Chapter Overview
Summary
Psalm 117 (MT) / Psalm 116 (LXX) is the Bible's SHORTEST CHAPTER (only 2 verses) — and also the exact middle-chapter of the Bible (by chapter-count in the Protestant canon). Its brevity contrasts with its universalist-scope: 'Praise the LORD, all you nations! Extol him, all peoples!' Paul cites verse 1 at Romans 15:11 as the third of his four-text catena defending Gentile-inclusion.
Notable Variants
117:1 → Romans 15:11 — Paul's four-text catena for Gentile-inclusion; the universal-praise call (all nations, all peoples); shortest psalm and chapter in the Bible.
Structural Notes
MT Ps 117 = LXX Ps 116. 2 verses. Fifth Egyptian Hallel psalm. Shortest chapter in the Bible.
Praise the LORD, all nations! Exalt Him, all peoples!
Masoretic (WLC)
הַלְלוּ אֶת־יְהוָה כָּל־גּוֹיִם שַׁבְּחוּהוּ כָּל־הָאֻמִּים
Praise the LORD, all you nations! Extol him, all you peoples!
Septuagint (LXX)
αἰνεῖτε τὸν κύριον πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ἐπαινέσατε αὐτόν πάντες οἱ λαοί
Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; extol him, all you peoples
ROMANS 15:11 CITATION — GENTILE-INCLUSION CATENA. Paul cites this verse at Romans 15:11 as the THIRD text in his four-text catena (Rom 15:9–12) defending Gentile-inclusion: (1) Rom 15:9 // Ps 18:49 ('I will praise you among the Gentiles'); (2) Rom 15:10 // Deut 32:43 LXX ('Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people'); (3) Rom 15:11 // PS 117:1 ('PRAISE THE LORD, ALL YOU GENTILES, AND LET ALL THE PEOPLES EXTOL HIM'); (4) Rom 15:12 // Isa 11:10 ('the root of Jesse … in him will the Gentiles hope').
THE GENTILES / NATIONS EQUIVALENCE. The Greek ethnē (nations / Gentiles) is the same word; Paul's citation makes explicit what was implicit — the psalmic-'nations' are the Gentile-peoples who are now included in the universal-praise of YHWH. The psalm's brief universalism becomes Paul's scriptural-warrant for the Gentile-mission.
For His faithful love toward us is mighty, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!
'For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!' tracks MT. CHESED-AND-EMET to-us + forever-formula.