Psalm 118 3

Psalm 118:3 kjv

Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalm 118:3 nkjv

Let the house of Aaron now say, "His mercy endures forever."

Psalm 118:3 niv

Let the house of Aaron say: "His love endures forever."

Psalm 118:3 esv

Let the house of Aaron say, "His steadfast love endures forever."

Psalm 118:3 nlt

Let Aaron's descendants, the priests, repeat:
"His faithful love endures forever."

Psalm 118 verses

Psalm 118 3 Meaning

Psalm 118:3 declares a specific group, the "house of Aaron," to confess and proclaim a foundational truth about God: "His steadfast love endures forever!" This verse is part of a larger chorus of praise in Psalm 118, emphasizing the unwavering faithfulness and covenant loyalty of God, which is unchanging and eternal. The call is for the priests, those intimately involved in the worship and service of God, to publicly acknowledge His never-failing mercy.

Psalm 118 3 Context

Psalm 118 is one of the Hallel Psalms (Psalms 113-118), traditionally recited during major Jewish festivals such as Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. It is a psalm of thanksgiving, celebrating God's great deliverance and steadfast love, often linked to national triumphs or personal experiences of salvation. Verses 1-4 establish a recurring call to different groups to acknowledge God's unchanging love: first a universal call to all people (v. 1), then to the "house of Israel" (v. 2), followed by the specific instruction to the "house of Aaron" (v. 3), and finally to "those who fear the LORD" (v. 4). This structure emphasizes a broad and inclusive affirmation, moving from the entire nation to its spiritual leadership and then to all devout individuals, each recognizing God's covenant loyalty from their unique perspective and responsibility. The specific mention of the house of Aaron highlights their unique priestly role in Temple worship, where God's steadfast love was manifest in rituals, sacrifices, and His covenant with His people.

Psalm 118 3 Word analysis

• Let (יֹאמַר - yōʾmar): This is a jussive verbal form in Hebrew, expressing an exhortation, a command, or a strong invitation. It indicates a fervent desire or expectation that the action be performed. It's not merely permission but a stirring call to action.
• the house of Aaron (בֵּית אַהֲרֹן - bêt ʾahărōn):
  • House (בֵּית - bêt): Refers to a family, lineage, or entire clan. In this context, it signifies all the descendants of Aaron who constituted the priestly class of Israel.
  • Aaron (אַהֲרֹן - ʾahărōn): Moses' brother, designated by God as the first high priest and progenitor of the priestly line (Exod 28:1). The "house of Aaron" implies the entire priesthood responsible for officiating in the Tabernacle and later the Temple, carrying out the sacrificial system, and ministering before God on behalf of the people. Their duty involved maintaining covenant fidelity.
• now (נָא - nāʾ): This enclitic particle adds a sense of urgency, entreaty, or encouragement, akin to "please" or "I pray you" or "come on." It makes the invitation more direct and immediate.
• say (כִּי - kī): This particle introduces the content of what is to be said, functioning like "that" or "for." It connects the command to the declaration that follows.
• His steadfast love (חַסְדּוֹ - ḥašdō):
  • Steadfast love (hesed - חסד): This is one of the richest and most significant theological terms in the Old Testament. It denotes covenant loyalty, enduring mercy, faithfulness, kindness, and graciousness. It speaks of a deep, committed love that goes beyond mere affection to include action and reliability, especially within the context of a relationship. It is God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises and His people, even when they falter.
  • His (-וֹ - ō): The suffix indicates that this hesed belongs to God.
• endures forever (לְעוֹלָם - ləʿôlām):
  • Forever (le'olam - לעולם): Signifies eternity, perpetuity, unending duration. It emphasizes the constant, never-failing, and unchanging nature of God's hesed. It's not temporal or conditional on human performance but is a foundational attribute of God Himself.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Let the house of Aaron now say": This specific address underlines the particular responsibility and perspective of the priestly class. They, who minister daily in the Lord's presence and mediate His grace through the sacrificial system, are uniquely positioned to declare the enduring nature of His covenant love. Their service itself is a testimony to God's faithful presence. The "now" adds urgency, inviting an immediate and fervent confession.
• "His steadfast love endures forever!": This is the core declaration, repeated throughout the Psalm and other biblical texts. It highlights a central truth about God's character: His love is not fleeting but eternal, unchanging, and trustworthy. The word chesed here implies both mercy and faithfulness, a powerful truth for priests whose role depended entirely on God's covenant loyalty and gracious provision for sin. Their ministry was a living testament to this enduring love.

Psalm 118 3 Bonus section

The positioning of Psalm 118:3 between calls to "Israel" and "those who fear the LORD" reflects a structured liturgy of worship, perhaps a responsive declaration during a Temple procession or festival. The house of Aaron, being the authorized guardians of divine service, carried particular authority in their pronouncements. Their public declaration was not just an emotional outburst but a theological statement foundational to Israel's identity and worship. Furthermore, the theme of "His steadfast love endures forever" (or "for His mercy endures forever") is one of the most frequent refrains in the Psalter and Chronicles, signifying its central importance in Israelite theology and worship, especially as an affirmation of God's covenant reliability through all generations and circumstances. The enduring nature of hesed points forward to the New Covenant, where God's steadfast love is fully and finally demonstrated in Christ's ultimate priestly work (Heb 7:23-28), establishing a new and better covenant grounded in eternal mercy (Heb 8:6).

Psalm 118 3 Commentary

Psalm 118:3 specifically calls upon the "house of Aaron," the priesthood of Israel, to proclaim God's unending "steadfast love" (chesed). This is not a mere suggestion but an urgent exhortation for those intimately connected with God's presence and the sacred duties of the sanctuary. The priests oversaw the sacrificial system, which continually reminded Israel of their sin and God's gracious provision for atonement. Through their ministry, the people experienced tangible expressions of God's patient, loyal, and compassionate love despite their shortcomings. Therefore, for the priests to declare, "His steadfast love endures forever!" was to affirm the very basis of their ministry and the enduring hope of the nation. It was a testimony borne out of their direct experience with God's faithful upholding of His covenant. This affirmation stands in stark contrast to the conditional and fleeting favors offered by pagan deities, underscoring the uniqueness of Yahweh's character as perpetually faithful and merciful.

Examples of practical usage:

• A minister, whose work daily demonstrates God's mercy in grace and salvation, stands to lead the congregation in declaring God's unceasing love.
• A counselor who regularly sees broken lives transformed by divine grace understands the depths of God's hesed and can lead others to acknowledge it.
• Anyone involved in serving the Body of Christ can deeply appreciate the stability of God's steadfast love that undergirds their service and the lives of those they minister to.