Psalms / Chapter 111

Psalms 111

10 verses • Westminster Leningrad Codex

Translator's Introduction

What This Chapter Is About

Psalm 111 is an acrostic hymn of praise in which each half-line begins with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet, moving from aleph to tav across twenty-two units. The psalmist praises the LORD in the assembly of the upright for His mighty works: His covenant faithfulness, His provision of food, His gift of the land, His justice, His trustworthy commands, and His redemption of His people. The psalm climaxes with the declaration that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.

What Makes This Chapter Remarkable

The acrostic structure is the psalm's most striking formal feature — the poet praises God within the constraint of alphabetic order, as if declaring that the LORD's works fill every letter of the language. Psalm 111 and Psalm 112 form a matched pair: 111 describes who God is and what He does; 112 describes the person who fears God and mirrors those divine qualities. The vocabulary deliberately echoes between the two psalms — the words used for God's character in 111 reappear as the character of the righteous person in 112. The phrase 'the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom' (v. 10) connects this psalm to the wisdom tradition (Proverbs 1:7, 9:10, Job 28:28) and positions praise as a form of knowing.

Translation Friction

The Hebrew acrostic structure is impossible to reproduce in English without distorting the content. Each line of the psalm is extremely compressed — the poet is working under severe formal constraints, and the result reads more like a catalog of divine attributes than a flowing poem. Some scholars debate whether verse 1 is part of the acrostic (the opening Hallelujah stands outside the twenty-two-line count) or whether the acrostic begins with the first word after the Hallelujah. The WLC treats the Hallelujah as part of the verse text.

Connections

Psalm 111 is the first half of an acrostic diptych with Psalm 112. Together they form a theological statement: the God described in 111 produces the person described in 112. The wisdom conclusion in verse 10 links to Proverbs 1:7 and 9:10. The covenant and redemption language (vv. 5, 9) connects to the Exodus and Sinai traditions. The psalm is liturgically associated with the Egyptian Hallel collection (Psalms 113-118) that follows immediately.

Psalms 111:1

הַ֥לְלוּ יָ֨הּ ׀ אוֹדֶ֣ה יְ֭הוָה בְּכָל־לֵבָ֑ב בְּס֖וֹד יְשָׁרִ֣ים וְעֵדָֽה׃

Praise the LORD! I will thank the LORD with all my heart, in the council of the upright and in the congregation.

KJV Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

עֵדָה edah
"congregation" — assembly, congregation, community, appointed gathering

edah is one of several Hebrew words for gathered Israel. It emphasizes the idea of a community assembled by appointment or covenant obligation rather than casual gathering.

Translator Notes

  1. The acrostic begins here: aleph (odeh) and bet (besod) are the first two letters. Each half-verse advances one letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The word sod ('council, intimate circle') suggests a smaller gathering within the larger edah ('congregation'). The phrase bekhol levav ('with all my heart') uses levav rather than lev — the two forms are interchangeable in meaning, though levav appears more commonly in Deuteronomic and poetic texts.
Psalms 111:2

גְּ֭דֹלִים מַעֲשֵׂ֣י יְהוָ֑ה דְּ֝רוּשִׁ֗ים לְכָל־חֶפְצֵיהֶֽם׃

Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them.

KJV The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The gimel and dalet lines of the acrostic. The participle derushim ('sought, studied') implies ongoing investigation, not a single act of observation. The phrase lekhol cheftzehem ('by all who delight in them') could also be read as 'according to all their desires' — the works of the LORD meet every inquiry.
Psalms 111:3

הוֹד־וְהָדָ֥ר פָּֽעֳל֑וֹ וְ֝צִדְקָת֗וֹ עֹמֶ֥דֶת לָעַֽד׃

Splendor and majesty mark His work, and His righteousness stands forever.

KJV His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The he and vav lines. The pair hod ve-hadar appears together in Psalm 104:1, 1 Chronicles 16:27, and Job 40:10, always describing divine or royal splendor. The noun po'olo ('His work') is singular — it refers to the totality of God's activity rather than to individual acts.
Psalms 111:4

זֵ֣כֶר עָ֭שָׂה לְנִפְלְאֹתָ֑יו חַנּ֖וּן וְרַח֣וּם יְהוָֽה׃

He has made a memorial of His wonders; the LORD is gracious and compassionate.

KJV He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

חַנּוּן channun
"gracious" — gracious, showing favor, inclined to give generously

channun derives from the root chanan ('to be gracious, to show favor'). It describes an unearned generosity — the disposition of someone who gives not because the recipient deserves it but because the giver is inclined toward generosity.

Translator Notes

  1. The zayin and chet lines. The phrase channun ve-rachum ('gracious and compassionate') reverses the usual Exodus 34:6 order (rachum ve-channun) — likely for acrostic purposes, since chet must come after zayin. The reversal is not theologically significant but shows the poet adapting traditional language to the alphabetic constraint.
Psalms 111:5

טֶ֭רֶף נָתַ֣ן לִירֵאָ֑יו יִזְכֹּ֖ר לְעוֹלָ֣ם בְּרִיתֽוֹ׃

He gives food to those who fear Him; He remembers His covenant forever.

