Psalm 118:24
“This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Psalm 118 is a thanksgiving liturgy, likely sung at a festival, celebrating God's deliverance and the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone (vv. 22-23).
What Does Psalm 118:24 Mean?
This verse celebrates a particular day of deliverance as God's own handiwork, calling worshipers to respond with joy. The psalm has just described a stone rejected by builders becoming the chief cornerstone (v. 22) -- a turning point so unexpected that the only fitting response is rejoicing. "This day" first pointed to the moment of rescue and vindication that the congregation gathered to celebrate at the temple.
The doubled phrase "rejoice and be glad" makes joy a decision, not merely a mood. Because the day comes from God's hand, gladness is the proper acknowledgment of His work. Believers have long read this verse beyond its original festival setting, applying it to every day as a gift to be received with thanksgiving. The early Christians connected the rejected-stone imagery to Jesus, so the "day" took on fresh meaning as the day of salvation God accomplished. Whether facing an ordinary morning or a season of trouble, the worshiper chooses to recognize the day as God's gift and to meet it with praise rather than complaint.
In the Original Language
The phrase "the LORD hath made" uses the Hebrew verb asah, to make or do, the same root used for God's acts of creation and deliverance throughout Scripture.
Cross References
Application
Receive today as something God Himself has made and given, choosing gratitude and gladness even when circumstances are hard.