Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version to him who led his people through the wilderness; His love endures forever. New Living Translation Give thanks to him who led his people through the wilderness. His faithful love endures forever. English Standard Version to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever; Berean Standard Bible He led His people through the wilderness. His loving devotion endures forever. King James Bible To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever. New King James Version To Him who led His people through the wilderness, For His mercy endures forever; New American Standard Bible To Him who led His people through the wilderness, For His faithfulness is everlasting; NASB 1995 To Him who led His people through the wilderness, For His lovingkindness is everlasting; NASB 1977 To Him who led His people through the wilderness, For His lovingkindness is everlasting; Legacy Standard Bible To Him who led His people through the wilderness, For His lovingkindness endures forever; Amplified Bible To Him who led His people through the wilderness, For His lovingkindness endures forever; Christian Standard Bible He led his people in the wilderness. His faithful love endures forever. Holman Christian Standard Bible He led His people in the wilderness. His love is eternal. American Standard Version To him that led his people through the wilderness; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever: Contemporary English Version The Lord led his people through the desert. God's love never fails. English Revised Version To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever. GOD'S WORD® Translation Give thanks to the one who led his people through the desert- because his mercy endures forever. Good News Translation He led his people through the desert; his love is eternal. International Standard Version To the one who led his people into the wilderness, for his gracious love is everlasting— NET Bible to the one who led his people through the wilderness, for his loyal love endures, New Heart English Bible To him who led his people through the wilderness; for his loving kindness endures forever: Webster's Bible Translation To him who led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleHe led His people through the wilderness. His loving devotion endures forever. World English Bible to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his loving kindness endures forever; Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionTo Him leading His people in a wilderness, "" For His kindness [is] for all time. Young's Literal Translation To Him leading His people in a wilderness, For to the age is His kindness. Smith's Literal Translation To him causing his people to go into the desert: for his mercy is forever. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleWho led his people through the desert: for his mercy endureth for ever. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible Who led the people through the desert, for his mercy endures forever; New Revised Standard Version who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever; Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleTo him who led his people through the wilderness; for his mercy endures for ever. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated To him who led his people in the desert, for his mercies are to eternity. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917To Him that led His people through the wilderness, For His mercy endureth for ever. Brenton Septuagint Translation To him who led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endures for ever. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context His Loving Faithfulness Endures Forever…15but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea. His loving devotion endures forever. 16He led His people through the wilderness. His loving devotion endures forever. 17He struck down great kings His loving devotion endures forever.… Cross References Exodus 13:18 So God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the Israelites left the land of Egypt arrayed for battle. Deuteronomy 8:2 Remember that these forty years the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commandments. Nehemiah 9:19-21 You in Your great compassion did not forsake them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud never turned away from guiding them on their path; and by the night the pillar of fire illuminated the way they should go. / You gave Your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold Your manna from their mouths, and You gave them water for their thirst. / For forty years You sustained them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell. Isaiah 63:11-14 Then His people remembered the days of old, the days of Moses. Where is He who brought them through the sea with the shepherds of His flock? Where is the One who set His Holy Spirit among them, / who sent His glorious arm to lead them by the right hand of Moses, who divided the waters before them to gain for Himself everlasting renown, / who led them through the depths like a horse in the wilderness, so that they did not stumble? ... Acts 7:36 He led them out and performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and for forty years in the wilderness. 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea. / They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. Exodus 14:21-22 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove back the sea with a strong east wind that turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided, / and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left. Numbers 14:33-34 Your children will be shepherds in the wilderness for forty years, and they will suffer for your unfaithfulness until the last of your bodies lies in the wilderness. / In keeping with the forty days you spied out the land, you shall bear your guilt forty years—a year for each day—and you will experience My alienation. Deuteronomy 29:5 For forty years I led you in the wilderness, yet your clothes and sandals did not wear out. Joshua 24:7 So your fathers cried out to the LORD, and He put darkness between you and the Egyptians, over whom He brought the sea and engulfed them. Your very eyes saw what I did to the Egyptians. Then you lived in the wilderness for a long time. Psalm 78:52-53 He led out His people like sheep and guided them like a flock in the wilderness. / He led them safely, so they did not fear, but the sea engulfed their enemies. Psalm 105:39-41 He spread a cloud as a covering and a fire to light up the night. / They asked, and He brought quail and satisfied them with the bread of heaven. / He opened a rock, and water gushed out; it flowed like a river in the desert. Isaiah 40:3 A voice of one calling: “Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert. Hebrews 3:16-18 For who were the ones who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? / And with whom was God angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? / And to whom did He swear that they would never enter His rest? Was it not to those who disobeyed? Exodus 15:22 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the Desert of Shur. For three days they walked in the desert without finding water. Treasury of Scripture To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endures for ever. Psalm 77:20 Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron. Exodus 