Psalm 118 28

Psalm 118:28 kjv

Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.

Psalm 118:28 nkjv

You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You.

Psalm 118:28 niv

You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you.

Psalm 118:28 esv

You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you.

Psalm 118:28 nlt

You are my God, and I will praise you!
You are my God, and I will exalt you!

Psalm 118 verses

Psalm 118 28 Meaning

Psalm 118:28 is a fervent personal declaration of faith, worship, and devotion. It expresses an individual's deep, intimate, and exclusive relationship with God, characterized by heartfelt gratitude and a resolute commitment to elevate and honor Him above all else. The verse articulates a determined response to God's divine actions, as experienced and celebrated throughout Psalm 118, proclaiming His unique status as "my God" and committing to acts of thanksgiving and exaltation.

Psalm 118 28 Context

Psalm 118:28 stands as the pinnacle of a powerful thanksgiving psalm. The entire chapter reflects a narrative of distress and deliverance, emphasizing the steadfast love (ḥesed) of the LORD that endures forever, repeated numerous times (vv. 1, 2, 3, 4, 29). The speaker (possibly a king, a representative of the nation, or a community of worshippers) has experienced profound oppression or a life-threatening situation and has been wonderfully delivered by God. The psalm moves from deep trust in God despite adversity (vv. 5-9) to joyful celebration of His saving power (vv. 10-21). It famously contains the messianic prophecy of the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone (vv. 22-23), indicating God's surprising and sovereign way of bringing about salvation, often through means initially scorned. The subsequent verses (24-27) call for rejoicing on the day the LORD has made, celebrating salvation, and issuing blessings upon those who come in the name of the LORD, perhaps hinting at a triumphal procession or temple entry during a festival like Sukkot (Tabernacles). Verse 28 is the culmination of this gratitude, a personal and passionate outburst of commitment in light of such divine faithfulness and salvation.

Psalm 118 28 Word analysis

• You (’attāh – אַתָּה): A personal pronoun, emphasizing God as the direct recipient of address. It establishes a direct, intimate, and singular focus, highlighting God's personal involvement in the Psalmist's life and salvation.
• are (hû’ – הוּא, implied in ’ēlî and ’ĕlōhay): The Hebrew construction "You are my God" implicitly affirms God's existence and His specific identity in relationship to the speaker. It's a statement of foundational truth and existential reality.
• my God (’Ēlî – אֵלִי): Derived from ’Ēl (אֵל), meaning "God," "mighty one," "powerful one," with the first-person singular possessive suffix "-i" (my). This emphasizes God's supreme power and strength, personally possessed by the Psalmist through covenant relationship. It speaks of a deep, intimate, and exclusive spiritual bond, differentiating Him from any other perceived deities or powers.
• and I will give You thanks (wə’ôḏḵā – וְאוֹדֶךָּ): From the root yādâ (יָדָה), which means "to give thanks," "to praise," "to confess," "to acknowledge." The "I will" signifies a deliberate, volitional act and a future commitment. This is a verbal expression of gratitude, often involving an open declaration or a public acknowledgment of God's goodness and acts of deliverance.
• you (’attāh – אַתָּה): Repetition of the personal pronoun, reinforcing the direct address and deepening the emphasis on God's singular identity as the object of praise. It underscores the unshakeable conviction of the speaker.
• are (hû’ – הוּא, implied in ’ĕlōhay): Again, affirms the deep, personal reality of God's identity to the speaker.
• my God (’Ĕlōhay – אֱלֹהַי): Derived from ’Ĕlōhîm (אֱלֹהִים), the more common plural noun for "God" in Hebrew, expressing the fullness and majesty of the Godhead, but still with the first-person singular possessive suffix "-i" (my). While ’Ēlî might highlight God's might, ’Ĕlōhay points to His comprehensive divine authority, His all-encompassing sovereign Lordship, and the speaker's total submission to Him. The shift in word choice for "God" reinforces the multifaceted nature of God's relationship to the believer.
• and I will exalt You (wə’ārômemkā – וַאֲרוֹמְמֶךָּ): From the root rûm (רוּם), meaning "to be high," "to lift up," "to raise," "to exalt," "to magnify." The "I will" signifies a determined resolve to honor and elevate God's name. This isn't merely intellectual acknowledgment but an active lifting up of God's name and character through praise, lifestyle, and proclamation, demonstrating His supreme majesty and glory.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "You are my God": This foundational declaration establishes an exclusive, personal, and covenantal relationship with the one true God. It asserts singular allegiance to Yahweh, implicitly challenging and polemically contrasting with polytheistic worship or reliance on human power prevalent in the ancient world. It is a profound confession of absolute dependence and trust, arising from God's demonstrated faithfulness in the Psalmist's experience.
• "and I will give You thanks": This phrase expresses the promised response to God's actions. Thanksgiving is not merely an emotion but an intentional, often public, act of acknowledging God's goodness, interventions, and deliverance. In the context of Psalm 118, it's a response to the LORD's enduring ḥesed (steadfast love/loyal kindness) that has just brought salvation. It speaks of active worship.
• "You are my God" (repetition): The repetition is for emphasis and profound affirmation. It highlights the speaker's firm conviction and reinforces the exclusive nature of this relationship. This is not a casual statement but a solemn vow and deep confession, solidifying the speaker's identity as belonging to God. It shows the truth of who God is to the Psalmist is settled and deeply felt.
• "and I will exalt You": This complements "I will give You thanks" by focusing on God's inherent greatness, not just His acts. Exaltation involves lifting God higher in honor, praise, and glory. It implies active worship that magnifies God's attributes—His majesty, sovereignty, and holiness. While thanksgiving might be for what God does, exaltation is for who God is. Together, these two commitments complete the posture of worship: a grateful heart responding to God's deeds and a reverent spirit lifting up His supreme being.

Psalm 118 28 Bonus section

The chiastic (or parallelistic) structure of Psalm 118:28—A ("my God") – B ("thanks") : A' ("my God") – B' ("exalt")—is common in Hebrew poetry and serves to underscore the profound personal conviction and the dual nature of the worshiper's response. This pattern lends a rhythmic emphasis to the declaration, making it resonate more deeply. This verse effectively acts as a personal doxology, a concluding statement of praise that affirms God's saving power and worthiness to be honored by an individual in contrast to a wider collective worship or impersonal deity. It serves as a concise creed for the redeemed, affirming both God's nature and the believer's volitional response to it.

Psalm 118 28 Commentary

Psalm 118:28 encapsulates the core of an authentic relationship with the Living God: a personal confession of faith ("You are my God") leading to a lifelong commitment of active worship through thanksgiving and exaltation. The twofold declaration of "my God" speaks to an exclusive, covenantal bond forged through divine acts of deliverance, especially those highlighted throughout Psalm 118. This verse is not a simple statement but a passionate cry of recognition and allegiance. Thanksgiving stems from an understanding of what God has done, particularly His unwavering ḥesed. Exaltation stems from recognizing God for who He is – supreme, glorious, and worthy of all praise. It’s a direct, unreserved dedication to a God uniquely and personally experienced, calling the worshipper to continuously lift His name high. The power of this verse lies in its personal ownership ("my God") and its outward expression ("I will give thanks... I will exalt You"), reflecting the profound transformation brought about by divine intervention and steadfast love. This declaration becomes a template for believers' individual responses to God's ongoing grace and truth.