Psalm 118 17

Psalm 118:17 kjv

I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.

Psalm 118:17 nkjv

I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the LORD.

Psalm 118:17 niv

I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done.

Psalm 118:17 esv

I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD.

Psalm 118:17 nlt

I will not die; instead, I will live
to tell what the LORD has done.

Psalm 118 verses

Psalm 118 17 Meaning

Psalm 118:17 is a triumphant declaration of faith and purpose, spoken by an individual or collective delivered from a life-threatening situation. It expresses a resolute conviction that, by God's power, death will not prevail. Instead, life will be preserved not merely for existence, but with the explicit and intentional purpose of proclaiming, celebrating, and testifying to the magnificent works and deliverances of the LORD. It signifies a life redeemed to be a living testament to divine power and faithfulness.

Psalm 118 17 Context

Psalm 118 is the last of the "Egyptian Hallel" Psalms (Psalms 113-118), traditionally sung during Passover, Sukkot, and other major festivals. It is a psalm of profound thanksgiving, often recited in response to a great deliverance, whether personal, national, or prophetic. The "I" in this Psalm can represent the individual psalmist (possibly David after a victory), the nation of Israel recounting their miraculous history (e.g., Exodus deliverance), or prophetically, the Messiah Himself. The psalm speaks of God's steadfast love (Psa 118:1), reliance on God over man (Psa 118:8-9), triumphant return from the gates of death, and culminates in the famous "stone the builders rejected" verse, which the New Testament explicitly applies to Jesus' resurrection and exaltation. Verse 17 thus fits within a narrative of overcoming overwhelming adversity through divine intervention, resulting in an imperative to glorify God.

Psalm 118 17 Word analysis

• I (אָנוּשִּׁי - Anushi): While a common first-person singular pronoun, in this context it denotes the specific individual or collective entity speaking. It emphasizes the personal experience of deliverance and the personal commitment to testify. It’s a bold, first-person statement of defiant faith against immediate perishing.

• shall not die (לֹא אָמוּת - lo' amut):

  • lo': Hebrew for "not," a strong negation.
  • amut: Future tense of mut (to die).
  • This is a confident affirmation, not a mere hope. It expresses a firm conviction in divine preservation from an imminent threat of death, be it physical (e.g., from sickness or battle) or symbolic (e.g., national ruin, despair, loss of hope). It doesn't necessarily promise literal immortality on earth but guarantees survival through a specific, perilous situation, allowing for continued life and purpose. It speaks to God's intervention to avert a fatal outcome.

• but live (כִּי אֶחְיֶה - ki 'echyeh):

  • ki: Functions here as an adversative conjunction, meaning "but" or "indeed." It establishes a clear contrast to "shall not die."
  • echyeh: Future tense of chayah (to live, exist, revive, recover).
  • More than mere existence, "live" implies vibrancy, vigor, and purpose. It's a statement of flourishing and renewed vitality, specifically for a divine assignment. Life is not an end in itself but a means to a higher purpose.

• and declare (וַאֲסַפְּרָה - wa'asapperah):

  • wa: Waw conjunction, meaning "and," linking "live" directly to the subsequent action as a consequence and purpose.
  • asapperah: Future tense of sāpar (to recount, narrate, declare, proclaim, enumerate). This isn't just internal acknowledgement but an outward, public proclamation. It's a comprehensive telling of events, emphasizing God's role in them, intended for others to hear and know. The deliverance is meant to be widely testified about.

• the works (מַעֲשֵׂי - ma'asey): Plural of ma'aseh (deed, work, act). This refers to the concrete, tangible actions, accomplishments, and interventions of God. It includes His mighty acts of deliverance, creation, provision, and judgment. It is not abstract praise but a declaration of what God has specifically done.

• of the LORD (יָהּ - Yah): A shortened poetic form of the divine name Yahweh (יְהוָה), God's covenant name. It emphasizes that these "works" originate from the sovereign, covenant-keeping God of Israel, highlighting His unique power and faithfulness as the ultimate agent of salvation. This reinforces that the speaker's life and purpose are tied to the specific, active God who delivered them.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "I shall not die, but live": This is a direct, emphatic juxtaposition, characteristic of Hebrew parallelism. It contrasts the immediate threat of death with a divinely promised and purposed life. It is a vow rooted in defiant faith, a confident declaration over prevailing circumstances.
  • "live, and declare the works of the LORD": This highlights the core purpose for the granted life. Survival is not an end; it is the prerequisite for a life of active testimony and praise. The restored life is immediately dedicated to making God's deeds known. This signifies that God delivers His people not just for their sake, but for His glory to be magnified through their witness.

Psalm 118 17 Bonus section

The active "declare" (wa'asapperah) implies an evangelistic or didactic purpose. It's not just personal gratitude but a public act intended to impact others. The life God grants is a missionary life in its essence, proclaiming His character through His mighty acts. This is intrinsically tied to Israel's calling as a nation—to be a light to the Gentiles and make Yahweh known—and also to the Church's Great Commission. The Psalmist understands that the best response to God's life-giving power is to use that life to expand His praise.

Psalm 118 17 Commentary

Psalm 118:17 articulates a powerful theological principle: God grants or preserves life with a purpose, primarily that His glory might be magnified through human testimony. The verse functions as a sacred vow, a commitment made by the delivered one: "Since You have saved me from death, my ongoing life will be a conduit for Your praise." It embodies the psalmist's understanding that true "life" means living in a way that actively recounts God's benevolent and powerful interventions.

This declaration resonates across the human experience of crisis and deliverance. It could be the prayer of a person recovering from severe illness, a nation liberated from oppression, or prophetically, a foretelling of the Messiah's triumph over death. In Christ, this verse finds its ultimate fulfillment: He truly "did not die" (permanently) but "lived" (resurrected) so that He could declare the Father's ultimate work of redemption, fulfilling all Scripture (Rom 6:9-10; Rev 1:18). His resurrection established His eternal life and continued declaration of God's works through His church.

For believers, this verse encapsulates our spiritual reality: we were dead in trespasses and sins but have been made alive with Christ (Eph 2:1-5). Our continued spiritual and physical life is purposed to proclaim the "excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Pet 2:9). This declaration moves beyond mere gratitude; it is an active participation in God's ongoing revelation to the world, proclaiming His deeds with lips and lifestyle.

Examples:

• Hezekiah (Isa 38:1-20): After God promised to extend his life, Hezekiah prayed, "The living, the living, he thanks You... Fathers make known Your truth to their children." His deliverance was for the purpose of testifying.
• Lazarus (John 11): Raised from the dead by Jesus, his life became a powerful testament to the work of Christ, drawing many to believe (John 12:9-11).
• A Testifier's Life: Anyone who experiences profound rescue from a destructive path (addiction, despair, illness) often dedicates their transformed life to sharing their testimony of God's deliverance and healing power.