Psalm Chapter 111

What is the meaning of Psalm 111?

Introduction to Psalm 111

Psalm 111 stands as a masterful acrostic poem of praise, where each line begins with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. This architectural brilliance serves more than mere poetic function – it represents the totality and completeness of praise due to our magnificent God. The psalm opens with “Hallelujah” (Praise the LORD) and proceeds to enumerate the wonderful works of יהוה (Yahweh) with particular emphasis on His covenant faithfulness to Israel.

This psalm belongs to the “Hallel” collection, traditionally recited during major Jewish festivals, and presents a systematic celebration of God’s character as revealed through His mighty acts in history. Its careful construction and rich theological content make it both a literary masterpiece and a profound theological declaration of God’s nature and works.

Context of Psalm 111

Within the broader context of the Psalter, Psalm 111 forms part of the “Egyptian Hallel” (Psalms 111-118), which Jewish tradition links to the Exodus narrative and recites during major festivals. It pairs thematically with Psalm 112, forming a complementary duo where Psalm 111 praises God’s character and works, while Psalm 112 describes the character and blessings of those who fear Him.

The psalm emerges from Israel’s worship tradition, likely composed for liturgical use in the Second Temple period. Its systematic praise of God’s works reflects the post-exilic community’s deep reflection on divine faithfulness throughout Israel’s history. The careful structure suggests it was crafted as a teaching tool, helping worshippers memorize and meditate on God’s attributes and actions.

In the larger biblical narrative, this psalm bridges the historical acts of God (particularly in the Exodus and covenant-making) with the ongoing life of faith in the community. It connects God’s past faithfulness with present worship and future hope, making it relevant for every generation of believers.

Ancient Key Word Study

• הָלַל (halal) – “praise”: The psalm opens with this emphatic command, from which we get “Hallelujah.” Unlike other Hebrew words for praise, halal specifically denotes visible, demonstrable praise – suggesting our recognition of God’s works should lead to observable celebration.
• מַעֲשֵׂי (ma’asei) – “works”: This term emphasizes God’s concrete actions in history rather than abstract attributes. It appears repeatedly throughout the psalm, underlining that our faith is grounded in God’s actual interventions in human affairs.
• זָכַר (zakar) – “remembered”: More than mere mental recall, this word implies active commemoration and continuing engagement with God’s mighty acts. It suggests that divine memory results in ongoing divine action.
• פָּעַל (pa’al) – “performed”: This verb emphasizes accomplished action, pointing to God’s effective power in bringing His will to fruition. Unlike human efforts that often fall short, God’s works achieve their intended purpose.
• צֶדֶק (tzedek) – “righteousness”: Beyond mere legal correctness, this term encompasses the full scope of right relationship between God and His creation. It implies both justice and covenant faithfulness.
• נֶאֱמָנִים (ne’emanim) – “faithful”: This word shares its root with “amen” and conveys absolute reliability and trustworthiness. It suggests God’s works are fundamentally dependable and true.
• פְּדוּת (pedut) – “redemption”: This term specifically relates to paying a price to secure freedom, foreshadowing the Messiah’s redemptive work. It connects God’s historical acts of deliverance with ultimate salvation.
• בְּרִית (brit) – “covenant”: This crucial term defines the special relationship between God and His people, implying both privilege and responsibility. It’s the framework within which God’s works are understood.
• חָכְמָה (chochmah) – “wisdom”: In this context, wisdom is practical knowledge that leads to right living. The fear of the Lord as wisdom’s beginning connects divine revelation with human response.

