What Does Psalm 118:16 Mean in the King James?

The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

Psalm 118:16 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The same right hand is both lifted high and already at work: its exaltation is action, not display.

THE MEANING

The LORD’s hand is raised and active in your present life, carrying strength that acts decisively. The verse holds elevation and action together: divine power is not distant status but force at work.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

This undoes the belief that divine strength is only distant or symbolic: the verse presents it as raised and acting with force.

THE ROOT

רוֹמֵמָה

romemah

GROWS FROM

רוּם

rum

to rise or be high

“exalted” in this verse is romemah. The Hebrew word grows from ⁨רום⁩, the root of rising high, so the right hand is pictured as lifted into prominence. Because the same line immediately says this hand acts with valor, its elevation is active power rather than ornament.

ALSO GROWS

ram: high, elevated

רָם

This related form carries the root’s sense of height into a description of the hand’s raised position.

marom: height, high place

מָרוֹם

This noun shows the root’s spatial dimension: exaltation evokes being raised to a height.

THE PATTERN

The LORD’s raised hand makes divine strength visible through decisive action and support.

Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.

Exodus 15:6 · KJVThe raised right hand is shown acting with force, including the violent defeat of the enemy.

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Isaiah 41:10 · KJVThe right hand expresses strength through active support and upholding.

He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

Luke 1:51 · KJVThe arm makes strength visible in decisive action that scatters the proud.

THE THREAD

Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.

Psalm 89:13 · KJV

Psalm 89 calls the right hand high, using the same Hebrew root ⁨רום⁩ found in “exalted” here. It joins that height to the strength of the hand, making the raised hand an image of power at work.

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