Psalms 117 KJV
A Call to Praise the Lord
About This Psalm
The shortest psalm (2 verses) and shortest chapter in the Bible. Praise the LORD, all nations! His mercy endures forever.
1 Praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.
2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.
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Did You Know?
The psalm uniquely extends the invitation to praise Yahweh beyond Israel to all Gentile nations, foreshadowing the universal scope of the New Covenant.
It is cited by the Apostle Paul in Romans 15:11 as scriptural support for the inclusion of Gentiles in the worship of the one true God.
The dual attributes highlighted. Merciful kindness (chesed) and enduring truth (emet). Form a foundational theological pair in Hebrew Scripture, often associated with God's covenant faithfulness.
As part of the Hallel collection (Psalms 113-118), it was traditionally recited during Jewish festivals like Passover, linking it to themes of deliverance and redemption.
The structure moves from imperative calls to praise in verse 1 to the motivational reasons grounded in God's character in verse 2, exemplifying the typical pattern of Hebrew praise psalms in miniature.
Jonathan sealed his covenant with David by giving him his royal robe, armor, sword, bow, and belt, ritually transferring symbols of kingship despite being Saul's heir.
Solomon's throne, overlaid with gold and ivory, featured six steps flanked by twelve lions symbolizing the tribes of Israel and incorporated a calf-shaped seat back, making it a unique artifact unmatched by any other royal throne of the era.
This location became the focal point of national worship and divine promises, later extending symbolically to encompass the Temple Mount where Solomon built the house of the Lord.
The city has been destroyed at least twice, besieged 23 times, and captured 44 times.
Commentary & Study Notes Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871) · Public Domain 2. is great toward us — literally, "prevailed over" or "protected us."
Classic verse-by-verse commentary on Psalms 117 from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown (1871). Covers: This may be regarded as a doxology, suitable to be appended to any psalm of similar character, and prophetical of the prevalence of God's grace in the world, in which aspect paul quotes it (ro 15:11; Compare ps 47:2; 66:8).
This may be regarded as a doxology, suitable to be appended to any psalm of similar character, and prophetical of the prevalence of God's grace in the world, in which aspect paul quotes it (ro 15:11; Compare ps 47:2; 66:8) v1-2
2. is great toward us — literally, "prevailed over" or "protected us."