Psalms 136:16

World English Bible (2000)

To him who led his people through the wilderness; for his loving kindness endures forever:

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

לְמוֹלִ֣יךְ עַ֭מּוֹ בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ

Transliteration

to-môlîk ʿammô in-the-midbār because to-ʿôlām ḥasdô

Grammar Details

• *môlîk*: hiphil participle, masculine singular with prefixed preposition lamed - to/for the one leading
• *ʿammô*: noun, masculine singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - his people
• *midbār*: noun, masculine singular with definite article and prefixed preposition bet - in the wilderness/desert
• *ʿôlām*: noun, masculine singular with prefixed preposition lamed - to/for eternity/forever
• *ḥasdô*: noun, masculine singular with 3rd person masculine singular possessive suffix - his steadfast love/mercy/kindness

Word Meanings

• *môlîk*: leading/guiding/causing to walk
• *ʿammô*: his people/his nation
• *midbār*: wilderness/desert/uninhabited land
• *ʿôlām*: eternity/long duration/antiquity
• *ḥasdô*: his steadfast love/mercy/kindness/covenant faithfulness

Referenced Verses

• Exod 13:18 : 18 but God led the people around by the way of the wilderness by the Red Sea; and the children of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt.
• Exod 15:22 : 22 Moses led Israel onward from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.
• Deut 8:15 : 15 who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, [in which were] fiery serpents and scorpions, and thirsty ground where there was no water; who brought you forth water out of the rock of flint;
• Ps 77:20 : 20 You led your people like a flock, by the hand of Moses and Aaron. A contemplation by Asaph.
• Isa 49:10 : 10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun strike them: for he who has mercy on them will lead them, even by springs of water he will guide them.
• Isa 63:11-14 : 11 Then he remembered the days of old, Moses [and] his people, [saying], Where is he who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? where is he who put his holy Spirit in the midst of them? 12 who caused his glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses? who divided the waters before them, to make himself an everlasting name? 13 who led them through the depths, as a horse in the wilderness, so that they didn't stumble? 14 As the livestock that go down into the valley, the Spirit of Yahweh caused them to rest; so you led your people, to make yourself a glorious name.
• Neh 9:12 : 12 Moreover, in a pillar of cloud you led them by day; and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light in the way in which they should go.
• Neh 9:19 : 19 yet you in your manifold mercies didn't forsake them in the wilderness: the pillar of cloud didn't depart from over them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way in which they should go.
• Num 9:17-22 : 17 Whenever the cloud was taken up from over the Tent, then after that the children of Israel traveled; and in the place where the cloud remained, there the children of Israel encamped. 18 At the commandment of Yahweh, the children of Israel traveled, and at the commandment of Yahweh they encamped. As long as the cloud remained on the tabernacle they remained encamped. 19 When the cloud stayed on the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept Yahweh's command, and didn't travel. 20 Sometimes the cloud was a few days on the tabernacle; then according to the commandment of Yahweh they remained encamped, and according to the commandment of Yahweh they traveled. 21 Sometimes the cloud was from evening until morning; and when the cloud was taken up in the morning, they traveled: or by day and by night, when the cloud was taken up, they traveled. 22 Whether it was two days, or a month, or a year that the cloud stayed on the tabernacle, remaining on it, the children of Israel remained encamped, and didn't travel; but when it was taken up, they traveled.
• Deut 8:2 : 2 You shall remember all the way which Yahweh your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, to prove you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments, or not.