Psalm 115 18

Psalm 115:18 kjv

But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD.

Psalm 115:18 nkjv

But we will bless the LORD From this time forth and forevermore. Praise the LORD!

Psalm 115:18 niv

it is we who extol the LORD, both now and forevermore. Praise the LORD.

Psalm 115:18 esv

But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the LORD!

Psalm 115:18 nlt

But we can praise the LORD
both now and forever!
Praise the LORD!

Psalm 115 verses

Psalm 115 18 Meaning

Psalm 115:18 declares the unwavering resolve of God's people to continually praise and worship the Lord. It states their commitment to bless Yahweh without end, starting from the present moment and extending into all eternity, concluding with an emphatic, communal command for everyone to "Praise the Lord!" This verse serves as the human response to God's supremacy over idols and His unfailing care for His servants.

Psalm 115 18 Context

Psalm 115:18 concludes a communal hymn that celebrates the unparalleled sovereignty of Yahweh and polemically contrasts Him with the impotent idols worshipped by other nations. The psalm begins by deflecting glory from Israel and attributing it solely to God (v1). It then addresses the taunts of nations asking, "Where is their God?" (v2), countering this by affirming that "Our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases" (v3). The bulk of the psalm (v4-8) is a vivid portrayal of idols as human creations – having mouths but not speaking, eyes but not seeing, hands but not feeling – rendering them utterly useless. Those who trust in them will become like them, lifeless. In stark contrast, verses 9-11 call Israel, the house of Aaron, and those who fear the Lord to "trust in the Lord." Verses 12-15 pronounce blessings upon those who fear Yahweh, promising multiplication and divine favor. Verse 16 emphasizes God's domain (heaven) versus man's domain (earth), where man is given stewardship. Verse 17 states that "The dead do not praise the Lord, nor any who go down into silence." This directly precedes verse 18, setting up a powerful distinction: since the dead cannot praise Him, it becomes the profound duty and privilege of the living to continually bless the Lord, making verse 18 a climactic declaration of unwavering praise and commitment by His vibrant community.

Psalm 115 18 Word analysis

• "But we" (wa'anachnu): The connective waw (and/but) marks a sharp contrast from the preceding verse. While the dead are silent in the grave, we, the living and redeemed, take up the task of vocal and continuous praise. This highlights the active agency and resolute decision of God's people as a corporate entity (the gathered community of Israel), distinguishing them from both idolaters and the departed.
• "will bless" (n'varekh): Derived from the Hebrew root barak (בָּרַךְ), this signifies profound adoration, thanksgiving, and acknowledgment of God's worth and goodness. When humanity blesses God, it is not to bestow anything upon Him, but to express deep reverence, gratitude, and worship for His inherent nature and actions, often in humility or by kneeling.
• "the Lord" (Yah): This is a shortened, poetic, and intimate form of the Divine Name Yahweh (YHWH). Its usage evokes the God who is self-existent, faithful to His covenant promises, and uniquely personal in His relationship with His people. Using "Yah" provides a powerful and immediate identification of the singular true God.
• "from this time forth" (me'attah): Meaning "from now" or "from this very moment." This phrase underscores the immediacy and ongoing nature of the commitment to praise. It implies that the decision to bless the Lord is not deferred but begins at the very point of declaration and continues without interruption.
• "and forevermore" (ve'ad-olam): Literally "and unto eternity" or "unto age." The term olam (עוֹלָם) conveys a deep sense of unending duration, perpetuity, and timelessness. This transforms the immediate resolution into an eternal pledge, suggesting that God's reign and their devotion are bound together perpetually, pointing towards a hope of unending worship beyond the temporal realm.
• "Praise" (Hallelu): An imperative plural form of the verb halal (הָלַל), meaning "to laud, celebrate, boast in, to shine." It is an enthusiastic and joyous command, a passionate call for all listeners to actively and vibrantly participate in glorifying God, reflecting exuberant and public acclaim.
• "the Lord!" (Yah): This is the same shortened divine name "Yah" from earlier in the verse. Its repetition here, forming "Hallelu-Yah" (Praise Yah), emphasizes the singular, incomparable object of their exuberant praise and acts as a powerful, collective acclamation concluding the psalm.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "But we will bless the Lord": This phrase expresses the active, communal choice and resolution of God's people to offer worship. It deliberately contrasts their vibrant, living praise with the impotence of idols and the silence of the grave, asserting their unique role as a covenant community responding to their true God.
• "from this time forth and forevermore": This tandem phrase defines the boundless duration of their devotion. It encapsulates both the immediate initiation of praise ("from this time forth") and its perpetual continuation into eternity ("and forevermore"), signifying a lifelong, unceasing commitment that extends beyond the earthly temporal realm.
• "Praise the Lord!": (Hallelu-Yah!) This powerful and familiar exclamatory command serves as a liturgical acclamation. It is an exhortation, a call to worship that demands a communal response, inviting all listeners to join in the exuberant and unending glorification of Yahweh, encapsulating the entire psalm's message of God's singular worthiness.

Psalm 115 18 Bonus section

• This verse can be viewed as a traditional doxology, a common formal expression of praise found throughout the Psalms, often marking the end of sections or entire books, solidifying the theme of God's eternal praise.
• The concluding "Hallelu-Yah" links this psalm to the larger "Egyptian Hallel" (Psalms 113-118), which often begin or end with this liturgical cry, emphasizing Israel's communal praise for deliverance and the worship observed during Passover.
• The concept of "forevermore" suggests a deeply held belief in God's ongoing faithfulness to His covenant, which consequently empowers His people to offer an enduring and never-ceasing praise.
• The emphasis on eternal praise shifts the focus beyond immediate circumstances or temporal benefits to a worship rooted in God's intrinsic character and identity, independent of transient situations.

Psalm 115 18 Commentary

Psalm 115:18 serves as a profound climactic declaration and a fitting doxology, completing the psalm's celebration of Yahweh's incomparable sovereignty. After demonstrating the emptiness of idols and the inability of the dead to praise, this verse powerfully asserts the profound duty and joyous privilege of the living to ceaselessly adore the Living God. It represents a steadfast, communal commitment to praise, commencing in the present moment and extending infinitely into all eternity. This perpetual blessing arises from an deep conviction in God's power and His unwavering covenant faithfulness. The final, emphatic command, "Praise the Lord!" transforms the preceding declaration into an enthusiastic, all-encompassing call for God's people across all generations to actively and vibrantly proclaim Yahweh's matchless name and attributes.