Psalm 118:26 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We bless you from the house of the Lord.

NIV: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you.

NASB: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord; We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.

CSB: He who comes in the name of the Lord is blessed. From the house of the Lord we bless you.

NLT: Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord.

KJV: Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord: we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord.

NKJV: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.

During feast days, Jewish people would use a series of psalms (Psalms 113—118). Recent verses in this song (Psalm 118:25) were used when Jesus entered Jerusalem just before Passover (Matthew 21:9; Mark 11:9). The crowds recognized Him as the fulfillment of prophecy (Daniel 9:25–26). This verse contains another phrase spoken during that triumphal entry (John 12:13; Luke 19:38). The second phrase typically refers to the temple in Jerusalem (1 Kings 6:37; John 2:16).

Scholars suggest that pilgrims to Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 16:16) were often greeted using the first line of this psalm. The psalmist, here, looks forward to seeing worshippers arrive at the temple to praise God. The people of Jesus' era celebrated the arrival of the Messiah. Those cries echoed the Old Testament, and also fulfilled prophecies themselves (Matthew 21:15–16). Even so, most of the people celebrating failed to accept the truth about how Jesus would fulfill His role (John 12:37).

Psalm 118:19–29 includes phrases used during Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:8–9). References to gates, cornerstones, and salvation are themes repeated frequently in the Bible (John 10:9; Matthew 7:13–14; Titus 2:11; 1 Peter 2:6). Similar ideas about entering through gates to praise God are found in Psalm 24:7–10 and Psalm 26:6–8.

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.

Accessed 12/3/2024 1:04:51 PM