PsalmsChapter 117

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Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples!

For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!

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Summary2

Chapter 117

Main Theme: A universal call to all nations to praise the Lord for his enduring love and faithfulness.

Content: Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the Bible, containing only two verses. It issues a powerful appeal to all nations and peoples to praise Yahweh. The basis for this call is God's overwhelming faithful love (chesed) toward Israel and his eternal faithfulness (emet). The psalm concludes with the liturgical exclamation "Halleluja".

Key Words/Images:

Chesed (faithful love): God's covenant loyalty and gracious devotion that "overcomes" or is mighty over us.
Emet (truth/faithfulness): God's reliability that endures forever.
All nations (kol-gojim): A universal vision in which the Gentile peoples are called to join in praising the God of Israel.
Halleluja: A liturgical conclusion meaning "Praise the Lord" – framing the purpose of the psalm.

Historical context

Key Concepts

Psalm 117 contains several theologically charged Hebrew words that deserve attention. The word גּוֹיִם (gojim, "nations/peoples") refers specifically to non-Jewish peoples, while אֻמִּים (ummim, "people/clans") is a parallel and more poetic expression. This doubling emphasizes the universal scope of the psalm. The term חֶסֶד (chesed) is often translated as "mercy" or "grace," but it carries a richer meaning of faithful love and covenant loyalty—God's unshakable commitment to His people. The combination of chesed and אֱמֶת (emet, "truth/faithfulness") is a common phrase in the Psalms that expresses God's reliable and enduring character. The verb גָּבַר (gavar, "is mighty/overwhelming") describes how God's grace not only exists but actively triumphs and overwhelms.

Chapter-Specific Findings

Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the Bible, containing just two verses. Despite its brevity, it expresses a universal call in which all peoples—not only Israel—are invited to praise the God of Israel. The basis for this praise is God's chesed (faithful love) that has "prevailed over us" (gavar aleinu), suggesting an overwhelming experience of God's goodness.

People

No known people in this chapter.

Key words4

Praise — To express gratitude, honor, and admiration for God, often through song or prayer.
Lord — A title used to refer to God, meaning the supreme authority and ruler over all.
Grace — God's unmerited favor and love toward humanity, despite their sin and failure.
Truth — That which aligns with reality, correct and reliable. In this context, it refers to God's word and promises.

Timeline

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Themes

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Prophecies

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Bible stories

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Parallel texts

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Numbers

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