed, translated here as “loving kindness.” It is the covenant loyalty of God, faithfulness He promised and will not break. Chesed is not a passing feeling. It is a bond that holds.
And that bond lasts forever. The Hebrew olam means perpetual, unending. Not just for a long time but for a duration that cannot be measured. The same chesed that led Israel through the sea also brought down the kings who blocked their path. His kindness is stubborn enough to remove whatever stands in the way of His people’s home.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have seen God’s mercy even in the judgment of these kings. Barnes’ Notes (Protestant) calls the defeat of Sihon and Og a proof of mercy to humanity and the church, removing wicked rulers so the land could be used for righteousness. Gill’s Exposition (Baptist) says the smiting was in mercy to Israel, both to protect them and to give them the land. Calvin (Reformed) emphasizes that every benefit flows from God’s undeserved favor; even the conquest is a gift. Each tradition agrees: the same hand that strikes is the same heart that loves.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is to think that “loving kindness” means God never judges or overthrows anyone. In fact, chesed here includes the very act of striking down oppressors. God’s mercy to Israel took the form of removing those who stood against His promise. His love is not soft indifference; it is active loyalty that makes a way for His people.
Living This Out
This week, you may face a situation where someone powerful seems to block what you know is right. It could be a boss, a policy, or even a voice inside your own head that says you don’t belong. Remember that God’s chesed works through history, and it works in your life too. You may not see the giant fall overnight. But the same God who brought down Sihon and Og is still keeping His promise. You can ask Him to clear the path, and trust that He will, in His way and time.
Main takeaway: God’s enduring kindness includes the strength to remove whatever stands between His people and the home He promised them.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God is very strong and very kind. When bad kings tried to hurt His people, God stopped them. That was God being good to His people.
For ages 9, 12
Psalm 136 tells about things God did for Israel. Verse 17 says God struck down great kings. That sounds harsh, but remember the chorus: “his loving kindness endures forever.” God was keeping His promise to give Israel a land to live in. The kings were in the way. So God removed them, not because He was mean, but because He was staying true to His people. Even when God has to stop something bad, He is still being kind.
Questions People Ask
Who were the great kings mentioned in Psalm 136:17?
Later verses name Sihon king of the Amorites and Og king of Bashan (verses 19, 20). These were powerful rulers who controlled land east of the Jordan River that God promised to Israel. The people of Israel defeated them under Moses’ leadership (Joshua 12:1, 6).
How can striking down kings be an act of mercy?
The mercy is toward God’s people and toward the purposes God has for the land. Removing oppressive rulers protected Israel and gave them a place to live as a nation. The land that had been used for violence and idolatry became a place where God was worshipped. In that sense, the judgment was part of God’s larger kindness.
Does Psalm 136:17 mean God always destroys our enemies?
The psalm is a specific history of what God did for Israel to bring them into the promised land. It does not promise that every enemy we face will be literally struck down. But it does show that God’s chesed is strong enough to protect and provide for His people, even when obstacles seem impossible.
Why is the refrain “for his loving kindness endures forever” repeated 26 times in this psalm?
The repetition was likely used in worship, a leader sang each line and the congregation responded with the chorus. It drills the point home: every single act of God, from creation to conquest, flows from His enduring covenant faithfulness. Nothing is outside His mercy.
What does the Hebrew word chesed mean that is different from “mercy”?
Chesed is often translated “loving kindness,” “steadfast love,” or “covenant loyalty.” It is not just pity or forgiveness. It is the faithful commitment of a God who keeps His promises even when the other side does not deserve it. That is why it “endures forever”, it is built into who God is.
For pastors & researchers
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