Psalms 118:15 · Bible study
Psalms 118:15 Commentary: Study: Joy in the Tents of the Righteous
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Psalm 118:15, How the collective declaration of God's valiant deeds shapes rejoicing and salvation in the homes of the righteous.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Collective rejoicing in the homes of the righteous because of God's saving power.
- Key words: tents (אֹהֶל), righteous (צַדִּיק), right hand (יָמִין), doing strength (עֹשָׂה חָיִל).
- Main debate: Whether tents refer to literal homes, pilgrim shelters, or the tabernacle.
- Theological theme: Domestic worship as a natural response to divine deliverance.
- Best use: Encourage families to speak of God's deeds; connect the verse to Easter and Passover celebrations.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Shouts of joy and salvation resound in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the LORD performs with valor!
WEB World English Bible 2000
The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous. “The right hand of Yahweh does valiantly.
KJV King James Version 1769
The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous: The right hand of Jehovah doeth valiantly.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
A voice of singing and salvation, Is in the tents of the righteous, The right hand of Jehovah is doing valiantly.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
The voice of triumph and salvation is in the tents of the righteous: the right hand of Jehovah doeth valiantly;
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
I will meditate on thy commandments: and I will consider thy ways.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Voz de júbilo y de salvación hay en las tiendas de los justos: la diestra de Jehová hace proezas.
Nas tendas dos justos há voz de alegria e salvação; a mão direita do SENHOR faz proezas.
Des cris de triomphe et de salut s’élèvent dans les tentes des justes:
Man singt mit Freuden vom Sieg in den Hütten der Gerechten: “Die Rechte des HERRN behält den Sieg;
In de tenten der rechtvaardigen is een stem des gejuichs en des heils; de rechterhand des HEEREN doet krachtige daden.
Un grido d’esultanza e di vittoria risuona nelle tende dei giusti: La destra dell’Eterno fa prodezze.
Głos wykrzykania i zbawienia w przybytkach sprawiedliwych, prawica Pańska dokazała mocy;
О заповедях Твоих размышляю, и взираю на пути Твои.
在義人 的帳棚裡，有歡呼 拯救 的聲音；耶和華 的右手 施展 大能。
The sound of joy and salvation is in the tents of the upright; the right hand of the Lord does works of power.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Psalms 118:15
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this verse pictures the joy that erupts in the homes of God's people when they witness His saving power. Barnes observes that the voice of rejoicing is both a fact and something appropriate, the righteous family should be happy, and God makes it so. The Hebrew word אֹהֶל ('o.hel, tent) points to ordinary dwellings; Cambridge Bible notes these could be the tents of pilgrims but are more simply homes. The participle עֹשָׂה ('doing') indicates ongoing action: God's right hand is continually acting with strength, not just once. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown treat the phrase 'rejoicing and salvation' as a hendiadys: salvation is the cause, rejoicing the effect. The righteousness of the people is not their own merit but their covenant standing with God. This verse invites believers to see their homes as places where God's deliverance is sung and celebrated.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The verse clearly depicts the joyful praise that arises in the homes of God's people because of His victorious acts of salvation.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'tents' | All agree the term refers to dwellings, whether literal homes or temporary shelters. | Some see it as ordinary homes of the righteous (Barnes, Gill), others as pilgrim tents for festivals (Cambridge), and some as the sanctuary (ancient Jewish tradition). |
| Authorship and occasion | The psalm is clearly a song of deliverance and thanksgiving. | Some attribute it to David (Calvin, Matthew Henry), others to post-exilic community (Hengstenberg, Lange). |
| Christological interpretation | Christians historically see the right hand of the Lord as referring to Christ's work. | Some see a direct messianic prophecy (Gill cites Jewish writings that interpret the threefold right hand as Messiah), while others see typology or application. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Psalm 118 belongs to the Hallel (Psalms 113, 118), a set of praise psalms sung at major Jewish festivals, especially Passover. The 'tents' could recall the wilderness tabernacle, the pilgrim tents pitched outside Jerusalem during festivals, or simply the homes of the faithful. The right hand of Yahweh echoes the Song of the Sea (Exodus 15:6), linking present deliverance to the exodus. The collective voice, 'singing' and 'salvation', suggests public, corporate worship that begins in the home.
Matthew Henry and Calvin see this as David's victory song after his deliverance from Saul. Lange and the Cambridge Bible allow for a post-exilic setting, noting the liturgical structure fits temple restoration. Whatever the original occasion, the verse grounds Israel's worship in concrete experience of divine rescue. The tents of the righteous stand in contrast to the wicked nations that surrounded the psalmist (vv. 10, 12). That contrast makes the rejoicing both more intense and more pointed. This is joy that has passed through trial and emerged on the other side.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts.
