Short answer: Psalm 118 is a thanksgiving psalm that celebrates God's enduring steadfast love. It is the last of the Hallel psalms (113-118) traditionally sung at Passover. The psalm begins with a call to give thanks because God's steadfast love endures forever. It describes a procession into the temple gates, declaring that the stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone. The psalm ends with a call to rejoice and give thanks, a verse Jesus himself quoted and the crowds shouted at his triumphal entry.
The setting of the psalm
Psalm 118 is the climax of the Hallel psalms (113-118) traditionally sung at Passover. It is a thanksgiving psalm that begins and ends with the declaration that God's steadfast love endures forever. The psalm is set in the context of a procession entering the temple gates, with the psalmist giving thanks for deliverance from enemies and distress.
The psalmist describes being pushed hard by enemies so that he almost fell, but the Lord helped him. The Lord is his strength and song, and has become his salvation. The language of salvation and deliverance is personal and experiential. The psalmist has called on the Lord in distress, and the Lord answered by setting him in a broad place.
The psalm contains the famous verse about the stone that the builders rejected becoming the cornerstone. This verse is quoted by Jesus himself in reference to his own rejection and exaltation. The imagery of the rejected stone becoming the most important stone in the building is a powerful picture of God's reversal of human judgment.
The psalm describes a festival procession entering the gates of the righteous. The gates are called to lift up their heads so that the King of glory may enter. The one who comes in the name of the Lord is blessed. The priests offer a blessing from the house of the Lord, and the psalm ends with a final call to give thanks.
For Christians, this psalm is deeply connected to the passion of Christ. Jesus sang this psalm with his disciples at the Last Supper before going to the cross. The crowds quoted verse 26 at his triumphal entry. The rejected stone becoming the cornerstone points to Christ's resurrection and exaltation. The psalm anticipates the salvation that Christ would accomplish.
Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever. Let Israel now say that his loving kindness endures forever. Let the house of Aaron now say that his loving kindness endures forever. Now let those who fear Yahweh say that his loving kindness endures forever.
Psalm 118:1-4 (World English Bible)
Key words and their meaning
The Hebrew word for 'steadfast love' (chesed) in verse 1 appears throughout the psalm as the foundation of thanksgiving. Chesed describes God's covenant loyalty, his faithful love that endures forever. This word is the key to understanding the entire psalm.
The word 'cornerstone' (rosh pinah) in verse 22 describes the most important stone in a building. The builders rejected it, but it became the capstone. This word carries deep messianic significance and is quoted in the New Testament as referring to Christ.
The phrase 'this is the day that the Lord has made' (zeh hayom asah Adonai) in verse 24 expresses joy in God's deliverance. The day of salvation is a gift from God that calls for rejoicing.
Out of my distress, I called on Yah. Yah answered me with freedom. Yahweh is on my side. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Yahweh is on my side among those who help me. Therefore I will look in triumph at those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in Yahweh, than to put confidence in man. It is better to take refuge in Yahweh, than to put confidence in princes.
Psalm 118:5-9 (World English Bible)
What the psalm claims
First, God's steadfast love endures forever. The psalm begins and ends with this declaration, framing everything else within God's covenant faithfulness.
Second, the stone rejected by the builders becomes the cornerstone. God reverses human judgments and exalts the one whom others rejected.
Third, the one who comes in the name of the Lord is blessed. The psalm anticipates the coming of God's anointed and the salvation he will bring.
All the nations surrounded me, but in Yahweh’s name, I cut them off. They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me. In Yahweh’s name I indeed cut them off. They surrounded me like bees. They are quenched like the burning thorns. In Yahweh’s name I cut them off. You pushed me back hard, to make me fall, but Yahweh helped me. Yah is my strength and song. He has become my salvation.
Psalm 118:10-14 (World English Bible)
Where readers disagree
The relationship between this psalm and the Hallel psalms has been discussed. As the final Hallel psalm, it serves as the climax of the collection.
The identity of the 'stone the builders rejected' has been discussed. Jesus applied this to himself, but some interpreters debate whether the original context referred to Israel, David, or the psalmist himself.
The timing of the psalm's use at Passover has been discussed. Jesus sang this psalm with his disciples at the Last Supper, and the crowds quoted it at his triumphal entry.
The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous. “The right hand of Yahweh does valiantly. The right hand of Yahweh is exalted! The right hand of Yahweh does valiantly!” I will not die, but live, and declare Yah’s works. Yah has punished me severely, but he has not given me over to death.
Psalm 118:15-18 (World English Bible)
How this psalm connects to the gospel
The themes of Psalm 118 find their ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The New Testament frequently draws on the Psalms to explain who Jesus is and what he accomplished. The psalm's language of deliverance, kingship, and steadfast love all point toward the gospel.
In Jesus, believers see the perfect fulfillment of everything this psalm celebrates. The deliverance the psalmist experienced was a foreshadowing of the greater deliverance Christ would accomplish. The kingship celebrated in the psalm points to Christ's eternal reign. The steadfast love described in the psalm is fully revealed in Jesus's sacrificial death and resurrection.
For Christians, reading this psalm is an opportunity to see God's faithfulness across the entire biblical story. The same God who heard the psalmist's cry also hears the prayers of his people today. The same deliverance finds its ultimate expression in the salvation Christ offers. The psalm invites believers to trust in this faithful God and to make his praise known to all generations.
The New Testament writers understood the Psalms as a prophetic witness to Christ. Jesus himself told his disciples that everything written about him in the Psalms must be fulfilled (Luke 24:44). When the apostles preached about Jesus, they regularly quoted the Psalms to demonstrate that his suffering, death, resurrection, and exaltation were all part of God's redemptive plan.
Psalm 118 participates in this prophetic witness. Whether through its language of kingship, its descriptions of suffering and deliverance, or its celebration of God's steadfast love, this psalm contributes to the biblical portrait of the Messiah. Reading it in light of Christ does not diminish its original meaning but reveals its deepest significance.
Open to me the gates of righteousness. I will enter into them. I will give thanks to Yah. This is the gate of Yahweh; the righteous will enter into it. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me, and have become my salvation. The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is Yahweh’s doing. It is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that Yahweh has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it!
Psalm 118:19-24 (World English Bible)
Biblical fidelity check
Psalm 118 is theologically sound and consistent with the broader biblical witness. Its themes of God's steadfast love, faithfulness, and righteousness are central to biblical theology. The psalm contributes to the Psalter's comprehensive portrait of God's relationship with his people. While each psalm reflects its original historical context, its truths are enduring and applicable to believers today. The New Testament affirms and deepens the themes found in this psalm, particularly through the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main message of Psalm 118?
The main message of Psalm 118 is give thanks to the lord, for he is good. The psalm teaches that God is worthy of trust and praise. It calls believers to respond to God's character with faith, obedience, and worship.
How does Psalm 118 point to Christ?
Psalm 118, like all Scripture, ultimately points to Jesus Christ. The themes of God's deliverance, steadfast love, and kingship find their fullest expression in Christ. The New Testament frequently quotes the Psalms to explain Christ's person and work. As Jesus himself said, the Scriptures bear witness to him (John 5:39).
How does Psalm 118 apply to Christians today?
Psalm 118 applies to believers today by providing language for prayer, praise, and lament. It teaches about God's character and how believers should respond to him. The psalm's truths are timeless, addressing the universal human experiences of joy, suffering, hope, and trust.
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