Psalm 118 25

Psalm 118:25 kjv

Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.

Psalm 118:25 nkjv

Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity.

Psalm 118:25 niv

LORD, save us! LORD, grant us success!

Psalm 118:25 esv

Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success!

Psalm 118:25 nlt

Please, LORD, please save us.
Please, LORD, please give us success.

Psalm 118 verses

Psalm 118 25 Meaning

Psalm 118:25 is an earnest, fervent plea to God for both salvation and success. It encapsulates a double invocation: "Please save us, LORD!" and "Please grant us prosperity/success, LORD!" This verse expresses a deep, urgent reliance on the Most High for deliverance from trouble and for divine favor leading to flourishing in life. It signifies that all help, victory, and advancement come solely from God.

Psalm 118 25 Context

Psalm 118 is the final Psalm of the Egyptian Hallel (Psalms 113-118), which was recited during major Jewish feasts, especially Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. This specific context highlights a communal liturgy of thanksgiving and hope. The psalm recounts Israel's deliverance by the steadfast love (chesed) of the LORD and builds to an eager expectation of divine salvation and the coming of God's chosen one. Verse 25, a desperate yet hopeful cry, comes just before the iconic Messianic greeting in verse 26 ("Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!"). It reflects the collective heart of pilgrims approaching the Temple, yearning for God's immediate saving action and prosperity, which for ancient Israel often included national well-being, victory over enemies, and fruitful lives under divine blessing. The fervent double plea expresses complete dependence on YHWH for both rescue from current distress and for future flourishing. The "now" (Hebrew: na) is particularly significant, underscoring the urgency of their plea to God in a pivotal moment of worship or expectation. This was not a passive request but an active, liturgical cry.

Psalm 118 25 Word analysis

• אָנָּא (Annah) / "Please" / "O now":

  • This is an interjection expressing an urgent, humble, and fervent plea or entreaty. It conveys a strong sense of urgency, much like "I beg you!" or "O please!" Its repetition here emphasizes the earnestness of the prayer.

• יְהוָה (YHWH) / "LORD":

  • This is the sacred personal covenant name of God, often transliterated as Yahweh, which emphasizes God's self-existence, eternal nature, and faithfulness to His promises. The repetition of YHWH stresses that the plea is directed exclusively to the sovereign God of Israel, the ultimate source of all salvation and blessing. It contrasts any reliance on human power or other deities.

• הוֹשִׁיעָה (Hoshia'ah) / "Save" / "deliver":

  • This is an imperative form of the verb יָשַׁע (yasha'), meaning "to save," "to deliver," "to rescue," "to help," or "to give victory." In biblical context, "salvation" is comprehensive, encompassing spiritual redemption, physical deliverance from enemies or danger, restoration, and comprehensive well-being. This root is famously linked to "Yeshua" (Jesus) and the Aramaic transliteration "Hosanna" (ὡσαννά in Greek), which directly derives from hoshia-na, meaning "Save, please!" or "Save now!".

• נָּא (Na) / "now" / "I pray":

  • This is a particle of entreaty or request, intensifying the imperative verb. It can be translated as "please," "now," or "I pray." Its function is to add a polite but urgent insistence to the command, turning a demand into a fervent request for immediate divine action. Its placement immediately after the verb further underscores the urgency of the cry.

• הַצְלִיחָה (Hatzlicha) / "send prosperity" / "grant success":

  • This is an imperative form of the verb צָלַח (tsalach), meaning "to prosper," "to succeed," "to advance," "to be effective," or "to go forth." It speaks to God's act of making one successful or causing one to flourish in endeavors. This refers to holistic well-being, effectiveness in one's purpose, and fruitfulness in all aspects of life, whether in battle, administration, or general living.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "אָנָּא יְהוָה הוֹשִׁיעָה נָּא" (Annah YHWH Hoshia'ah Na): This is a desperate, passionate cry for deliverance. The combination of "Annah" and "Na" intensifies the urgency of the prayer for immediate salvation and help from the one true God, YHWH. It is this specific phrasing that becomes the basis for the New Testament acclamation of "Hosanna," applied directly to Jesus during His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, identifying Him as the anticipated savior and deliverer.
  • "אָנָּא יְהוָה הַצְלִיחָה נָּא" (Annah YHWH Hatzlicha Na): This second urgent petition expands the request beyond mere deliverance to positive flourishing and success. It implies a desire for God to clear the way, remove obstacles, and ensure thriving. Again, the dual use of the particle of entreaty "Annah" and "Na" with the divine name "YHWH" signifies absolute dependence on God for favorable outcomes and progress in life's endeavors.
  • The overall structure of repetition: The immediate repetition of "Annah YHWH...Na" before each distinct request ("save" and "prosper") creates a powerful rhythmic and emphatic appeal. It highlights the speaker's overwhelming need and complete trust in YHWH alone for both aspects of divine intervention. It's a prayer marked by profound humility and fervent desire.

Psalm 118 25 Bonus section

• Liturgical Significance: This verse was a common cry in Jewish worship, particularly when pilgrims ascended to Jerusalem or during processions around the altar. It was an acclamation for divine aid and blessing, demonstrating that the community deeply felt its need for God's active presence and power.
• Messianic Expectation: While originally a general plea for help and success for the nation and its king, the strong association with "Hosanna" and its placement just before verse 26 meant it took on a powerful Messianic overtone over time. It expressed a fervent longing for the arrival of the promised Deliverer who would bring ultimate salvation and flourishing.
• Holistic Blessing: The two petitions – Hoshia'ah (save) and Hatzlicha (prosper) – reflect a comprehensive understanding of God's blessing in ancient Israel. "Salvation" often meant deliverance from immediate dangers and oppression, while "prosperity" indicated well-being, success in daily life, and the flourishing of the community. Together, they represent a desire for a full, secure, and fruitful existence under God's favor.
• Active Faith: The intense pleading is not a sign of doubt but rather a demonstration of active, believing prayer. It shows the worshiper is earnestly engaged in bringing their urgent needs before a God they trust is able and willing to respond.

Psalm 118 25 Commentary

Psalm 118:25 is a pinnacle of desperate yet hopeful supplication within the Hallel. It encapsulates the deep longing of the faithful for God's direct and immediate intervention in their lives. The doubled invocation, appealing to the covenant-keeping God YHWH for both "salvation" (yasha') and "prosperity" (tsalach), demonstrates a holistic view of divine blessing that includes rescue from all forms of trouble and enablement to succeed in God's purposes. The repetition of the fervent plea "Annah...Na" amplifies the sincerity and urgency, marking it as a profound cry of complete dependence. This prayer, integral to Israel's Temple worship and festival celebrations, resonated with the anticipation of a divinely appointed deliverer. Its powerful fulfillment in the New Testament, as the crowds' cry of "Hosanna!" welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem (Mt 21:9), identifies Him as the ultimate fulfillment of this psalm's deep desire for God's saving action, not merely in physical or political terms but in ultimate spiritual redemption. Thus, Ps 118:25 remains a timeless prayer, echoing the believer's heartfelt request for God's sovereign power to save and cause to flourish in every circumstance.