Psalm 118 5

Psalm 118:5 kjv

I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.

Psalm 118:5 nkjv

I called on the LORD in distress; The LORD answered me and set me in a broad place.

Psalm 118:5 niv

When hard pressed, I cried to the LORD; he brought me into a spacious place.

Psalm 118:5 esv

Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free.

Psalm 118:5 nlt

In my distress I prayed to the LORD,
and the LORD answered me and set me free.

Psalm 118 verses

Psalm 118 5 Meaning

Psalm 118:5 describes a profound personal experience of seeking divine intervention in times of severe difficulty. The psalmist cried out to the Lord when trapped in a desperate, constricted situation ("in distress"), and in response, the covenant God answered, delivering him into a state of liberation and security ("a large place"). This verse testifies to God's immediate and effective response to fervent prayer from affliction, transforming confinement into boundless freedom.

Psalm 118 5 Context

Psalm 118 is a vibrant hymn of thanksgiving, a key component of the Egyptian Hallel (Psalms 113-118) chanted during significant Jewish festivals, including Passover, Weeks (Shavuot), and Tabernacles (Sukkot). It is understood as a corporate confession of faith and triumph, potentially sung by pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem or during a festive procession around the altar. While voiced as a personal testimony of "I," it often represents the experience of the nation of Israel—their historical deliverances from oppression. This particular verse (Psalm 118:5) encapsulates the heart of the psalm's message: that in times of extreme peril and constriction (distress), calling upon Yahweh brings about His faithful and transformative deliverance, moving His people from bondage to expansive freedom. It directly precedes the famous declarations "The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?" (v. 6), which reinforce the absolute security found in divine rescue.

Psalm 118 5 Word analysis

• I called upon (Hebrew: qara'ati - קָרָאתִי):
  • From the verb qara', meaning to call, cry out, proclaim, read.
  • Signifies a fervent, desperate appeal, often verbal, seeking divine attention and aid. It's an active, personal engagement in prayer, a cry for help.
  • The first-person singular suffix 'I' emphasizes the individual's direct experience and personal relationship with God.
• the Lord (Hebrew: Yah - יָהּ):
  • A shortened poetic form of the personal covenant name of God, YHWH (Yahweh).
  • Emphasizes God's relational and saving character, the God who keeps His promises.
  • Its repetition ("Yah... Yah") underscores the psalmist's focus and confidence in this specific God.
• in distress (Hebrew: ba-metzar - בַּמֶּצַר):
  • From metzar, meaning narrow place, straits, anguish, tribulation, distress.
  • Implies being hemmed in, restricted, experiencing extreme pressure, confinement, or difficulty. It paints a picture of being trapped with no obvious escape, whether physically, emotionally, or existentially.
  • Often contrasted in scripture with a "large place" or "broad space."
• answered me (Hebrew: anani - עָנָנִי):
  • From the verb anah, meaning to answer, respond, testify, sing, often specifically "to answer in affliction."
  • Indicates God's attentiveness and active intervention, not merely hearing, but acting effectively in response to the cry.
• and set me in a large place (Hebrew: vayarcheveini ba-merhav - וַיַּעֲנֵנִי בַמֶּרְחָב, literally "and He answered me in a large place," often rendered as "and set me in a large place" reflecting the consequence of the answer):
  • Merhav means spaciousness, room, liberty, freedom, broad place.
  • Represents the antithesis of "distress" (metzar).
  • Signifies divine deliverance that results in liberation, security, abundance, and the absence of oppressive constraint. It’s not just relief, but expansive well-being.
  • Implies not only a removal of the problem but an elevation to a state of peace and unhindered movement.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "I called upon the Lord": This phrase highlights the intentional and direct appeal to God. It speaks of a personal relationship and reliance on the divine. It's a prayer of desperation but also of faith in God's ability to intervene.
• "in distress: the Lord answered me": This grouping clearly demonstrates the cause-and-effect relationship between the human cry in dire circumstances and God's faithful and powerful response. The Yah (Lord) answers, validating His active involvement in human affairs.
• "in distress: the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place": This larger phrase showcases the complete spiritual journey: from deep suffering and restriction (distress), through fervent prayer and God's faithful answer, to a state of profound liberty, security, and expansive blessing (large place). It's a testament to God's transformative power, turning lament into praise.

Psalm 118 5 Bonus section

The journey from "distress" (metzar) to "a large place" (merhav) is a profound theological and practical theme woven throughout scripture, serving as a powerful metaphor for spiritual deliverance and growth. It's a testament to God's covenant loyalty – He is the God who expands boundaries and creates room where there was none. This concept signifies a deep and secure trust in God’s intervention, knowing that He transforms even the most constricting trials into opportunities for increased freedom and blessedness. It implies a move not just out of trouble, but into a richer, more abundant life, free from the confines that once held one captive, often representing spiritual liberation from sin's power and the world's limitations into the boundless grace and freedom offered in Christ. This verse reminds believers that their present struggle is not their permanent destination and encourages courageous, direct appeals to their living and responding God.

Psalm 118 5 Commentary

Psalm 118:5 stands as a timeless affirmation of God's sovereign and responsive nature. It speaks to a fundamental human experience: finding oneself hemmed in by impossible circumstances, with no apparent way out. The psalmist's act of "calling upon the Lord in distress" is not a casual request, but a desperate cry born of profound need, echoing the fervent pleas heard throughout scripture from those at their wit's end. The immediacy of "the Lord answered me" underscores God's attentiveness and faithfulness; He does not delay or ignore the sincere petition of His suffering children. The miraculous shift from "distress" (a narrow, constricting place) to "a large place" (a spacious, secure, liberating environment) illustrates God's ability to completely reverse fortunes. This is more than mere problem-solving; it is a holistic deliverance that grants freedom, peace, and abundance, showcasing His power to expand possibilities where only limitations once existed. This transformation offers hope to all who find themselves in similar confines, be they physical, emotional, or spiritual. For the believer, it points to Christ, who liberates from the ultimate distress of sin and death, bringing true spiritual spaciousness and freedom.