Psalm 118 2

Psalm 118:2 kjv

Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalm 118:2 nkjv

Let Israel now say, "His mercy endures forever."

Psalm 118:2 niv

Let Israel say: "His love endures forever."

Psalm 118:2 esv

Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures forever."

Psalm 118:2 nlt

Let all Israel repeat:
"His faithful love endures forever."

Psalm 118 verses

Psalm 118 2 Meaning

Psalm 118:2 is a direct call for the community of faith, specifically Israel, to publicly affirm and proclaim the unending, faithful love of God. It encourages a corporate declaration that the Lord’s loyal, covenantal lovingkindness endures perpetually, providing a foundation for trust and worship despite circumstances.

Psalm 118 2 Context

Psalm 118 is the last of the "Egyptian Hallel" (Psalms 113-118) recited during major Jewish festivals, particularly Passover, Shavuot (Weeks), and Sukkot (Tabernacles). These Psalms celebrate God’s redemptive acts in Israel's history, from the Exodus to anticipated future deliverance. Psalm 118 itself is a national song of thanksgiving and trust, likely sung after a significant victory or divine deliverance experienced by the nation or its king. It shifts between individual testimony of hardship and salvation (vv. 5-18), communal rejoicing at God's deliverance (vv. 19-21, 28-29), and prophetic utterance, notably in verses 22-23 about the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone, which the New Testament interprets Messianically (Mt 21:42; Acts 4:11; 1 Pet 2:7). Verse 2 is part of a repeated liturgical call, setting the tone for the entire psalm by focusing the community's attention on God's foundational attribute—His enduring hesed. This repetition serves to firmly implant the truth of God’s character in the hearts and minds of the worshippers and unifies their confession.

Psalm 118 2 Word analysis

• Let Israel say: (Hebrew: Yō’mar Yisrā’ēl, יֹאמַר יִשְׂרָאֵל).

  • Yō’mar (יאמַר): A jussive form of the verb 'to say' or 'to declare.' It's not merely a suggestion but an earnest exhortation or even a mild command, indicating the strong desire for this truth to be voiced. It implies a public, corporate, and unanimous affirmation.
  • Yisrā’ēl (יִשְׂרָאֵל): "Israel" refers to the entire covenant community, the people chosen by God. This collective address signifies that the declaration is not merely individual but a communal confession, uniting them in their experience and gratitude toward God. It underscores their identity as the recipient of God's steadfast love.

• 'His steadfast love': (Hebrew: ḥasdō, חַסְדּוֹ).

  • ḥasdō (חַסְדּוֹ): This is ḥesed (חֶסֶד) with the third-person masculine singular possessive suffix ('his'). Hesed is a cornerstone biblical term describing God’s attributes and actions. It transcends a single English word, encompassing "lovingkindness," "mercy," "loyalty," "faithfulness," and "covenant love." It’s an active, compassionate, and enduring loyalty within a covenant relationship, moving God to save and sustain His people. It’s not merely an emotion but an unwavering commitment to fulfill His promises and deal kindly with those who belong to Him. This points to God’s nature being fundamentally oriented towards relationship and preservation of His people, despite their failings.

• 'endures forever!': (Hebrew: lĕ‘ōlām, לְעוֹלָם).

  • lĕ‘ōlām (לְעוֹלָם): Literally means "to eternity," "forever," "for always," or "for ages." When applied to God’s attributes, particularly His ḥesed, it signifies an eternal, unwavering, and absolute perpetuity. There is no end to God’s faithful lovingkindness. It speaks of divine constancy and infinite duration, providing immense security and hope.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Let Israel say, 'His steadfast love...'": This phrase sets up a public confession by the whole assembly of God's people. It's a deliberate, volitional act of verbalizing truth, drawing the community into unified worship and a shared acknowledgment of God's fundamental nature. The active 'saying' reinforces the idea of internal belief translated into outward proclamation, crucial for teaching, remembering, and evangelism within and beyond the community.
• "'His steadfast love endures forever!'": This is a declaration of God’s immutability in character and action regarding His covenant relationship. The emphasis is on the unending nature of hesed, which guarantees God's continuous engagement with His people. This repeated phrase is a liturgical refrain designed for communal response, cementing this truth in the hearts of worshippers and functioning as a powerful affirmation of hope and security derived from God’s unchanging commitment. It’s a core theological truth meant to be embedded deeply through communal participation.

Psalm 118 2 Bonus section

The repeated refrain, "for His steadfast love endures forever," which appears not just here but seven more times within Psalm 118 (v. 1, 3, 4, 29) and numerous times in other Psalms (e.g., Ps 136 repeated 26 times), is deeply rooted in ancient Israelite liturgy. This repetition was more than mere emphasis; it was a pedagogical tool for spiritual formation. It imprinted this fundamental theological truth onto the community's memory and consciousness, ensuring that generations would know and internalize God's character. Such a practice made theology experiential and communal, fostering a deeply ingrained sense of security and belonging in God’s unwavering covenantal care. The declaration also prepares the heart to understand and accept the coming of the Messiah, as the ultimate embodiment of God's steadfast love that would endure forever, bringing salvation to all who believe.

Psalm 118 2 Commentary

Psalm 118:2 serves as a pivotal invitation, immediately following the universal call to praise God in verse 1, specifically summoning the entire nation of Israel to articulate a profound truth about God: His steadfast love (or hesed) is eternal. This verse is not just descriptive; it is prescriptive, calling for a collective, vocal confession. The very act of saying "His steadfast love endures forever" (a foundational declaration in Hebrew worship) binds the community together in shared faith and purpose. The choice of "Israel" as the speaker highlights the covenantal nature of this love; it is specifically for the people with whom God has established His covenant.

The enduring nature of God’s hesed implies His unchanging character and unwavering commitment despite changing circumstances, human weakness, or external threats. This declaration grounds their past experiences of deliverance, their present challenges, and their future hopes in God's immutable faithfulness. It reassures them that God will not abandon them and will always fulfill His promises. It also functions as an implicit polemic against pagan deities or human leaders whose love and loyalty are fleeting; in stark contrast, the God of Israel’s hesed is eternal and perfectly reliable.

This declaration fosters not only worship but also confidence and boldness in times of distress, as experienced and expressed later in the psalm. It means that whether in triumph or tribulation, God’s loyal affection and covenant faithfulness remain the unshakable reality for His people.

Practical Usages:

• Corporate Worship: A collective confession of God's goodness during church gatherings, echoing this verse.
• Personal Reflection: Meditating on God's unending hesed during personal struggles or times of doubt, to reinforce trust.
• Teaching: Explaining the unchanging nature of God's love to children or new believers, using this simple yet profound truth.