Tehillim 117 | “Praise the Lord, All Nations”

Psalm 117, the shortest chapter in all of Tanakh, is nonetheless enough to raise a striking question even on a first reading. The nations are called upon to praise the Lord: “Praise the Lord, all nations, laud Him, all you peoples.” Why? “For His loving-kindness overwhelms us.” But what does this reason mean? How is God’s abundant kindness to Israel a reason for the nations to praise Him?

In the Talmud (Pesachim 118b), Rabbi Yishmael son of Rabbi Yosei explains the psalm as follows: the nations should praise God for the kindness He has shown them, and from that, Israel should draw a fortiori reasoning — if the nations praise God, then certainly Israel, who has received even greater kindness, should do so.

Rav Yehuda Amital offered another explanation, based on a Talmudic passage in Yevamot 63a, which states: “All the families of the earth – even families that live in the earth, i.e., who have land of their own, are blessed only due to the Jewish people.” That is, when Israel is blessed, that blessing flows outward to the entire world. Therefore, the nations have good reason to praise God for His salvation of Israel.

We will suggest an additional interpretation. We have seen many times in Tanakh — especially in Yeshayahu and Psalms — that Israel’s salvation is meant to serve as a stepping stone for calling upon God’s name among all nations. For example, in Yeshayahu 12: “With joy you will draw water from the flowing springs of rescue… and you will say upon that day: Give thanks to the Lord; call on His name; proclaim His acts among the peoples” (vv. 3–4). Israel’s salvation leads the Israelites to desire the spreading of God’s name among the nations. Thus, perhaps the reason given in Psalm 117 is not directed to the nations — as if explaining why the nations should praise God — but rather directed to Israel, as an explanation of why Israel must now proclaim God's name to all peoples: because of the great kindness God has shown them. It is now Israel’s turn to share that blessing and kindness with the entire world.