Psalm 118:5

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 118:1-29

Psalms 118:0 A procession of thanksgivingOriginally this hymn was apparently sung by a combination of the temple singers, the congregation and the king, to mark some great national occasion such as a victory in battle. The scene is set in the temple, where the royal procession enters the gates and moves to the altar (see v. 19,20,27).The singers call Israel to worship, and the congregation responds with praise to God for his steadfast love (1-4). The king then recounts how, in answer to prayer,... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Psalms 118:5

THE LORD. Hebrew Jah. App-4 . and set me in a large place. The current Hebrew text = with the deliverance of JAH, bammerhab yah (two words). The Massoretic text reads it as one word, bammerhabyah = with deliverance. The Authorized Version and Revised Version transfer the yah to the beginning of the clause, and are then compelled to make out the sense by supplying "and set me". They do not even notice the Massoretic reading. The printed text reads: "I called upon Jah in distress, He... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Psalms 118:5

"Out of my distress I called upon Jehovah:Jehovah answered me and set me in a large place.Jehovah is on my side; I will not fear:What can man do unto me?Jehovah is on my side among them that help me:Therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.""And set me in a large place" (Psalms 118:5). The palace of the king of Israel would indeed qualify for such a designation."I will not fear what man can do unto me" (Psalms 118:6). The author of Hebrews quoted this making it applicable to... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Psalms 118:5

Psalms 118:5. The Lord answered me, and set me in a large place,— The Lord answered me with enlargement. Mudge. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Psalms 118:5

5. distress—literally, "straits," to which "large place" corresponds, as in Psalms 4:1; Psalms 31:8. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 118:1-29

Psalms 118This is the last in this series of the Egyptian Hallel psalms (Psalms 113-118). It describes a festal procession to the temple to praise and sacrifice to the Lord. The historical background may be the dedication of the restored walls and gates of Jerusalem in Ezra and Nehemiah’s time, following the return from Babylonian captivity, in 444 B.C. [Note: Wiersbe, The . . . Wisdom . . ., p. 306.] It contains elements of communal thanksgiving, individual thanksgiving, and liturgical psalms.... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 118:5-9

The writer gave personal testimony to God’s deliverance of him in answer to prayer. Setting him in "a large place" (Psalms 118:5, NASB) pictures freedom to move about without constraint. Since God was with him, he did not need to fear what other people might do to him (cf. Hebrews 13:6). Furthermore the Lord would be his helper, so he could expect to prevail over his adversaries. Therefore it is better to trust in Yahweh than to place one’s confidence in men, even the most powerful of men.... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 118:5-21

2. Praise for Yahweh’s deliverance 118:5-21 read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 118:1-29

This Ps. was evidently written for the Temple worship on the occasion of some great festival (Psalms 118:24), when it might be used as a processional hymn. It has been variously referred (a) to the time when Zerubbabel laid the foundation of the second Temple; (b) to the time of Nehemiah; (c) to the cleansing of the Temple by Judas Maccabæus. It is a noble song. Luther declared that he owed more to Psalms 118 than to all the princes and friends who supported him.Psalms 118:1-18, dealing with... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 118:5

(5) I called.—Better, out of the straitness I cried to Jah; answered me, with freedom, Jah. The meaning of the last clause (literally, with room. Comp.: “Ay, marry, now my soul has elbow-room”—King John) is determined by the parallelism of Psalms 18:19. The versions read “freedom of Jah,” i.e., boundless freedom,” read more

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