Psalm 118:17-18
“I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD. The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.”
King James Version
Deliverance from death to declare God's works, cited as a prophecy of Christ's resurrection triumph.
Fulfillment References
Acts 2:24 Romans 1:4 Revelation 1:18
How Traditions Read This Prophecy
Apostolic (Oneness) PentecostalPsalm 118 is messianic — the rejected stone become head of the corner (v. 22) is applied to Jesus (Acts 4:11). 'I shall not die, but live' voices the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, whom death could not hold (Acts 2:24); chastened unto death yet not given over to it is the cross and empty tomb of God manifest in flesh.
JewishA thanksgiving for deliverance from deadly peril (national or royal), sung at Passover as part of the Hallel; read of Israel's survival rather than a dying-and-rising Messiah.
CatholicRead of Christ's victory over death; the rejected-stone verse (22) and the Hallel setting tie it liturgically to the Passion and Resurrection.
ProtestantThe deliverance-from-death language is fulfilled in Christ's resurrection; Jesus and the apostles cite the psalm's stone prophecy (v. 22) of Himself.
AcademicA communal or royal thanksgiving within the Hallel collection; NT writers apply its stone and deliverance imagery to Jesus. 'Not given over to death' is rescue language later read of resurrection.
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Cross-references, Hebrew/Greek, Dead Sea Scrolls notes, study tools and multi-tradition analysis in the interactive explorer.
Bible Prophecy Explorer · based on J. Barton Payne’s Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy catalogue · an openly Apostolic (Oneness) Pentecostal study resource — all traditions presented fairly. Pastor: C. Myles Young, PhD · Bishop: Nathaniel J. Wilson, Ed.D.