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Psalm 117 · a question people ask

The psalm calls all the nations, then says the LORD's loving kindness is great "toward us" (117:2). Who is us?

In the text

The psalm doesn't say. It has no title and names no speaker, and us comes only once: in Hebrew toward us is one word, alenu (117:2). Whoever speaks the psalm is part of the us, and the call before it goes to "all you nations" and "all you peoples" (117:1), but the psalm gives the us no name. Another psalm sets us and the nations side by side: "May God be merciful to us, bless us, and cause his face to shine on us" (Psalm 67:1), "That your way may be known on earth, and your salvation among all nations" (Psalm 67:2). These notes don't name the us of 117:2 for the psalm.

The verses

“Praise the LORD, all you nations! Extol him, all you peoples! For his loving kindness is great toward us. The LORD’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise the LORD!”
Psalm 117:1-2 · World English Bible
“For the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Psalm. A song. May God be merciful to us, bless us, and cause his face to shine on us. Selah. That your way may be known on earth, and your salvation among all nations,”
Psalm 67:1-2 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 117

Psalm 117: Praise the LORD, all you nations

Psalm 117 calls "all you nations" and "all you peoples" to praise the LORD (117:1), and its reason is his loving kindness "toward us" (117:2). Its Hebrew word for peoples comes only three times in the Hebrew Bible. Paul quotes its call in Romans 15:11, after saying Christ became a servant "that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy" (Romans 15:9).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions