Psalm 118:16 - Printer Friendly

ESV: the right hand of the Lord exalts, the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!"

NIV: The Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!"

NASB: The right hand of the Lord is exalted; The right hand of the Lord performs valiantly.

CSB: The Lord’s right hand is raised. The Lord’s right hand performs valiantly!"

NLT: The strong right arm of the Lord is raised in triumph. The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things!

KJV: The right hand of the Lord is exalted: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.

NKJV: The right hand of the Lord is exalted; The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.

The previous verse (Psalm 118:15) credited God with providing "valiant" power through His right hand. The word translated "valiantly" is hā'yil, used to describe heroic and mighty deeds, particularly as related to war (Judges 6:12; 1 Samuel 16:18; 2 Kings 5:1). Through God's power, He accomplishes tremendous things. Most translations speak of the Lord's right hand being exalted as a result. God's victory rightly becomes God's glory.

The ESV and some other versions imply that God's right hand "exalts," possibly suggesting that He uplift and supports. This is still consistent with the theme of Psalm 118 and this passage. God's power is what enables His people to succeed (Zechariah 4:6). This psalm may have been connected to Israel celebrating the restoration of Jerusalem and the temple (Ezra 2:1; 3:1–2, 8). Israel knew all along they could never have rebuilt Jerusalem's walls by themselves. They were too weak, and their enemies were too strong. Yet God gave them the resources and protection they needed.

Similarly, the disciples could not have preached in Jerusalem after Jesus' ascension to heaven without the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). Nor could they have led three thousand people from around the Mediterranean region to faith in Jesus without the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:41). Before ascending to heaven, Jesus had told His followers to remain in Jerusalem and wait until the Holy Spirit baptized them (Acts 1:4–5). Later, on the Day of Pentecost, "they were all filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:4). Empowered by the Spirit, they proclaimed Christ in various languages to the Jews who had come from far away to observe Passover (Acts 2:5).

Psalm 118:10–18 speaks for the nation of Israel and gives reasons for trusting in the Lord. One possible inspiration for these words was Israel's freedom from seventy years of exile (Ezra 2:1) and the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls and temple. The repeated phrases were probably meant to be expressed by the entire congregation, in response to the cue lines which come before. The use of past tense here may also be poetic, implying that the psalmist is looking ahead to something God will certainly do, as if it had already happened.

Psalm 118 appears to be a "call and response." The repeated phrases may have been spoken by a congregation after the prompts, read by a song leader. The psalmist begins with a declaration of God's loyal love and its expression by all of Israel. Next is a celebration of the Lord's rescue and the value of honoring Him. Despite Israel's many powerful neighbors, God preserved them through discipline and exile, not allowing the nation to die. What the world rejects has now become the key piece of God's plan for mankind.

This is the last of a block of songs used during Israel's festivals (Psalm 113—118). Because of a mention of rescue from Egypt (Psalm 114:1), this block is sometimes called the "Egyptian Hallel." The Hebrew expression halelu-yāh is a call to "praise the Lord!" The New Testament quotes from this song often (Hebrews 13:6), especially Psalm 118:22 (Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10, 11; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:7) and Psalm 118:26 (Matthew 23:39; Mark 11:9; Luke 19:38; John 12:13;). Some scholars suggest this was written after the exile as the temple was being restored (Ezra 2:1; 3:1–2, 8).

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.