Psalms 78:51 Meaning: Chief of Their Strength in the Tents of Ham

The Hebrew phrase behind “the chief of their strength” is reshit on. Reshit means “beginning” or “first,” and on means “vigor” or “generative power.” Together they describe the firstborn son as the firstfruits of a man’s strength, the one who carries the family’s future and legacy. That is why losing the firstborn was not just a loss; it was the collapse of a household’s hope.

The word for “tents” is ohel, a nomad’s dwelling made of cloth and poles. Even though Egypt was a mighty empire, the psalmist calls their homes “tents”, a reminder that their power was temporary. And “Ham” links Egypt back to Noah’s son who was associated with a curse (Genesis 9:22-25). The poet is showing that the proud empire, built by Ham’s descendants, could not stand against the God of Abraham. What seemed permanent was only a tent pitched on borrowed ground.

Christians have read this verse in different ways. Some, like Matthew Henry, see it as a sobering reminder that God’s judgments are real and that He protects His own people. The Geneva Bible notes that Egypt is called “the tabernacles of Ham” because the Egyptians descended from the cursed Ham, yet God still used them for His purposes. John Calvin focused on how God’s grace shines through the entire psalm: even after such judgment, God led His people out like a shepherd. Other traditions emphasize the typology, the firstborn of Egypt dying so Israel could go free points forward to Christ, the firstborn from the dead, whose death brings freedom to all who trust Him. Both interpretations agree that no human strength can stand before God, and that His deliverance is sure.

A common misreading is that “the tents of Ham” implies Ham himself was cursed by God, or that the plague was an act of revenge on Ham’s descendants. In fact, the curse was pronounced on Canaan, Ham’s son, not on Ham directly (Genesis 9:25). The phrase simply identifies Egypt as the land settled by Ham’s line. The plague was a direct response to Pharaoh’s stubborn refusal to let Israel go (Exodus 12:12). It was not random cruelty but a just act of liberation.

This week, consider what you treat as your “chief strength”, the thing you lean on most for security. It might be your job, your health, your family, or your savings. They are good gifts, but they are tents, not fortresses. The same God who dismantled Egypt’s pride can ask you to loosen your grip on what you hold dearest. Look at verse 52: after the judgment, He led His people like sheep. He does not strike to destroy; He clears a path to freedom. You can hold your blessings with open hands, trusting the Shepherd who knows the way through the wilderness.