Psalm 111:2 kjv
The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
Psalm 111:2 nkjv
The works of the LORD are great, Studied by all who have pleasure in them.
Psalm 111:2 niv
Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them.
Psalm 111:2 esv
Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them.
Psalm 111:2 nlt
How amazing are the deeds of the LORD!
All who delight in him should ponder them.
Psalm 111 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 92:5 | How great are your works, O LORD! Your thoughts are very deep! | Echoes the greatness of God's deeds. |
| Ps 145:3-4 | Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised... one generation shall commend your works to another... | Affirms God's immense deeds worthy of continuous praise and study across generations. |
| Jer 32:17 | Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power... | Highlights God's creative work as a manifestation of His great power. |
| Isa 28:29 | This also comes from the LORD of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom. | Connects God's works to His wonderful wisdom and counsel. |
| Job 37:14 | Hear this, O Job; stop and consider the wondrous works of God. | Calls for reflective attention to God's wondrous works. |
| Rev 15:3 | "Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty!" | New Testament affirmation of God's magnificent works, particularly in final judgments. |
| Prov 2:3-5 | ...if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding... then you will understand the fear of the LORD. | Links active seeking and understanding with acquiring wisdom about God. |
| Jer 29:13 | You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. | Underscores the need for wholehearted seeking of God. |
| Deut 4:5-6 | "See, I have taught you statutes and rules... keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom..." | Implies diligent study and adherence to God's revealed will as the path to wisdom. |
| John 5:39 | "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me..." | Highlights the act of diligently searching spiritual texts. |
| Acts 17:11 | "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily..." | Exemplifies diligent, eager examination of divine truth. |
| 2 Tim 2:15 | Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved... rightly handling the word of truth. | Commands diligent effort in understanding and applying God's word. |
| Ps 1:2 | but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. | Describes the righteous person's joy and continuous meditation on God's law/word. |
| Ps 119:15 | I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. | Expresses personal commitment to meditate and observe God's instructions. |
| Ps 119:100 | I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts. | Connects keeping precepts with understanding, implying study and application. |
| Ps 37:4 | Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. | Connects delight in God with the fulfillment of one's desires. |
| Ps 40:8 | I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart. | Expresses inner pleasure and delight in God's will and law. |
| Ps 112:1 | Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! | Directly links delight with God's commandments, echoing the theme of Ps 111. |
| Rom 7:22 | For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being. | Affirms an inward delight in God's moral law. |
| Phil 3:8 | Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. | Points to the surpassing value and delight found in knowing Christ, God's ultimate work of salvation. |
| Rom 1:20 | For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities... have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made... | Indicates that God's nature and works are evident through creation and can be understood. |
| 1 Cor 2:10-12 | ...these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit... that we might understand the things freely given us by God. | Highlights that spiritual understanding of God's works comes by the Spirit. |
Psalm 111 verses
Psalm 111 2 Meaning
Psalm 111:2 declares the immense and significant nature of the LORD's works, emphasizing that these grand deeds are not merely observed but diligently and passionately investigated by all who genuinely find joy and pleasure in them. It highlights that understanding God's actions flows from a heart of appreciation and desire.
Psalm 111 2 Context
Psalm 111 is an acrostic psalm of praise (each line beginning with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet), intricately structured to give complete praise to the LORD. It focuses on the greatness of God's "works," specifically referencing His deeds of creation, His provision for His people (like manna in the wilderness), His redemption and covenant faithfulness, His justice, and His enduring holiness. The verse 2 sets the stage for a comprehensive declaration of these divine actions, asserting that they are not only majestic but are also objects of eager and profound investigation for those who truly love God and His ways. It is placed within a collection of psalms (Psalms 111-118) known as the "Egyptian Hallel" or "Great Hallel" which were often recited during major Jewish festivals, celebrating God's redemptive work.
