Psalm 112 1

Psalm 112:1 kjv

Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

Psalm 112:1 nkjv

Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who delights greatly in His commandments.

Psalm 112:1 niv

Praise the LORD. Blessed are those who fear the LORD, who find great delight in his commands.

Psalm 112:1 esv

Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments!

Psalm 112:1 nlt

Praise the LORD!
How joyful are those who fear the LORD
and delight in obeying his commands.

Psalm 112 verses

Psalm 112 1 Meaning

Psalm 112:1 declares a profound state of spiritual well-being for those who reverence God and joyfully obey His instructions. It begins with an exhortation to praise the Lord, followed by a pronouncement of blessedness upon the individual who both reverently fears Him and takes deep pleasure in His divine commandments. This verse lays the foundation for the entire psalm, which then elaborates on the character and prosperity of such a righteous person.

Psalm 112 1 Context

Psalm 112 stands as a companion to Psalm 111. Both begin with "Hallelujah" (Praise the Lord) and are acrostic psalms, where each line (or half-line in some interpretations) begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. While Psalm 111 extols the character and mighty works of God, Psalm 112 focuses on the character and blessings of the person who genuinely responds to such a God. It functions as a piece of wisdom literature, outlining the path to true well-being by living in reverent relationship with the Creator. Historically and culturally, the concept of "fearing the Lord" and "delighting in His commandments" was central to Israel's covenant with Yahweh, contrasting sharply with the practices of surrounding nations who revered false gods and their empty dictates, leading to societal and personal ruin. This psalm implicitly asserts that the source of true blessedness is found solely in adhering to the one true God's revealed will.

Psalm 112 1 Word analysis

• Praise the Lord! (הַלְלוּ יָהּ - Halleluyah):

  • הַלְלוּ (Hallelū): An imperative verb, "Praise ye!" or "Praise!" (plural). It calls for a joyful, public, and emphatic commendation. This is not passive observation but an active, shared expression of laudation.
  • יָהּ (Yah): A shortened, poetic form of God's personal covenant name, YHWH (יהוה). Its inclusion specifies that the praise is directed to the one true, eternal, self-existent God of Israel, not to any other deity.
  • Analysis: This phrase serves as both an exhortation to the reader and an exclamation of adoration, setting the tone for the psalm. It acknowledges God as the worthy object of praise, anticipating the blessings He bestows.

• Blessed (אַשְׁרֵי - Ashrey):

  • אַשְׁרֵי (Ashrey): Literally "O the happiness of" or "O the blessedness of." This is a superlative plural construct form, signifying deep inner flourishing, joy, contentment, and a state of being truly fortunate or prosperous. It is a declaration, a pronouncement of well-being.
  • Analysis: Unlike transient happiness, "blessedness" here indicates a stable, God-given state of thriving, extending to one's spiritual, mental, and sometimes material aspects. It is a profound, holistic well-being derived from a right relationship with God.

• is the man (הָאִישׁ - ha'ish):

  • הָאִישׁ (ha'ish): "The man," or "that man." While grammatically masculine singular, in Hebrew wisdom literature, "the man" (ish) often represents "whoever" or "a person" generally, applying universally to any individual embodying the described qualities. The definite article "ha-" gives it specificity, pointing to a particular kind of person.
  • Analysis: This points to a specific archetype – one who fears and delights – implying that not all people possess this blessedness. It is an attainable state for anyone who fulfills the subsequent conditions.

• who fears (יָרֵא - yare'):

  • יָרֵא (yare'): "To fear," "to revere," "to stand in awe of." This fear is not one of terror or dread but a profound respect, reverence, and worshipful awe towards God's infinite power, holiness, and authority. It includes a desire not to offend Him and to obey His will. It implies a conscious, humble acknowledgement of God's rightful place.
  • Analysis: This "fear of the Lord" is the bedrock of biblical wisdom and a foundational attitude of piety. It drives obedience, not out of compulsion, but out of recognition of God's majesty and love.

• the Lord (יְהוָה - YHWH/Yahweh):

  • יְהוָה (YHWH): God's sacred, unpronounceable personal name, often rendered "Lord" in English translations (referring to His covenant-keeping character).
  • Analysis: Reinforces that the reverent fear and delight are directed toward the specific, covenant-making God of Israel, distinguishing Him from any other purported deities.

