What does Psalm 116:18 mean?
ESV: I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people,
NIV: I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people,
NASB: I will pay my vows to the Lord, May it be in the presence of all His people,
CSB: I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people,
NLT: I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people —
KJV: I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people,
NKJV: I will pay my vows to the Lord Now in the presence of all His people,
Verse Commentary:
Verse Context:
Psalm 116:15–19 expresses gratitude that the Lord cares about the lives of His people. The psalmist promises to honor the Lord and give Him public praise for the rest of his life. The psalm ends with a Hebrew phrase often rendered in English as "hallelujah!"
Chapter Summary:
The psalmist thanks God for rescue from a fatal threat. During some intense crisis, the writer cried out to God and was spared. For this reason, the psalmist promises to praise God forever. The danger made this writer question the reasons for his situation, but did not erase his faith. He recognizes that the Lord values all of His people, and vows to publicly honor the One who has saved him.
Chapter Context:
Major Jewish celebrations incorporated a series of songs (Psalms 113—118), often called "the Hallel." These frequently use the phrase halelu-yāh, better known in English as "hallelujah." This literally means "Praise the Lord!" Psalm 116 emphasizes the personal salvation experienced by the psalmist. His words explore the way God's people often struggle to understand hardships (Psalm 73:2–3).
Book Summary:
The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.
Accessed 12/3/2024 12:18:59 PM
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Text from ESV, NIV, NASB, CSB, NLT, KJV, NKJV © Copyright respective owners, used by permission.
