Psalm 118:21-29

Psalm 118:21-29
Easter – Narrative Lectionary 439

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21 I thank youA that you have answeredB me
    and have becomeC my salvation.D

Notes on verse 21

A “thank” = yadah. From yad (hand). This is to throw one’s hands into the air in a gesture of praise. So, it is to praise, give thanks, or make a confession.
B “answered” = anah. This is answer, respond, announce, sing, shout, or testify. It means to pay attention, which implies responding and, by extension, starting to talk. Used in a specific sense for singing, shouting, testifying, etc.
C “become” = hayah. This is to be or become, to happen.
D “salvation” = yeshuah. From yasha (to deliver, defend, help, preserve, rescue, be safe. Properly, to be open, wide or free, which implies being safe. Used causatively, it means to free). This is salvation, deliverance, health, victory, prosperity.

22 The stoneE that the buildersF rejectedG
    has become the chiefH cornerstone.I

Notes on verse 22

E “stone” = eben. This is a stone, weight, or mason. It is part of the word “Ebenezer.”
F “builders” = banah. This is to build, make, set up, restore, repair, or obtain children. It is to build literally or figuratively.
G “rejected” = ma’as. This is to reject, refuse, despise, disdain, reject, or spurn. It can also be to disappear or melt away.
H “chief” = rosh. This may come a word that means to shake. It is the head, captain, or chief. It can also be excellent or the forefront. It can be first in position or in statue or in time (i.e. the beginning).
I “cornerstone” = pinnah. Perhaps from pen (corner, angle, street, wall). This is an angle, corner, cornerstone, tower, bulwark, pinnacle. Figuratively, it can be a chieftain.

23 This is the Lord’sJ doing;
    it is marvelousK in our eyes.L

Notes on verse 23

J “Lord’s” = YHVH. Related to “become” in v21. From havah (to be, become) or hayah (see note C above). This is the name of the God of Israel, the self-existent and eternal one, the tetragrammaton. This pronunciation has been lost to time so “Lord” is generally used in its place.
K “marvelous” = pala. From pele (wonder, miracle, wonderful, marvelous thing). This is to be extraordinary, to arise, to be great or accomplish.
L “eyes” = ayin. This is eye in a literal or figurative sense so eye, appearance, favor, or a fountain (the eye of the landscape).

24 This is the dayM that the Lord has made;N
    let us rejoiceO and be gladP in it.

Notes on verse 24

M “day” = yom. Root may mean being hot. This is the day in a literal or figurative sense. It can also mean birth, age, daylight, continually or other references to time.
N “made” = asah. This is to make, do, act, appoint, become in many senses.
O “rejoice” = gil. Properly, this is twirling around because of a strong feeling whether of rejoicing or from fear. This can be rejoice, be glad or joyful, or to cry.
P “be glad” = samach. This is to rejoice or be glad. Properly, it is to brighten up in a literal or figurative sense.

25 SaveQ us,R we beseechS you, O Lord!
    O Lord, we beseech you,T give us success!U

Notes on verse 25

Q “save” = yasha. Related to “salvation” in v21. See note D above.
R {untranslated} = na. Related to “beseech” in v25. See note S below.
S “beseech” = annah. 13x in OT– 4x for beg, beseech, entreat; 9x for Alas, O, Ah. Perhaps from ahabah (love); {from aheb (to love, beloved, friend; to have affection for sexually or otherwise)} + na (I or we pray, now; used to ask for something). This word is oh, I ask you, now.
T {untranslated} = na. Same as {untranslated} in v25. See note R above.
U “give…success” = tsalach. This is pushing forward in a literal or figurative sense. So it could be to break out, to come mightily, to rush, to go over. Figuratively, it could mean to prosper.

26 Blessed isV the one who comesW in the nameX of the Lord.
    We bless you from the houseY of the Lord.
27 The Lord is God,Z
    and he has given us light.AA

Notes on verses 26-27a

V “blessed is” = barak. This is to kneel, to bless. It is blessing God as part of worship and adoration or blessing humans to help them. It can be used as a euphemism to say curse God.
W “comes” = bo. This is to enter, come in, advance, fulfill, bring offerings, enter to worship, attack. It can also have a sexual connotation.
X “name” = shem. May be from sum (to put, place, set). This is name, fame, renown. A name was thought to indicate something essential about a person – something about their individuality. So, this word can also mean honor, authority, or character.
Y “house” = bayit. Related to “builders” in v22. Probably from banah (see note F above). This is house, court, family, palace, temple.
Z “God” = El.
AA “given…light” = or. This is to light, shine, set on fire – to be luminous in a literal or figurative sense.

BindBB the festal processionCC with branches,DD
    up to the hornsEE of the altar.FF

Notes on verse 27b

BB “bind” = asar. This is to tie, yoke, bind, or fasten. It can mean to harness an animal, to join in fighting a battle, or to imprison someone.
CC “festal procession” = chag. From chagag (feast, celebrating a festival, making a pilgrimage; properly, going in a circle or marching in sacred procession; implies giddiness and dancing; reeling to and fro). This is a feast, a sacrifice as part of a festival, or the gathering of the festival.
DD “branches” = aboth. From abath (to weave, wind, or interlace). This is a cord, string, band, wreath, branch, or foliage.
EE “horns” = qeren. This is horn or hill. It can be a flask or cornet, ivory, altar corner, mountain peak, or figuratively power.
FF “altar” = mizbeach. From zabach (to kill, slay, offer; slaughtering an animal to offer as a sacrifice). This is an altar.

28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
    you are my God,GG I will extolHH you.
29 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,II
    for his steadfast loveJJ endures forever.KK

Notes on verses 28-29

GG “God” = Elohim. Related to “God” in v27. See note Z above.
HH “extol” = rum. This is to rise or raise, to be high literally or figuratively. So it can also mean to exalt or extol.
II “good” = tob. From tob (to be pleasing, to be good). This is good, beautiful, pleasant, agreeable, bountiful, at ease. This word is used for goodness as a concept, a good thing, a good person. This can refer to prosperity and welfare as well as joy, kindness, sweetness, and graciousness. So, this is ethically good, but also enjoyably good.
JJ “steadfast love” = chesed. From chasad (being good, kind, merciful; may mean bowing one’s neck as is done in the presence of an equal for courtesy’s sake; so, if one in a superior position is treating you like an equal, that is what is captured here). This is favor, goodness, kindness, loving kindness, pity, reproach, or a good deed. When done by God to humanity, this is mercy/loving kindness. When done by humanity to God, it is piety.
KK “forever” = olam. This is a long scope of time whether in the past (antiquity, ancient time) or in the future (eternal, everlasting).


Image credit: “Step (Foreign Bodies)” by Durant Weston, 2006.

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