Psalms 118:5 Meaning and Explanation
“I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →When the speaker cried out in distress, the LORD answered and delivered him to freedom.
The Context of Psalms 118:5
Personal testimony of crying out in distress and receiving deliverance.
What Does Psalms 118:5 Mean?
The psalm shifts from communal call to personal testimony. The speaker recalls a specific moment of crisis—a time of distress when he called out to God. The word 'distress' suggests confinement, pressure, and danger. Yet God did not remain silent; he heard and answered. This verse affirms a foundational faith principle: the LORD listens to his people when they cry out in their need.
The response included both hearing and action. God set the speaker 'in a large place'—an image of release from confinement and constraint into spaciousness and freedom. This liberation is both literal and spiritual, suggesting deliverance from enemies, circumstances, and the crushing weight of despair. The personal experience becomes evidence of God's mercy and confirms the communal refrain.
Psalms 118:5 in the Original Language
צַר (tsar), 'distress' — narrow, tight places; implies siege or oppression.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 118:5
What does Psalms 118:5 mean?
When the speaker cried out in distress, the LORD answered and delivered him to freedom.
What is the context of Psalms 118:5?
Personal testimony of crying out in distress and receiving deliverance.