Psalms 118:28
Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.
Original Language Analysis
אֵלִ֣י
Thou art my God
H410
אֵלִ֣י
Thou art my God
Strong's:
H410
Word #:
1 of 5
strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the almighty (but used also of any deity)
וְאוֹדֶ֑ךָּ
and I will praise
H3034
וְאוֹדֶ֑ךָּ
and I will praise
Strong's:
H3034
Word #:
3 of 5
physically, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands); intensively, to bemoan (by wringing the ha
Cross References
Isaiah 25:1O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.Psalms 146:2While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.Exodus 15:2The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.Isaiah 12:2Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.Isaiah 25:9And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.Psalms 145:1I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.
Historical Context
Personal relationship with God was revolutionary in the ancient world, where deities were typically distant, capricious, and appeased through ritual. Israel's covenant made YHWH "my God" individually and "our God" corporately. The NT extends this through Christ, making God "Abba, Father" (Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:6).
Questions for Reflection
- How does confessing God as "my God" (personal) differ from "the God" (abstract)?
- What would it look like to move from doctrinal affirmation to personal praise and exaltation?
- How do praise and exaltation differ, and why does this verse include both?
Analysis & Commentary
Thou art my God, and I will praise thee (אֵלִי אַתָּה וְאוֹדֶךָּ, Eli attah ve-odekka)—Eli means my God; yadah means praise, give thanks. Thou art my God, I will exalt thee (אֱלֹהַי אֲרוֹמְמֶךָּ, Elohai aromemekka)—Rum means exalt, lift up, extol.
The repetition ("my God... my God") emphasizes personal covenant relationship. This isn't theological abstraction but intimate confession: "You are MINE, and I am YOURS." The dual response (praise and exalt) shows proper human response to divine revelation. Throughout Psalm 118, communal liturgy becomes intensely personal. Isaiah 25:1 uses similar language: "O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name."