• who greatly delights (יַחְפֹּץ - yachpats):

  • יַחְפֹּץ (yachpats): From the root חֵפֶץ (chephets), meaning "to delight in," "to take pleasure in," "to desire." The "greatly" is inherent in the intensity and fullness of the delight implied by the Hebrew term. It signifies a profound inner enjoyment and fervent desire, not a reluctant or merely dutiful adherence.
  • Analysis: This verb highlights an internal, passionate inclination towards God's will. It’s an affection that springs from the heart, indicating genuine love for God and His ways, a love that makes obedience a joy rather than a burden. This is the positive aspect that complements the "fear."

• in His commandments (בְּמִצְוֹתָיו - b'mitzvotayv):

  • בְּ (b'): The preposition "in."
  • מִצְוֹתָיו (mitzvotayv): "His commandments," plural of מִצְוָה (mitzvah). These are God's divine instructions, precepts, and ordinances given to humanity. They encompass the moral law, ethical guidelines, and all of God's revealed will for living a righteous life.
  • Analysis: The "commandments" are not arbitrary rules but divine revelations designed for human flourishing and reflecting God's holy character. The person's delight is specifically in these instructions, demonstrating that their fear is lived out in joyful obedience to God's specific requirements.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man...": This immediate shift from a communal call to praise God to a declaration of blessing upon an individual reveals that the truly blessed life is lived in alignment with acknowledging and honoring God. Praise for God is connected to blessedness for man.
  • "...who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments.": This pairing is crucial. "Fears the Lord" represents the proper reverence and attitude toward God Himself, acknowledging His majesty and authority. "Greatly delights in His commandments" signifies the joyful and loving response to God's revealed will, expressing that reverence in tangible obedience. It's a comprehensive piety: internal attitude toward God's person (fear) and internal affection for God's revealed will (delight), leading to outward obedience. These two actions, reverence and delight, are intrinsically linked and together form the foundation of a blessed life. One cannot truly fear God without delighting in His instructions, nor can one genuinely delight in His instructions without a proper reverence for the Lawgiver.

Psalm 112 1 Bonus section

The positioning of Psalm 112 as a "Hallelujah" psalm directly following Psalm 111 creates a deliberate contrast and complementary relationship. Psalm 111 highlights the character of God – His greatness, faithfulness, and righteous works – calling for humanity's praise. Psalm 112 then describes the human response to such a God, revealing that those who rightly perceive and respond to God's character (fearing Him) will also joyfully embrace His revealed will (delighting in His commandments), leading to a truly blessed life. This serves as a vital wisdom instruction, not merely describing a state but implicitly inviting the reader into this way of life. The internal dispositions of "fear" and "delight" are crucial because outward obedience alone, without these inward motivations, falls short of the blessedness described. The psalmist implies that prosperity, as outlined in subsequent verses, is not guaranteed for just anyone, but specifically for the one whose internal posture matches their external actions of obedience, stemming from a deep, personal relationship with God.

Psalm 112 1 Commentary

Psalm 112:1 introduces the core theme of the entire psalm: the character and subsequent blessings of a righteous individual. It immediately captures attention with the exultant "Praise the Lord!", establishing a joyful and reverent atmosphere. The true blessedness, or deep inner happiness and prosperity, is then unequivocally attributed to the one whose life is marked by two profound commitments: a reverent fear of the Lord and a joyful devotion to His commandments. This "fear" is not terror but a humble, awe-filled recognition of God's sovereignty and holiness, leading to respect and obedience. It's the beginning of wisdom, as seen throughout the Proverbs. Coupled with this reverence is a sincere "delight" in God's instructions. This delight transcends mere dutiful adherence; it speaks of an inner pleasure and passion for what God commands, recognizing His precepts as good, wise, and life-giving. Together, fear and delight form a comprehensive picture of genuine piety: respect for the Lawgiver and love for His Law. This verse sets the stage to elaborate how such a character leads to holistic flourishing—spiritually, socially, and even materially, not as an end in itself but as a result of living in covenant faithfulness.