Psalm 116 13

Psalm 116:13

ESV: I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD,

KJV: I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.

NIV: I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.

NKJV: I will take up the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the LORD.

NLT: I will lift up the cup of salvation
and praise the LORD's name for saving me.

Meaning

Psalm 116:13 declares the psalmist's unwavering commitment to publicly express gratitude for divine deliverance. It signifies a solemn, deliberate act of worship where the recipient of God's salvation publicly acknowledges the Lord's saving power. "Lifting the cup of salvation" symbolizes a celebration of abundant deliverance, potentially within a ritual context or a feast of thanksgiving. "Calling on the name of the Lord" reinforces dependence, adoration, and proclamation of God's revealed character as the source of salvation. It is a vow fulfilled, a joyous response to rescue from distress, demonstrating personal faith and corporate testimony.

Cross References

Context

Psalm 116 is a personal psalm of thanksgiving, specifically categorized as a Todah (Thanksgiving) psalm. The psalmist recounts a profound experience of distress and near-death, from which the Lord delivered him. The preceding verses vividly describe the "snares of death" and "anguish" (vv. 3-6) and God's compassionate response (vv. 5-8). The psalmist acknowledges that he "believed, even when I spoke, 'I am greatly afflicted'" (v. 10), reflecting a persistent faith through trials. Verse 13 immediately follows the declaration, "What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me?" (v. 12), setting up the intention to make a public declaration of gratitude. The cultural context would have included the offering of peace sacrifices (Todah offerings) in the Temple, which involved communal meals and libations, and the solemn fulfillment of vows made in times of trouble. The psalmist's commitment to "call on the name of the Lord" contrasts with the idolatrous practices of neighboring nations and underscores exclusive reliance on Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel.

Word analysis

• I will lift up (אֶשָּׂא - esh-sha'):

  • From the Hebrew verb נָשָׂא (nasa), meaning to lift, carry, bear.
  • Indicates a deliberate, conscious, and physical act.
  • Connotes elevation, reverence, or presentation, possibly in a priestly or ceremonial manner.
  • It's a proactive choice to engage in an act of thanksgiving.

• the cup (כּוֹס - kos):

  • A literal vessel, a drinking cup.
  • Symbolically, "cup" in Scripture frequently represents one's allotted portion or destiny. This can be a cup of blessing (Psa 23:5), a cup of suffering (Mat 20:22), or a cup of God's wrath (Psa 75:8).
  • Here, specified as "the cup of salvation," it inherently signifies a portion of blessing and deliverance.

• of salvation (יְשׁוּעוֹת - yeshu'ot):

  • Plural form of יְשׁוּעָה (yeshu'ah), meaning salvation, deliverance, help, victory.
  • The plural intensifies the meaning, suggesting abundant salvations, multiple acts of deliverance, or a complete and comprehensive deliverance.
  • It implies a profound and full experience of God's saving power in various facets of life.
  • The root of this word is also the root for the name Yeshua (Jesus).

• and call on (וְאֶקְרָא - v'ekra):

  • From the Hebrew verb קָרָא (qara), meaning to call out, proclaim, invoke, read, or summon.
  • In context of "on the name of the Lord," it implies fervent prayer, public proclamation, and the invocation of God's presence, power, and character.
  • It is an act of spiritual dependence and identification with the God being called upon.

• the name of the Lord (בְּשֵׁם יְהוָה - b'shem YHVH):

  • "The Name" (shem) of God represents His entire revealed character, attributes, and essence (Ex 34:5-7).
  • YHVH (Yahweh) is the personal, covenant name of God, indicating His self-existent and relational nature.
  • Calling on His name is an act of faith, worship, and humble appeal to His divine authority and saving power. It means recognizing Him alone as God and the source of salvation.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "the cup of salvation": This phrase symbolizes the joyous acknowledgment of deliverance. It is the tangible (though symbolic) expression of thanks for God's redemptive work. The image points to a feast or celebratory ritual, a physical act commemorating spiritual deliverance. It's the opposite of a "cup of wrath" or "cup of trembling," affirming a positive, life-giving outcome from God.
  • "lift up...and call on the name of the Lord": These two actions are deeply intertwined. The physical act of lifting the cup (an outward, public gesture) is complemented by the spiritual act of calling on God's name (an inward devotion expressed outwardly). It signifies a complete, integrated response of the whole person—body and spirit—to God's saving grace, uniting liturgy/ritual with heartfelt prayer and praise.

Commentary

Psalm 116:13 encapsulates a profound act of personal and public worship, reflecting a heart overwhelmed by God's deliverance. "I will lift up the cup of salvation" is a solemn pledge, a fulfillment of a vow made in distress. This imagery speaks to a thanksgiving offering or feast where a symbolic cup, overflowing with the benefits of God's abundant rescue (yeshu'ot – plural for comprehensive salvation), is elevated in recognition of His goodness. This act is not silent; it is immediately followed by "and call on the name of the Lord." This emphasizes that the display of gratitude is not merely ritualistic but deeply personal and relational. To "call on the name of the Lord" means to invoke Yahweh Himself – His character, His power, His covenant faithfulness – as the sole source of this deliverance. It is an acknowledgment that only He saved and to Him alone belongs the praise. This verse thus combines physical expression with spiritual invocation, offering a comprehensive model for grateful worship, a public testimony to a personal God who saves abundantly. This concept finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who is our salvation, and in the New Covenant celebration of His shed blood, our "cup of blessing" (1 Cor 10:16), through which we continually call upon His name.

• Practical Usage Examples:
  • Celebrating a answered prayer by giving public testimony or serving others out of gratitude.
  • Observing communion as a joyful remembrance of Christ's ultimate act of salvation, proclaiming His name.
  • Sharing personal experiences of God's deliverance in life's challenges, glorifying Him.

Bonus section

The "cup of salvation" (כּוֹס יְשׁוּעוֹת - kos yeshu'ot) likely draws on ancient Near Eastern practices, which included communal meals, libations, and the sharing of beverages as part of covenants, celebrations, or even mourning rituals. In the context of a Todah (thanksgiving) sacrifice, the offerer would partake in a communal meal at the Temple, sharing the meat of the sacrifice with priests and fellow worshippers. While no specific "cup of salvation" ritual is detailed in the Mosaic Law, the imagery here resonates with the joyful drinking that accompanied such thanksgiving feasts (Lev 7:11-15). It could signify a celebratory libation of wine, symbolizing God's overflowing grace and the joyous outpouring of the psalmist's heart. This act is a definitive expression of a Nazarite vow (Num 6) which involves abstaining from wine during a vow period and concluding it by offering a sacrifice and potentially drinking wine. However, more strongly, it could prefigure the Lord's Supper, where Christ instituted a "cup" representing His blood and the new covenant, transforming the concept into the ultimate embodiment of divine salvation. The plural form yeshu'ot is profound, indicating that God’s salvation is not a singular event but multifaceted, covering all aspects of life and offering continuous deliverance. It moves beyond just a one-time rescue from death to a complete flourishing granted by God.

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