Psalms 118:18 Meaning and Explanation
“The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Though the LORD disciplined severely, he did not allow death to claim the speaker.
The Context of Psalms 118:18
Acknowledgment that God disciplined severely yet preserved life.
What Does Psalms 118:18 Mean?
The verse acknowledges hardship directly: 'The LORD hath chastened me sore'—strongly, severely disciplined. The word 'chastened' suggests correction, not cruelty, but the word 'sore' indicates the discipline was intense and painful. This is not a trivial correction but something that tested the speaker deeply. The admission that God himself is the source of this chastening is remarkable. The speaker does not blame enemies alone but recognizes that God allowed—or sent—difficult experiences to correct and refine.
Yet chastening is not the last word. 'But he hath not given me over unto death' marks the crucial boundary. God's discipline, however severe, stopped short of abandonment. Death would have been the ultimate form of 'giving over,' but God did not allow it. This reflects the biblical understanding that God's discipline is always meant for correction and growth, never for destruction. The speaker emerges from chastening alive, instructed, and strengthened—not destroyed.
Psalms 118:18 in the Original Language
יִסַּר (yasar), 'chastened' — discipline aimed at correction and formation, rooted in love.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 118:18
What does Psalms 118:18 mean?
Though the LORD disciplined severely, he did not allow death to claim the speaker.
What is the context of Psalms 118:18?
Acknowledgment that God disciplined severely yet preserved life.