Psalm 118:20 kjv
This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.
Psalm 118:20 nkjv
This is the gate of the LORD, Through which the righteous shall enter.
Psalm 118:20 niv
This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter.
Psalm 118:20 esv
This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.
Psalm 118:20 nlt
These gates lead to the presence of the LORD,
and the godly enter there.
Psalm 118 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 24:3-4 | Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart... | Defines prerequisites for approaching God. |
| Is 26:2 | Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps faith may enter in. | A righteous nation is permitted to enter God's city. |
| John 10:7, 9 | "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep."... "I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved..." | Jesus declares Himself the exclusive access point to salvation/God. |
| John 14:6 | "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." | Jesus as the singular pathway to God. |
| Matt 7:13-14 | "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." | Emphasizes the difficult, exclusive path to life. |
| Heb 10:19-22 | Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus... a new and living way... let us draw near with a true heart... | Access to God's presence made possible through Christ's sacrifice. |
| Eph 2:18 | For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. | Union in Christ grants all believers access to God. |
| Rom 5:1-2 | Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace... | Righteousness by faith grants access to God's grace. |
| Ps 15:1-2 | O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right... | Describes who is worthy to abide in God's presence. |
| Ps 1:6 | For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. | God acknowledges and affirms the path of the righteous. |
| Prov 10:24 | What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted. | Contrasts the destiny of the wicked vs. righteous. |
| Deut 6:25 | And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the LORD our God... | Righteousness defined by obedience to God's law. |
| Phil 3:9 | ...and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith... | Differentiates self-righteousness from God-given righteousness. |
| Acts 14:22 | ...through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. | Entrance into God's kingdom involves endurance. |
| Rev 21:27 | But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. | Exclusion of the unrighteous from the New Jerusalem. |
| Rev 22:14 | Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. | Purity and righteousness as conditions for entering the celestial city. |
| Matt 5:20 | For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. | Highlights a higher standard of righteousness for God's kingdom. |
| Heb 4:16 | Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. | Access to God's throne made confident through Christ. |
| Eph 3:12 | in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. | Access to God enabled by faith in Christ. |
| Is 60:11 | Your gates shall be open continually; day and night they shall not be shut, that people may bring to you the wealth of the nations... | Gates are open for a multitude, but implicitly for God's purpose. |
| Rom 3:21-22 | But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law... the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. | The revelation of God's accessible righteousness through Christ. |
Psalm 118 verses
Psalm 118 20 Meaning
Psalm 118:20 declares a singular access point belonging to the Most High, designated specifically for those who stand in right relationship with Him. It signifies that divine presence, favor, or a sacred domain is exclusively open to those characterized by righteousness, serving as a passage into blessing or salvation.
Psalm 118 20 Context
Psalm 118 is the final psalm of the Hallel (Psalms 113-118), traditionally sung during major Jewish feasts such as Passover, Pentecost, and Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles). It is a song of thanksgiving and trust in God amidst deliverance from enemies. The specific verse 118:20 comes after the psalmist's declaration of God's mighty right hand opening doors and gates (118:19). The chapter celebrates the LORD's unfailing love, His role as deliverer, and culminates in a triumphal procession, likely toward the Temple, giving thanks. The immediate context evokes a literal or metaphorical entrance into a sacred space—a Temple, a city, or God's very presence—that has been divinely sanctioned and restricted. Historically, this psalm resonated deeply with the experience of the exiles returning to Jerusalem and rebuilding the Temple, viewing the restored gates as symbols of God's renewed covenant and the re-establishment of His dwelling place.
Psalm 118 20 Word analysis
- This is: (Zeh, זֶה) – A demonstrative pronoun, pointing to something specific and singular, emphasizing its distinct identity and importance. It marks an emphatic declaration.
- the gate: (Sha'ar, שַׁעַר) – Refers to a literal physical entrance, often fortified, for a city or a building (like the Temple). Metaphorically, it signifies access, passage, power, authority (as judgments were rendered at city gates), or destiny. In a Temple context, it's the specific access point to God's presence.
