Short answer: Psalm 111 is an acrostic psalm of praise that celebrates the great works of the Lord. Each line begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The psalm declares that the works of the Lord are great, studied by all who delight in them. It celebrates God's righteousness, his provision for those who fear him, and his covenant faithfulness. The psalm ends with the declaration that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
The setting of the psalm
Psalm 111 is an acrostic psalm of praise, with each line beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The psalmist declares that he will give thanks to the Lord with his whole heart in the company of the upright and in the congregation. Praise is both personal and corporate.
The works of the Lord are great, studied by all who delight in them. The psalm celebrates God's works in creation and redemption — full of splendor and majesty, his righteousness enduring forever. God has caused his wondrous works to be remembered and is gracious and merciful.
The psalm recalls God's provision for his people. He provides food for those who fear him and remembers his covenant forever. He has shown his people the power of his works, giving them the inheritance of the nations. The works of his hands are faithful and just, and all his precepts are trustworthy.
The psalm declares that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. All those who practice it have a good understanding. God's praise endures forever. This concluding statement links wisdom with reverent submission to God and obedience to his commandments.
For Christians, this psalm celebrates the works of God that culminate in Christ. The great works of the Lord include the work of redemption accomplished through Jesus. The fear of the Lord as the beginning of wisdom is a theme picked up in Proverbs and applied in the New Testament to a life of faith in Christ.
Praise Yah! I will give thanks to Yahweh with my whole heart, in the council of the upright, and in the congregation. Yahweh’s works are great, pondered by all those who delight in them. His work is honor and majesty. His righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered. Yahweh is gracious and merciful.
Psalm 111:1-4 (World English Bible)
Key words and their meaning
The Hebrew word for 'acrostic' describes the structure of the psalm. Each of the 22 lines begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The alphabetic structure suggests completeness — from Aleph to Tav.
The word 'fear' (yirah) in verse 10 describes reverent awe. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. This is not terror but humble reverence before God that leads to obedience.
The word 'precepts' (pikkudim) in verse 7 describes God's commandments. All his precepts are trustworthy (ne'emanim). The reliability of God's commands is the foundation for confident obedience.
He has given food to those who fear him. He always remembers his covenant. He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the nations. The works of his hands are truth and justice. All his precepts are sure. They are established forever and ever. They are done in truth and uprightness. He has sent redemption to his people. He has ordained his covenant forever. His name is holy and awesome! The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. All those who do his work have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
Psalm 111:5-10 (World English Bible)
What the psalm claims
First, the works of the Lord are great and worthy of study. The psalm calls those who delight in God's works to study them carefully.
Second, God's covenant faithfulness is the foundation of praise. The psalm celebrates God's provision for his people and his faithfulness to his covenant.
Third, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. True wisdom begins with reverent submission to God and obedience to his commandments.
Praise Yah! I will give thanks to Yahweh with my whole heart, in the council of the upright, and in the congregation. Yahweh’s works are great, pondered by all those who delight in them. His work is honor and majesty. His righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered. Yahweh is gracious and merciful.
Psalm 111:1-4 (World English Bible)
Where readers disagree
The acrostic structure of the psalm has been discussed. The alphabetic acrostic may have been used as a memory aid or to suggest completeness. The structure has influenced the interpretation of the psalm.
The relationship between this psalm and Psalm 112 has been discussed. The two psalms share the same acrostic structure and are clearly intended as companion pieces.
The meaning of 'the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom' has been extensively discussed. This statement is central to biblical wisdom literature and has been interpreted in various ways.
He has given food to those who fear him. He always remembers his covenant. He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the nations. The works of his hands are truth and justice. All his precepts are sure. They are established forever and ever. They are done in truth and uprightness. He has sent redemption to his people. He has ordained his covenant forever. His name is holy and awesome! The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. All those who do his work have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
Psalm 111:5-10 (World English Bible)
How this psalm connects to the gospel
The themes of Psalm 111 find their ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The New Testament frequently draws on the Psalms to explain who Jesus is and what he accomplished. The psalm's language of deliverance, kingship, and steadfast love all point toward the gospel.
In Jesus, believers see the perfect fulfillment of everything this psalm celebrates. The deliverance the psalmist experienced was a foreshadowing of the greater deliverance Christ would accomplish. The kingship celebrated in the psalm points to Christ's eternal reign. The steadfast love described in the psalm is fully revealed in Jesus's sacrificial death and resurrection.
For Christians, reading this psalm is an opportunity to see God's faithfulness across the entire biblical story. The same God who heard the psalmist's cry also hears the prayers of his people today. The same deliverance finds its ultimate expression in the salvation Christ offers. The psalm invites believers to trust in this faithful God and to make his praise known to all generations.
The New Testament writers understood the Psalms as a prophetic witness to Christ. Jesus himself told his disciples that everything written about him in the Psalms must be fulfilled (Luke 24:44). When the apostles preached about Jesus, they regularly quoted the Psalms to demonstrate that his suffering, death, resurrection, and exaltation were all part of God's redemptive plan.
Psalm 111 participates in this prophetic witness. Whether through its language of kingship, its descriptions of suffering and deliverance, or its celebration of God's steadfast love, this psalm contributes to the biblical portrait of the Messiah. Reading it in light of Christ does not diminish its original meaning but reveals its deepest significance.
Praise Yah! I will give thanks to Yahweh with my whole heart, in the council of the upright, and in the congregation. Yahweh’s works are great, pondered by all those who delight in them. His work is honor and majesty. His righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered. Yahweh is gracious and merciful.
Psalm 111:1-4 (World English Bible)
Biblical fidelity check
Psalm 111 is theologically sound and consistent with the broader biblical witness. Its themes of God's steadfast love, faithfulness, and righteousness are central to biblical theology. The psalm contributes to the Psalter's comprehensive portrait of God's relationship with his people. While each psalm reflects its original historical context, its truths are enduring and applicable to believers today. The New Testament affirms and deepens the themes found in this psalm, particularly through the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main message of Psalm 111?
The main message of Psalm 111 is great are the works of the lord. The psalm teaches that God is worthy of trust and praise. It calls believers to respond to God's character with faith, obedience, and worship.
How does Psalm 111 point to Christ?
Psalm 111, like all Scripture, ultimately points to Jesus Christ. The themes of God's deliverance, steadfast love, and kingship find their fullest expression in Christ. The New Testament frequently quotes the Psalms to explain Christ's person and work. As Jesus himself said, the Scriptures bear witness to him (John 5:39).
How does Psalm 111 apply to Christians today?
Psalm 111 applies to believers today by providing language for prayer, praise, and lament. It teaches about God's character and how believers should respond to him. The psalm's truths are timeless, addressing the universal human experiences of joy, suffering, hope, and trust.
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