The Meaning of Psalms 112:1 Explained

Psalms 112:1

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

YLT: Praise ye Jah! O the happiness of one fearing Jehovah, In His commands he hath delighted greatly.

Darby: Hallelujah! Blessed is the man that feareth Jehovah, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

ASV: Praise ye Jehovah. Blessed is the man that feareth Jehovah, That delighteth greatly in his commandments.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Psalms 112:1 Mean?

Study Notes

feareth
.
fear of the Lord
The "fear of the Lord," a phrase of the O.T. piety, meaning reverential trust, with hatred of evil.

Verse Meaning

This anonymous psalm begins with "Hallelujah," as do the ones immediately preceding and following it. They are all "Hallel" psalms. Then the writer stated the main idea he wanted to communicate.

Context Summary

Psalm 112:1-10 - Prosperity In Serving The Lord
Here are the two conditions of the blessed life: first, to fear the Lord; second, to delight greatly in His commandments. And then the blessed results: a mighty seed; a blessed generation; wealth and riches; enduring influence; light amid darkness; and many suchlike things. The psalm is replete with the beatitudes that alight on the heart of the man who lives for God alone.
Around us may be the encircling gloom, in which evil men and tidings lurk as savages in the shadow of the forest, but within there is the blessed sense of the presence of God, like the circle of fire within which the traveler is secure. The voice of God assures him that he shall never be moved, and the heart is so established that it cannot yield to fear. It is good to have that quiet, unperturbed confidence in God. Moses had it at the Red Sea, Exodus 14:13; Asa, before the overwhelming hosts that threatened to submerge his little army, 2 Chronicles 14:9-12; Jehoshaphat, when confronted by the hordes of Ammon, 2 Chronicles 20:12; and Hezekiah, when the Assyrian threatened to invade Judah, 2 Chronicles 32:6-8. Such a life is full of the "Hallelujah Chorus," in accord with the opening note of the psalm. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 112

1  Godliness has the promises of this life
4  And of the life to come
10  The prosperity of the godly shall be an eyesore to the wicked

What do the individual words in Psalms 112:1 mean?

Praise YAH Blessed [is] the man [who] fears - Yahweh in His commandments [Who] delights greatly
הַ֥לְלוּ יָ֨הּ ׀ אַשְׁרֵי־ אִ֭ישׁ יָרֵ֣א אֶת־ יְהוָ֑ה בְּ֝מִצְוֺתָ֗יו חָפֵ֥ץ מְאֹֽד

הַ֥לְלוּ  Praise 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: הָלַל 
Sense: to shine.
יָ֨הּ ׀  YAH 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָהּ  
Sense: Jah (Jehovah in the shortened form).
אַשְׁרֵי־  Blessed  [is] 
Parse: Interjection
Root: אֶשֶׁר 
Sense: happiness, blessedness.
אִ֭ישׁ  the  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
יָרֵ֣א  [who]  fears 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יְהוָ֑ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
בְּ֝מִצְוֺתָ֗יו  in  His  commandments 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מִצְוָה  
Sense: commandment.
חָפֵ֥ץ  [Who]  delights 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָפֵץ 
Sense: to delight in, take pleasure in, desire, be pleased with.
מְאֹֽד  greatly 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מְאֹד  
Sense: exceedingly, much subst.