Psalms 118:9-19

9 It is ¹better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in princes.

10 All nations ²surrounded me; In the name of the LORD I will surely ³cut them off.

11 They ⁴surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me; In the name of the LORD I will surely cut them off.

12 They surrounded me ⁵like bees; They were extinguished as a ⁶fire of thorns; In the name of the LORD I will surely cut them off.

13 You ⁷pushed me violently so that I was falling, But the LORD ⁸helped me.

14 ⁹The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become ¹⁰my salvation.

15 The sound of ¹¹joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous; The ¹²right hand of the LORD does valiantly.

16 The ¹³right hand of the LORD is exalted; The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.

17 I ¹⁴will not die, but live, And ¹⁵tell of the works of the LORD.

18 The LORD has ¹⁶disciplined me severely, But He has ¹⁷not given me over to death.

19 ¹⁸Open to me the gates of righteousness; I shall enter through them, I shall give thanks to the LORD.

Psalms 118:9-19 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 118

Kimchi says their Rabbins are divided about this psalm. Some understand it of David; others of the Messiah: but, with us Christians, there ought to be no doubt of its belonging to the Messiah; since our Lord has quoted a passage out of it, and applied it to himself, Ps 118:22,23; see Mt 21:42; and so has the Apostle Peter, Ac 4:11. Nor did the Jews of those times object thereunto, which doubtless they would have done, had the psalm respected any other but the Messiah; yea, the common people that attended Christ when he entered into Jerusalem, and the children in the temple, took their "hosanna" from hence, Ps 118:26; see Mt 21:9,15. It is generally thought to be written by David, after he was established in the kingdom, and had brought the ark of the Lord into the city. It concludes the great "Hallel", or hymn sung at the Jewish festivals; particularly at the feasts of tabernacle and the passover.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 146:3
• 2. Psalms 3:6; Psalms 88:17
• 3. Psalms 18:40
• 4. Psalms 88:17
• 5. Deuteronomy 1:44
• 6. Psalms 58:9; Nahum 1:10
• 7. Psalms 140:4
• 8. Psalms 86:17
• 9. Exodus 15:2; Isaiah 12:2
• 10. Psalms 27:1
• 11. Psalms 68:3
• 12. Exodus 15:6; Psalms 89:13; Luke 1:51
• 13. Exodus 15:6; Psalms 89:13
• 14. Psalms 6:5; Psalms 116:8, 9; Habakkuk 1:12
• 15. Psalms 73:28; Psalms 107:22
• 16. Psalms 73:14; Jeremiah 31:18; 1 Corinthians 11:32; 2 Corinthians 6:9
• 17. Psalms 86:13
• 18. Isaiah 26:2

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "fell"
• [b]. Heb YAH
• [c]. Heb YAH
• [d]. Heb YAH
• [e]. Heb YAH