Psalm 111 2 Word analysis
- Great (גְּדֹלִים, g'dôlîm): This Hebrew term signifies immensity, magnitude, and importance. It points to works that are not merely large in scale but also powerful, magnificent, and preeminent in quality and effect. These works are unparalleled, belonging exclusively to the Divine.
- are the works (מַעֲשֵׂי, ma'ăśê): Refers to God's deeds, actions, or accomplishments. This word highlights that God is an active agent in history and creation. These are concrete manifestations of His power, wisdom, and will, encompassing acts of creation, providence, deliverance (like the Exodus), and judgment.
- of the Lord (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is God's personal covenant name, often translated "the LORD." It emphasizes that these great works are solely attributable to the one true God, distinct from any idols or human powers. His very character—faithful, powerful, just—is revealed through these works.
- studied (דְּרוּשִׁים, d'rûshîm): Derived from the verb dârash, which means to seek, inquire, investigate, search, or practice diligently. It implies an active, intense, and methodical pursuit of understanding, not a passive observation. It's a spiritual and intellectual endeavor driven by curiosity and a desire for deeper insight. This goes beyond a casual glance to deep reflection and contemplation.
- by all who delight in them (לְכָל־חֶפְצֵיהֶם, lĕḵol-ḥeptsêhem): The motivation for studying God's works is profoundly linked to delight. Ḥeptsêhem implies pleasure, desire, purpose, or special inclination. This signifies that true investigation comes from a place of joy, appreciation, and personal interest in God's character and actions, rather than compulsion or mere academic interest. Those who genuinely take pleasure in God's works are the ones who truly seek to comprehend them.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "Great are the works of the Lord": This phrase immediately establishes God's absolute sovereignty and immense power as manifested in His deeds. It proclaims that all His actions, whether in creation, history, or personal lives, are of unparalleled significance and majesty. These are not trivial or accidental acts but intentional, powerful, and excellent manifestations of the divine will. This sets up the idea that such works warrant attention and praise due to their intrinsic greatness.
- "studied by all who delight in them": This segment highlights the discerning and voluntary nature of understanding God's works. It’s a purposeful act of investigation (dârash) that requires spiritual motivation—a genuine "delight" or affection for what God has done and for the God who did them. It points to a unique characteristic of true worshippers: their profound joy in God's revelation compels them to explore His ways and acts deeply, revealing a reciprocal relationship between God's revelation and humanity's worshipful inquiry.
Psalm 111 2 Bonus section
- The term "works" in this context also subtly implies a polemic against human efforts or idols. Only the LORD performs truly great works that endure and truly benefit humanity.
- The call to "study" God's works is implicitly a call to wisdom. The wisdom tradition in Scripture consistently links the fear of the LORD and diligent searching of His ways with genuine understanding and righteous living.
- This verse can be seen as an encapsulation of the proper Christian life: admiring God's greatness as revealed in His deeds and then allowing that admiration to compel one into deeper, joyful study of His Word and His creation. This transforms mere knowledge into worship.
Psalm 111 2 Commentary
Psalm 111:2 acts as an invitation and a descriptor, testifying to both God's majestic activity and humanity's appropriate response. The LORD's "works" are not simply grand; they are intrinsically worthy of dedicated inquiry. They are vast in scope, from the immense act of creation to intricate details of providence and redemptive history. They speak of God's unwavering character—His faithfulness, righteousness, and power—which makes them objects of profound meditation.
The crucial qualifier "studied by all who delight in them" reveals that mere intellectual curiosity is insufficient for true understanding. It necessitates a heartfelt affinity and genuine joy in God's character and His demonstrations of power. This "delight" drives a person to diligently seek out, meditate upon, and actively investigate God's historical and ongoing actions. This diligent seeking is not passive reception but an active, worshipful engagement that yields deeper appreciation and greater reverence. It serves as a reminder that understanding God is not solely an intellectual exercise but a spiritual journey rooted in affection and adoration for the divine Worker and His profound deeds. For the believer, this translates into studying Scripture, observing creation, recounting testimonies of God's faithfulness, and seeking His hand in everyday life with a heart full of praise.