This Is the Day

Q: I’m trying to find the source of the phrase, “This is the day the Lord has made.” Are you able to help?

A: The source is Psalm 118:24. Following the common English language convention, the English Standard Version of the Bible renders it as, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” However, Hebrew nouns and pronouns have gender. In this instance, “it” is masculine, as are both “Lord” and “day.” Thus, the verse could be translated, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in Him,” meaning, of course, the Lord.

Without getting overly technical, either way would be a correct rendering. Perhaps that’s exactly why the psalmist composed this verse as he did. We are glad for the day God gives us and we likewise rejoice in the God who gives us our days.

Scripture quoted from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version™, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles.

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Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of the book What Do Lutherans Believe.