Psalms 118:23 (KJV)

What does Psalms 118:23 mean?

Psalms 118:23 says that what has happened is the work of the LORD, and it is something truly amazing and wonderful to those who see it. The verse gives credit to God for something remarkable that people recognize as beyond ordinary human effort.

In the setting of Psalms 118, the speaker is likely a leader or representative of the people, celebrating a great deliverance or victory that everyone recognizes as coming from God. The verse highlights that the outcome is so surprising and impressive that people are left in awe, seeing it as a clear sign of God's involvement.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 118:23

• LORD'S (יְהוָה, Yahweh): This word refers specifically to the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing that the action described is directly from Israel’s God, not just a general divine force.
• marvellous (פָּלָא, pala’): This word often means something extraordinary, wonderful, or beyond human explanation. It suggests that what happened is not just good, but truly astonishing and unexpected.
• eyes (עַיִן, ‘ayin): Here, "eyes" means the perspective or understanding of the people. It stresses that those witnessing the event are deeply impressed and recognize its significance.

Why Psalms 118:23 matters

• This verse clears up any idea that the remarkable event was due to human skill or luck; it insists that God alone deserves the credit.
• The verse emphasizes how God’s actions can be so unexpected and wonderful that they stand out even to those who see many things, making people pause and marvel.
• In the wider context of Psalms 118, this verse helps underline the theme that God’s help and deliverance are not just routine, but sometimes come in ways that surprise and amaze everyone involved.