KJV He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

בְּרִית berit
"covenant" — covenant, binding agreement, treaty, pact

berit is the foundational relational term of the Hebrew Bible — a solemn, binding commitment between parties. Here it refers to God's covenant with Israel, which is the basis for His ongoing provision and faithfulness.

Translator Notes

  1. The tet and yod lines. The word teref literally means 'torn food, prey' — what an animal brings back after hunting. Applied to God, it means provision. Some scholars connect this to the manna and quail in the wilderness; others see it as a general statement about divine provision. The covenant (berit) here is most likely the Sinai covenant, though the psalmist may also have the Abrahamic land promise in view given verse 6.
Psalms 111:6

כֹּ֣חַ מַ֭עֲשָׂיו הִגִּ֣יד לְעַמּ֑וֹ לָתֵ֥ת לָ֝הֶ֗ם נַחֲלַ֥ת גּוֹיִֽם׃

He declared the power of His works to His people, giving them the inheritance of the nations.

KJV He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The kaf and lamed lines. The 'inheritance of the nations' refers to the land of Canaan, which God allocated to Israel as promised to Abraham. The verb higgid ('He declared, made known') implies revelation — God showed His people what He could do so they would trust Him for what He was about to do.
Psalms 111:7

מַעֲשֵׂ֣י יָ֭דָיו אֱמֶ֣ת וּמִשְׁפָּ֑ט נֶ֝אֱמָנִ֗ים כָּל־פִּקּוּדָֽיו׃

The works of His hands are truth and justice; all His precepts are trustworthy.

KJV The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

אֱמֶת emet
"truth" — truth, reliability, firmness, faithfulness

emet means far more than factual accuracy — it describes something that is firm, stable, and dependable. When applied to God's works, it means they are solid, consistent, and can bear weight.

Translator Notes

  1. The mem and nun lines. The noun piqqudim ('precepts, instructions') is relatively rare outside the Psalms and refers to God's detailed instructions or charges. The adjective ne'emanim ('trustworthy') comes from the root aman, which also produces emunah ('faithfulness') and amen ('so be it, it is reliable').
Psalms 111:8

סְמוּכִ֣ים לָעַ֣ד לְעוֹלָ֑ם עֲ֝שׂוּיִ֗ם בֶּאֱמֶ֥ת וְיָשָֽׁר׃

They are established forever and ever, carried out in truth and uprightness.

KJV They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The samekh and ayin lines. The adjective semukhim ('established, supported, upheld') comes from the root samakh ('to lean on, to support') — God's precepts are stable, something a person can lean on without collapse. The phrase be'emet ve-yashar ('in truth and uprightness') describes the manner of their execution: straight, without crookedness or deception.
Psalms 111:9

פְּד֤וּת ׀ שָׁ֘לַ֤ח לְעַמּ֗וֹ צִוָּֽה־לְעוֹלָ֥ם בְּרִית֑וֹ קָד֖וֹשׁ וְנוֹרָ֣א שְׁמֽוֹ׃

He sent redemption to His people; He commanded His covenant forever. Holy and awe-inspiring is His name.

KJV He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

פְּדוּת pedut
"redemption" — redemption, ransom, liberation through payment

pedut is the noun form of padah ('to redeem, to ransom'). It refers to liberation that costs something — not a free escape but a purchased freedom. In the Psalms it typically points to God's rescue of Israel from Egypt and from subsequent oppressions.

Translator Notes

  1. The pe, tsade, and qof lines. The verb tsivvah ('He commanded') applied to the covenant is unusual — normally one 'cuts' (karat) a covenant. Using tsivvah emphasizes that the covenant is an authoritative act of the divine will, not a negotiation. The adjective nora ('awe-inspiring, fearsome') is rendered here as 'awe-inspiring' rather than 'terrible' or 'dreadful' to capture the reverence rather than terror.
Psalms 111:10

רֵ֘אשִׁ֤ית חָכְמָ֨ה ׀ יִרְאַ֬ת יְהוָ֗ה שֵׂ֣כֶל ט֭וֹב לְכָל־עֹשֵׂיהֶ֑ם תְּ֝הִלָּת֗וֹ עֹמֶ֥דֶת לָעַֽד׃

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; good understanding belongs to all who practice it. His praise endures forever.

KJV The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

יִרְאַת yir'at
"fear" — fear, awe, reverence, deep respect

yir'at YHWH ('fear of the LORD') is the foundational posture of the wisdom tradition. It is not cringing terror but the recognition of God's supreme authority, holiness, and power — the awareness that shapes all other knowing.

Translator Notes

  1. The resh, shin, and tav lines complete the acrostic. The phrase reshit chokhmah parallels Proverbs 1:7 (reshit da'at) and Proverbs 9:10 (techillat chokhmah). The pronoun in lekhol oseihem ('all who do them') is ambiguous — 'them' could refer to the commandments or to the acts of wisdom. Most interpreters take it as referring to the commandments. The final line, tehillato omedet la'ad, mirrors verse 3b (tzidqato omedet la'ad), creating a frame: God's righteousness endures, and so does His praise.
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