- of the LORD: (YHWH, יְהוָה) – The covenant name of God. This indicates divine ownership, sacredness, and ultimate authority over this specific "gate." It is not just any gate, but God's chosen and sanctified means of approach. It sets it apart from any humanly constructed or designated access points, suggesting divine decree and exclusive proprietorship.
- through which: ('asher, אֲשֶׁר) – A relative pronoun indicating the means or conduit. It signifies that this gate is the sole passage for the specific group mentioned.
- the righteous: (Tzaddiqim, צַדִּיקִים) – Plural noun derived from tzedeq, meaning justice, righteousness, uprightness. These are individuals characterized by a right relationship with God, living in conformity with His revealed will and laws. In the Old Testament, it implies integrity, ethical conduct, and fidelity to the covenant. In the New Testament, particularly for Christians, true righteousness is imputed through faith in Jesus Christ. This contrasts implicitly with the unrighteous or wicked, who are excluded.
- may enter: (Yavō'u, יָבֹאוּ) – Future tense verb, expressing permission, potential, or certainty of action for the qualified individuals. It signifies privilege and assured access for those meeting the condition. It’s an active and privileged act, not a passive one.
Words-group analysis
- "This is the gate of the LORD": This phrase emphasizes the uniqueness and divine consecration of the entryway. It is not an arbitrary passage but one divinely appointed and owned, carrying immense spiritual significance. It implies controlled and purposeful access, subject to divine prerogative.
- "through which the righteous may enter": This highlights the exclusivity and conditionality of access. It makes clear that only a specific type of person—one declared righteous—is permitted passage. This acts as a direct polemic against any pagan notion of appeasing gods or entering their domains without moral qualification, stressing the ethical and covenantal requirements inherent in the worship of YHWH. It implies that unrighteousness serves as an impenetrable barrier.
Psalm 118 20 Bonus section
The "gate" in ancient Near Eastern culture was not merely an entrance but a significant place of public life, commerce, legal proceedings, and power. To be at the gate meant to be at the center of authority and decision-making. Thus, "the gate of the LORD" not only symbolizes physical access but also speaks of the ultimate divine authority over who enters His domain and who participates in His covenant blessings. It reinforces the concept of God's sovereign rule and the moral order of His kingdom, where entrance is not by arbitrary human will or might but by His holy standard. The anticipation of this gate points to a blessed destiny for those found in true righteousness.
Psalm 118 20 Commentary
Psalm 118:20 identifies a sacred gateway, the "gate of the LORD," through which entry is granted exclusively to "the righteous." In its immediate context, it could refer to a physical Temple gate, signaling the entry point into God's presence for worship and thanksgiving. More broadly, it symbolizes access to divine favor, blessings, and salvation. The psalm, steeped in triumph and deliverance, portrays this gate as a portal into a renewed covenant relationship, a place of safety and communion with God for those who align with His character.
Spiritually, this verse reveals a fundamental principle of divine access: God grants entry based on a state of righteousness. This implies an intrinsic ethical and moral condition required to stand before Him. However, in the fullness of biblical revelation, especially in the New Testament, human beings are unable to achieve perfect righteousness on their own. Thus, the ultimate "gate of the LORD" is Jesus Christ Himself. He declared, "I am the door" (Jn 10:9) and "No one comes to the Father except through me" (Jn 14:6). Through His atoning sacrifice, Jesus became the righteous one who provides a means for others to be declared righteous (Rom 3:21-22; 2 Cor 5:21). Therefore, those "righteous" who "may enter" are believers whose sin has been paid for and who are clothed in Christ's imputed righteousness through faith. The gate symbolizes Christ, and through Him, by His Spirit, believers have confident access to God (Heb 10:19-22; Eph 2:18).
This truth has profound implications for practical living:
- Conviction for the unrighteous: Without the righteousness that comes from God through faith in Christ, true spiritual access remains impossible.
- Assurance for the believer: Through faith in Jesus, believers can confidently approach God, knowing they have entered "the gate of the LORD."
- Call to live righteously: While salvation is by grace through faith, true righteousness granted by God transforms lives, leading to ethical living and perseverance in walking worthy of the call (Eph 4:1).