Psalms 118:24 Meaning: What Is the Day Yahweh Made?
This is the day that Yahweh has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it!
This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day which Jehovah hath made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day Jehovah hath made, We rejoice and are glad in it.
This is the day that Jehovah hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Meaning in one sentence
Psalm 118:24 celebrates a specific day of deliverance, seen by Christians as pointing to Christ's resurrection.
Context
Psalm 118 is a thanksgiving song, probably sung by pilgrims approaching the temple. The psalmist has been rescued from deadly enemies and now leads a procession to the gates of the sanctuary. Inside, the people praise God for making the rejected stone the cornerstone, a verse the New Testament uses for Christ. Verse 24 bursts out at this moment: the day of salvation has arrived. It is not just any morning; it is a day God has marked by His own action. The context is deliverance, and the response is corporate joy.
Key Words
The Hebrew word for “day” here is yom, which can mean a twenty-four-hour period or a season of time. In this psalm it points to a particular moment when God acted decisively. The verb for “made” is asah, meaning to make, accomplish, or appoint. God did not just let this day happen; He created it for a purpose. The two words for rejoicing, gil and samach, are piled together for emphasis. Gil suggests an exultant, almost trembling joy, the kind that makes you want to shout. Samach is a broader gladness of heart. Together they say: this joy is both deep and loud.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions read “this day” in different ways. Some, like Matthew Henry and Gill, see it as a prophecy of Christ’s resurrection, the day the rejected stone became the cornerstone. Others, including Barnes, connect it to the Sabbath, a day fresh from God’s hand each week. Many Jewish interpreters link it to the dedication of the second temple after the exile. And a broad stream of readers have always taken it as a general call: every day God gives is a gift worth celebrating. These readings are not enemies. Each draws out a layer of the verse’s richness, and all agree that the day belongs to God.
A common misunderstanding
Many people read this verse as a simple call to have a positive attitude, “just choose to be happy.” But the psalm is not generic optimism. The day is specific: it is the day when God saved His people. The call to rejoice flows from what God has already done. In fact, joy is the proper response to a real rescue, not a self-generated mood.
Living This Out
You might wake up tomorrow with a heavy load, worry, grief, monotony. Psalm 118 does not tell you to pretend those feelings away. It invites you to look for something God has already done. Maybe He carried you through yesterday. Maybe He opened a door you had given up on. Maybe He simply gave you breath. This verse asks you to name that one thing and then, out loud if you can, say: This is the day You made. I will rejoice in it. Joy does not have to feel big. It just has to be true.
Main takeaway: Every day is a gift from God, but especially the day of salvation; we are called to rejoice in what He has done.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God made this day special. He made the sun come up and He made you. Today you can smile and say, “Thank You, God, for this happy day!”
For ages 9, 12
This verse is from a song the people sang when they entered the temple after God saved them. They were so grateful that they said, “This is the day God made!” Even when your day feels ordinary or hard, you can remember that God is with you. You can choose to be glad because He has already done great things for you.
Questions People Ask
What is 'the day' referred to in Psalm 118:24?
Commentators see it differently. Some say it is the day of Christ's resurrection, based on the verse about the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone (verse 22). Others connect it to a specific historical deliverance, like David's anointing or the return from exile. Many also read it as a general truth: every day God gives is a day He has made, and we can rejoice in it.
Is Psalm 118:24 about Sunday or the Sabbath?
Barnes' Notes suggests the Sabbath is like a day fresh from God's hand, and some Christians apply the verse to Sunday as the Lord's Day. However, the original context is a day of deliverance, not necessarily a weekly day of rest. The verse has been used liturgically in many traditions for Sunday worship because it celebrates God's saving work.
Who wrote Psalm 118?
The psalm has no title, so its author is uncertain. Calvin mentions that many think David wrote it, but others attribute it to the time of the return from Babylon. The New Testament applies parts of it to Christ (Matthew 21:42, Acts 4:11), so it was seen as prophetic regardless of the human author.
What does 'rejoice and be glad' mean in the original Hebrew?
Two different Hebrew words are used: 'gil' and 'samach.' 'Gil' carries a sense of exultant, almost trembling joy. 'Samach' is broader, meaning to be glad or joyful. Together they emphasize a full, heartfelt celebration, not just a quiet feeling but an outward expression of thanks.
How is Psalm 118:24 used in Christian worship?
Many churches recite or sing this verse on Sunday mornings, especially on Easter, because it connects to Christ's resurrection. It is also used in daily prayers as a reminder to receive each day as a gift from God. The verse appears in the liturgy of several traditions, including the Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant.
For pastors & researchers
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