Psalms 114:1-2

1 When 1Israel went out from Egypt, the house of Jacob from 2a people of strange language,
2 Judah became his 3sanctuary, Israel his dominion.

Psalms 114:1-2 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 114

The title of this psalm in the Arabic version is "hallelujah", as in some preceding ones; it is part of the great "Hallel" sung at the passover, and with great propriety; since the subject matter of it is the departure of the children of Israel out of Egypt, typical of our spiritual redemption by Christ; and of the effectual calling of God's elect out of a state of nature into a state of grace; and particularly of the conversion of the Gentiles, and the bringing of them from Paganism to Christianity: the inscription of the Syriac version is,

``a psalm without a name, out of the ancient writing; concerning Moses, who sung praise at the sea; but unto us the calling of the Gospel, by which we become a new people; spiritual to God, who is incarnate; to Jesus Christ, who redeemed us by his blood from the curse of the Scripture (the law), and hath cleansed us from sin by his Spirit.''

Cross References 3

  • 1. Exodus 12:37
  • 2. Psalms 81:5; [Genesis 42:23]
  • 3. Psalms 78:68, 69; [Exodus 15:17; Exodus 25:8]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.