The LORD is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar!
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse isn't just describing a sacrifice, but a vital part of the ritual where the victim was bound to the altar's horns. This signifies that the offering wasn't just brought near, but it was definitively secured, emphasizing the absolute commitment and finality of the act before God.
The LORD is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar!
English Standard Version (ESV)
The people are bringing their sacrifices into the temple courts, celebrating God's deliverance and answered prayers. They've already acknowledged God's power and goodness, and now they call for the sacrifices to be brought and secured to the altar, signifying a complete act of worship and thanksgiving. This leads into a final song of praise, urging everyone to offer thanks to God for His enduring love.
In the midst of celebration, the psalmist declares God has "made his light to shine upon us." What kind of light is this?
The "light" mentioned here is rich with meaning, pointing to several aspects of God's goodness and presence:
Divine Illumination:
This light isn't just physical brightness. It signifies God's favor and blessing, dispelling darkness and confusion. Think of it as God shining His face upon His people, like the priestly blessing in Numbers 6:25, bringing peace, safety, and happiness.
Revelation and Truth:
This light also represents God revealing Himself and His truth. It's the understanding that comes from God, opening our minds to His will and His promises. In times of uncertainty, this divine illumination cuts through the gloom.
The Coming Messiah:
Many understand this "light" to foreshadow the coming of the Messiah, who is called the "light of the world" (John 1:9). This light brings salvation and a fuller revelation of God's plan.
The verse ends with a dramatic command: "Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar!" What does this vivid image tell us about worship?
This imagery speaks to the completion and intensity of worship.
Completing the Thanksgiving:
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After acknowledging God's light and favor, the natural response is sacrifice. The command to bind the sacrifice, even to the horns of the altar, signifies a thorough and unreserved offering. It's not a half-hearted gesture but a complete surrender of the offering.
The Significance of the Altar Horns:
The horns of the altar were a crucial part of Israelite worship. They were not just decorative; they were places where atonement was applied (Leviticus 4:7) and where refugees could find sanctuary. Binding the sacrifice to these horns emphasized its dedication and its connection to God's mercy and justice.
A Picture of Devotion:
While Old Testament sacrifices involved literal animals, in the New Testament, we are called to be "living sacrifices" (Romans 12:1). This ancient command reminds us that our worship and devotion to God should be complete, firm, and secured, reaching the very heart of God's presence.
Understand the original words
El · Hebrew Noun
The generic term for the divine Creator and Ruler, used to emphasize God’s power, majesty, and supreme authority over all existence.
or · Hebrew Noun
A symbol of divine presence, favor, revelation, life, and holiness. God’s light dispels darkness, guides the believer, and manifests His glory to humanity.
chag · Hebrew Noun
A religious ceremony or animal offering presented to God as a part of a holy celebration or covenantal worship. It emphasizes the necessity of atonement and the joy of coming into God's presence.
mizbeach · Hebrew Noun
The sacred place of sacrifice and intercession where heaven meets earth, representing the site of reconciliation between a holy God and sinful humanity through the shed blood of an offering.
This psalm likely echoes the joyous celebrations and sacrifices offered during major festivals at the Second Temple in Jerusalem, a time when the memory of national disasters like the Babylonian exile was still potent, making God's deliverance profoundly meaningful.
~1000 BC
David Brings Ark to Jerusalem
King David brings the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, establishing it as the religious and political center of Israel.
c. 966 BC
Solomon's Temple Dedicated
King Solomon dedicates the First Temple in Jerusalem, the central place for Israelite worship and sacrifice.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, exiling many and scattering the tribes.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
The Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar conquers Judah, destroys Jerusalem and the First Temple, and exiles the population.
c. 538 BC
Return from Exile
The Persian Empire allows the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and begin rebuilding the Temple.
~440 BC
Ezra and Nehemiah Reforms
Ezra the scribe and Nehemiah the governor lead religious and civic reforms in Jerusalem, re-establishing Jewish life after the exile.
c. 100 BC - 1st Century AD— this verse
Post-Exilic Temple Worship
The Second Temple stands in Jerusalem, and the Psalms are widely used in its worship, including triumphant processionals like the one depicted in Psalm 118.
This passage speaks of Jesus as 'the true light that gives light to everyone,' which echoes the 'light' God has shown upon us in Psalm 118:27, signifying spiritual illumination and revelation.
Exodus 29:12The instruction to bind the sacrifice 'up to the horns of the altar' brings to mind the sacrificial rituals in the Law, where blood was applied to the altar horns, signifying atonement and the seriousness of worship.
Matthew 21:10-11This passage describes Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, where crowds hailed Him, echoing the jubilant procession and recognition of God's work celebrated in Psalm 118, with Jesus being the ultimate fulfillment of God's salvation.
Romans 12:1The call to present our 'bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God' offers a New Testament parallel to the ancient sacrificial imagery, transforming it into a spiritual offering of ourselves in response to God's saving light.
pulpitPsalms 118:27: "God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar."
Verse 27. - God is the Lord, which hath showed us light. Having received the priestly benediction, the processionists resume their strain. They have entered within the courts; they are approaching the altar of sacrifice; they have brought their offering. "Jehovah," they say, "is God, and hath given us light" (see the Revised Version). That is, he has enlightened our spi…
poolePsalms 118:27: "God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar."
God is the Lord; God hath proved himself to be the Lord Jehovah by the accomplishment of his promises. See Poole "Exodus 6:3" . Or, the Lord or Jehovah is God , as it was said upon another solemn occasion and appearance of God, 1 Kings 18:39 ; or, is the mighty God , as this name of God signifies, and as he showed himself to be by this his mighty and wonderful work. Whi…
The verse isn't just describing a sacrifice, but a vital part of the ritual where the victim was bound to the altar's horns. This signifies that the offering wasn't just brought near, but it was definitively secured, emphasizing the absolute commitment and finality of the act before God.
The people are bringing their sacrifices into the temple courts, celebrating God's deliverance and answered prayers. They've already acknowledged God's power and goodness, and now they call for the sacrifices to be brought and secured to the altar, signifying a complete act of worship and thanksgiving. This leads into a final song of praise, urging everyone to offer thanks to God for His enduring love.
The people are bringing their sacrifices into the temple courts, celebrating God's deliverance and answered prayers. They've already acknowledged God's power and goodness, and now they call for the sacrifices to be brought and secured to the altar, signifying a complete act of worship and thanksgiving. This leads into a final song of praise, urging everyone to offer thanks to God for His enduring love.
"The LORD is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar!" — The verse isn't just describing a sacrifice, but a vital part of the ritual where the victim was bound to the altar's horns. This signifies that the offering wasn't just brought near, but it was de…
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Last reviewed October 2026