13:18 But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt. Exodus 15:22 So Moses brought Israel 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. Jump to Previous Age Desert Endures Endureth Everlasting Forever Kindness Led Love Mercy Steadfast Unchanging Waste WildernessJump to Next Age Desert Endures Endureth Everlasting Forever Kindness Led Love Mercy Steadfast Unchanging Waste WildernessPsalm 136 1. An exhortation to give thanks to God for particular mercies.He led His people through the wilderness. This phrase refers to the Israelites' journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, a period lasting 40 years. The wilderness, often identified as the Sinai Peninsula, was a harsh and barren environment, symbolizing trials and testing. God's guidance during this time is a testament to His faithfulness and provision, as He provided manna, quail, and water from a rock. This journey is detailed in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The wilderness experience is also a type of the Christian life, representing the believer's journey through trials and reliance on God's guidance. It foreshadows Jesus' own time in the wilderness, where He was tempted by Satan but remained obedient to God (Matthew 4:1-11). His loving devotion endures forever. Persons / Places / Events 1. GodThe central figure in this verse, God is acknowledged for His guidance and enduring love. 2. His People Refers to the Israelites, whom God led through the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. 3. The Wilderness The desert region where the Israelites wandered for 40 years, a place of testing and reliance on God's provision. Teaching Points God's GuidanceJust as God led the Israelites, He guides us through our own "wilderness" experiences. Trust in His direction even when the path seems uncertain. Enduring Love God's loving devotion is a constant, unchanging force. Reflect on how His love has been evident in your life, especially during challenging times. Dependence on God The wilderness journey teaches us to rely on God for our needs. Consider areas in your life where you need to depend more on Him. Faithfulness in Trials The Israelites' journey was marked by trials that tested their faith. Use your own trials as opportunities to grow in faith and trust in God. Gratitude for Provision Recognize and give thanks for God's provision in your life, just as He provided for the Israelites in the wilderness. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Psalm 136:16?2. How does Psalm 136:16 demonstrate God's guidance in our daily lives? 3. What does "led His people through the wilderness" teach about God's faithfulness? 4. How can we apply God's guidance in Psalm 136:16 to modern challenges? 5. Which other Bible stories illustrate God's guidance like in Psalm 136:16? 6. How does Psalm 136:16 encourage trust in God's direction during uncertain times? 7. How does Psalm 136:16 reflect God's guidance in the Israelites' journey through the wilderness? 8. What historical evidence supports the events described in Psalm 136:16? 9. How does Psalm 136:16 demonstrate God's enduring love and faithfulness? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Psalm 136? 11. How does God's love and mercy endure daily? 12. Throughout Psalm 136, God's mercy is repeatedly emphasized; how does this reconcile with other biblical passages depicting divine wrath and judgment? 13. What does the Hebrew word 'hesed' mean? 14. If Psalm 77:9 asks whether God can forget to be gracious, how does this align with the Bible's broader depiction of God as eternally merciful? What Does Psalm 136:16 Mean He ledPsalm 136:16 opens with a simple, powerful truth: “He led…” • God is the active guide, not a distant observer. He personally directs every step (Exodus 13:21, Psalm 23:2–3). • Leadership here is continuous; He didn’t point the way and leave. He stayed with Israel day and night, a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night, a vivid reminder that the same God still guides believers today (Isaiah 58:11). • Because Scripture is accurate and literal, we can trust that this leadership was real in history and remains real for us (John 10:3–4). His people The verse highlights who receives this gracious guidance: “His people.” • Israel belonged to God by covenant (Deuteronomy 7:6–8). Today, those in Christ are likewise His treasured possession (1 Peter 2:9). • The phrase stresses relationship, not just geography. God’s concern is always personal, familial, and protective (Isaiah 43:1). • Since He calls them “His,” His reputation is tied to their well-being (Ezekiel 36:22–23). That same commitment anchors our assurance now (Romans 8:31–39). through the wilderness The route wasn’t a plush highway; it was “through the wilderness.” • Wilderness means barrenness, heat, danger, and uncertainty (Deuteronomy 8:15). Yet God turned it into a classroom for faith (Deuteronomy 8:2–4). • He provided water from a rock (Exodus 17:6), daily manna (Exodus 16:35), and clothes that didn’t wear out (Deuteronomy 29:5). • Trials become testimonies when God is the guide (2 Corinthians 4:17). Our own “wilderness seasons” are never wasted; He leads with purpose, shaping character and dependence on Him (James 1:2–4). His loving devotion endures forever Every previous thought crescendos here: “His loving devotion endures forever.” • The Hebrew term translated “loving devotion” (chesed) sums up steadfast covenant love—loyal, unfailing kindness (Psalm 100:5). • Eternity brackets God’s love; it has no expiration date (Lamentations 3:22–23, Romans 8:38–39). • The refrain “endures forever” repeats 26 times in Psalm 136, driving home that each historical act is a tangible proof of unending mercy (Psalm 136:1–3). • Jesus embodies this same loving devotion, leading His people through the wilderness of sin and death into eternal life (John 14:6, Hebrews 13:8). summary Psalm 136:16 declares that God Himself actively guided His covenant people, not merely out of Egypt but straight through the harsh wilderness, proving at every step that His unwavering, covenant-keeping love never quits. The same faithful Lord still leads His people today, turning deserts into places of provision, growth, and testimony, all under the banner of a love that endures forever. Verse 16. - To him which led his people through the wilderness (Exodus 13:20-22; Exodus 40:36-38; Deuteronomy 8:15). For his mercy, etc.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew He ledלְמוֹלִ֣יךְ (lə·mō·w·lîḵ) Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular construct Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk His people עַ֭מּוֹ (‘am·mōw) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock through the wilderness. בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר (bam·miḏ·bār) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech His loving devotion חַסְדּֽוֹ׃ (ḥas·dōw) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 2617: Kindness, piety, reproof, beauty endures forever. לְעוֹלָ֣ם (lə·‘ō·w·lām) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5769: Concealed, eternity, frequentatively, always Links Psalm 136:16 NIVPsalm 136:16 NLT Psalm 136:16 ESV Psalm 136:16 NASB Psalm 136:16 KJV Psalm 136:16 BibleApps.com Psalm 136:16 Biblia Paralela Psalm 136:16 Chinese Bible Psalm 136:16 French Bible Psalm 136:16 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Psalm 136:16 To him who led his people through (Psalm Ps Psa.) |