Reception History
In the early church, Psalm 118 was used in Easter liturgies because of its references to the stone rejected becoming the cornerstone; verse 15 contributed to the theme of joy after resurrection. The 'right hand of the Lord' motif influenced many hymns and canticles. Medieval and Reformation commentators valued the domestic setting for worship. The verse continues to be quoted in sermons on family devotion and gratitude. Its place in the Hallel means it is still sung in Jewish Passover celebrations today.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Location of Joy: In the tents of the righteous, ordinary homes become places of praise.
- The Cause of Joy: The right hand of Yahweh does valiantly; God's power in action is the source.
- The Expression of Joy: Voices of rejoicing and salvation, the community declares what God has done.
Five-point outline
- Who rejoices: The righteous, those in covenant with God.
- Where they rejoice: In tents, the domestic sphere, not just the sanctuary.
- What they celebrate: Salvation, understood as deliverance from enemies.
- How they express it: With voices, loud, public, communal singing.
- Why it lasts: The right hand of Yahweh is still doing valiantly (present participle).
Illustration hooks
- A family that prays together after a medical crisis, recounting God's help.
- A congregation that sings the Hallel at Passover or Easter, remembering God's rescue.
- A home where children hear their parents talk about answered prayer and God's provision.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How can my home become a place of rejoicing even when life is hard?
- Does this verse mean that only perfect families can have joy? (Answer: the tents of the righteous are those who trust God, not those who are sinless.)
- How do I talk about God's valiant deeds in a way that my children understand?
Leading a Discussion
Psalm 118:15 reminds us that salvation is not a private matter, it echoes in our homes. The verse pictures tents filled with voices shouting joy and victory. As you study, consider how your own household testifies to God's acts of deliverance.
Discussion questions
- What does the word 'tents' suggest about the setting of this joy? Why not the temple?
- Who are 'the righteous' in this verse? How does their identity relate to their rejoicing?
- The phrase 'rejoicing and salvation' links an emotion and a gift. Which comes first? How does one lead to the other?
- Why is 'the right hand of Yahweh' a fitting image for God's power? Look at Exodus 15:6 for context.
- This verse is a collective shout ('they say'). How does communal testimony differ from private prayer? Why is both needed?
- What 'valiant deeds' has God done in your life or your family's life? How can you make them part of daily conversation?
- The participle 'does' implies ongoing action. How does that shape your confidence in God's continued work?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 15:6 | Your right hand, Yahweh, is glorious in power. Your right hand, Yahweh, dashes the enemy in pieces. |
| Deuteronomy 12:12 | You shall rejoice before Yahweh your God—you, and your sons, your daughters, your male servants, your female servants, and the Levite who is within your gates, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you. |
| Psalms 30:11 | You have turned my mourning into dancing for me. You have removed my sackcloth, and clothed me with gladness, |
| Psalms 30:12 | to the end that my heart may sing praise to you, and not be silent. Yahweh my God, I will give thanks to you forever! |
| Psalms 32:11 | Be glad in Yahweh, and rejoice, you righteous! Shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart! |
| Psalms 33:1 | Rejoice in Yahweh, you righteous! Praise is fitting for the upright. |
| Psalms 44:3 | For they didn’t get the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them; but your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, because you were favorable to them. |
| Psalms 45:4 | In your majesty ride on victoriously on behalf of truth, humility, and righteousness. Let your right hand display awesome deeds. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
The voice of rejoicing - Formerly there was nothing but wailings; but now there is universal joy because of the salvation - the deliverance, which God has wrought for us.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes highlights that the voice of joyful praise properly belongs in the homes of the righteous because genuine religion creates the deepest family happiness. He sees this joy flowing directly from God's mighty works, which lay the foundation for salvation and thanksgiving.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin emphasizes that David calls Israel to ponder how God alone gave him the throne, not human policy or force. He reads David's deliverances as proof of divine appointment. For Calvin, this earthly kingdom prefigures Christ's eternal spiritual kingdom, which David's reign represented.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator notes that the word "tabernacles" in this verse is not the same Hebrew word used for the booths of the Feast of Tabernacles, so that festival connection may be misleading. The righteous here are Israel, distinguished from the wicked who sought to destroy them.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note reads this verse as a confident prophecy: the homes of the righteous will soon ring out with joy and thanksgiving for deliverance. That celebration takes the specific form of declaring that the Lord's own hand has achieved a great victory.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill connects this joy not only to David's deliverance and rule but also to Christ, the greater King who accomplishes spiritual and eternal salvation. He notes that ancient Jewish writings interpret the threefold mention of the Lord's right hand as referring specifically to the Messiah.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
rejoicing and salvation —the latter as cause of the former.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry observes that David's heart was so full of God's goodness that he could not stop thinking or speaking about it, eager for God to receive praise and others to find comfort. The more deeply we are impressed with God's goodness, Henry argues, the more our hearts are enlarged in obedience.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that the phrase refers to the words of a specific song of praise, likely the one Moses and the Israelites sang after crossing the Red Sea. His observation anchors the expression in that moment of communal worship and victory.