Psalm 118

What Psalm 118 means

The psalm begins with a call and response. The first line gives the reason to give thanks: the LORD is good, and his mercy endureth for ever. Then Israel, the house of Aaron, and all who fear the LORD are each called to say it back. The same line closes the psalm in verse 29, framing everything in between.

Verses 5-14 tell a story of trouble. The psalmist called on the LORD in distress, and the LORD set him in a large place. He was surrounded by nations, swarmed like bees, and pushed hard to make him fall, but the LORD helped him. Out of that comes a lesson said twice: "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man," and better than trusting princes. Verse 14 borrows the song Moses sang at the Red Sea: "The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation."

From verse 15 the scene moves to celebration. There is rejoicing in the tabernacles of the righteous, and the psalmist says, "I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD." He asks for the gates of righteousness to be opened so he can go in and give thanks.

Verse 22 describes a stone the builders refused that became the head stone of the corner, and verse 23 calls it the LORD's doing, marvellous in our eyes. Verse 24 follows: "This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Jesus quoted the stone verses about himself (Matthew 21:42), and the crowds at his entry into Jerusalem cried the words of verse 26, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Background and context

The psalm has no heading and its writer is not named. It is the last of Psalms 113-118, a group traditionally sung at Passover in Jewish practice and known as the Hallel. Many readers think the hymn Jesus and his disciples sang after the Last Supper (Matthew 26:30) was from this group, though the text does not name it.

The voice moves between one person (I called upon the LORD) and the whole people (we have blessed you), and many readers think it was sung as worshippers arrived at the temple.

Key verses

Cross references

• Matthew 21:42 Jesus quotes verses 22-23 about himself to the chief priests and elders.Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
• Acts 4:11 Peter tells the council that Jesus is the stone set at nought by the builders.This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
• 1 Peter 2:7 Peter quotes verse 22 again: the stone the builders disallowed is made the head of the corner.Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
• Ephesians 2:20 Jesus Christ himself is the chief corner stone of the church.And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
• Matthew 21:9 The crowds at the triumphal entry cry the words of verse 26.And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
• Matthew 23:39 Jesus says Jerusalem will not see him until they say verse 26.For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
• Hebrews 13:6 Verse 6 quoted: I will not fear what man shall do unto me.So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
• Exodus 15:2 Verse 14 repeats a line from the song of Moses at the Red Sea.The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.