Psalms 118:27

With the Hebrew beneath

Psalms 118:27, word by word

El isאֵלel

El, God, god

"El", an ancient Hebrew word for "God". Alone or with another title it is a name of the God of Israel: El Elyon (God Most High), El Shaddai (God Almighty). Neighboring peoples used the same word for their gods; then this translation writes "god" in lower case. It also means "mighty".

Where else “el” appears

YHWHיְהוָהyehva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yehva” appears

and he has given us lightיָּאֶרyaer

give light

To fill with light and drive away darkness; also to light a lamp.

Where else “yaer” appears

bindאִסְרוּisru

bind

To tie with ropes, or yoke animals.

Where else “isru” appears

the victim of the festivalחַגchag

festival

Festival in honor of God, with pilgrimage.

Where else “chag” appears

with cordsעֲבֹתִיםavotim

cord

A cord braided of several strands, or bonds with which one ties.

Where else “avotim” appears

the hornsקַרְנוֹתkarnot

altar horn

The horns of the altar.

Where else “karnot” appears

of the altarמִּזְבֵּחַmizbeach

altar

Altar: a structure of stone or earth on which sacrifices are offered to God.

Where else “mizbeach” appears

Translation note

The Hebrew says only “bind the festival”: it may refer to the animal that was sacrificed at the festival or to the festival procession, which reached the altar.

The context