Compare & Contrast

• Verse 1: “I will praise the LORD with my whole heart” deliberately emphasizes completeness of devotion. The Hebrew לֵבָב (levav) “heart” could have been used alone, but “whole” (שָׁלֵם – shalem) is added to stress undivided loyalty, rejecting partial or superficial praise.
• Verse 2: “Sought out” (דְּרוּשִׁים – derushim) is chosen over simpler terms for study or observation, implying active, persistent investigation of God’s works. This suggests divine works reward deeper examination.
• Verse 3: “His righteousness endures forever” uses עֹמֶדֶת (omedet – “stands”) rather than מָצָא (matza – “continues”), emphasizing the unshakeable, permanent nature of divine righteousness.
• Verse 4: The phrase “made His wonderful works to be remembered” uses זֵכֶר (zecher – memorial) rather than זִכָּרוֹן (zikkaron – remembrance), suggesting institutional rather than personal memory.
• Verse 5: “Food” (טֶרֶף – teref) literally means “prey” or “torn food,” chosen over לֶחֶם (lechem – bread) to emphasize God’s provision even in difficult circumstances.
• Verse 7: “Verity” (אֱמֶת – emet) and “judgment” (מִשְׁפָּט – mishpat) are paired to show both the truthfulness and justice of God’s works, a more comprehensive description than either term alone.
• Verse 9: “Redemption” (פְּדוּת – pedut) is used instead of גְּאֻלָּה (geulah), emphasizing the price paid in redemption rather than just the act of setting free.

Psalm 111 Unique Insights

The acrostic structure of Psalm 111 carries profound significance beyond its mnemonic function. In Jewish tradition, the aleph-bet contains the building blocks of creation – God spoke the world into existence using these letters. By utilizing every letter in sequence, the psalm suggests that praising God engages the entire created order, from beginning to end.

The placement of “fear of the LORD” as the conclusion rather than the beginning of wisdom (verse 10) presents an interesting contrast to Proverbs 9:10. This suggests that while fear of the LORD initiates wisdom, it also represents wisdom’s highest achievement. The Midrash Tehillim notes this creates a circular pattern – fear leads to study, study to observance, observance to piety, and piety to an even deeper fear of the LORD.

The rabbinical tradition finds significance in the psalm’s ten verses, corresponding to the Ten Commandments and ten utterances of creation. This links God’s creative, redemptive, and instructive works into a unified whole. Early messianic interpreters saw in this structure a foreshadowing of the Messiah who would fulfill the law and renew creation.

Rabbi Saadia Gaon (882-942 CE) noted that the psalm’s description of God’s works moves from universal (creation) to particular (covenant with Israel) to personal (provision for those who fear Him), demonstrating how divine activity spirals inward from cosmic to intimate scales.

Psalm 111 Connections to Yeshua

The psalm’s emphasis on God’s “wonderful works” (verse 4) finds its ultimate expression in Yeshua the Messiah, whom Peter described as “a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs” (Acts 2:22). The redemption celebrated in verse 9 points forward to the greater redemption accomplished through the Messiah’s sacrifice.

The declaration that God’s precepts are “trustworthy and righteous” (verse 7-8) finds fulfillment in Yeshua, who said He came not to abolish but to fulfill the Law (Matthew 5:17). The wisdom theme culminating in verse 10 connects to Paul’s declaration of Messiah as “the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24), suggesting that true fear of the LORD leads ultimately to recognition of Yeshua.

Psalm 111 Scriptural Echoes

The psalm’s opening “Hallelujah” connects it with the great crescendo of praise in Revelation 19:1-6, where heaven and earth join in worship. The emphasis on God’s “wonderful works” echoes Moses’ song in Exodus 15:11 and anticipates Mary’s Magnificat in Luke 1:46-55.

The theme of covenant faithfulness resonates with Deuteronomy 7:9 and finds ultimate expression in the New Covenant promised in Jeremiah 31:31-34. The wisdom motif connects with Proverbs 1:7 and James 1:5.

Psalm 111 Devotional

This psalm challenges us to engage in whole-hearted praise based on thoughtful reflection on God’s works. Take time today to “study” and “delight in” God’s works as verse 2 encourages. What mighty acts has He performed in your life? How has His faithfulness sustained you?

Consider the psalm’s progression from public praise (verse 1) to personal meditation (verse 2) to practical wisdom (verse 10). This pattern invites us to move beyond surface-level worship to deep engagement with God’s character and works. Let your praise be informed by careful study of His ways.

The emphasis on God’s remembrance of His covenant (verse 5) reminds us that we serve a God who keeps His promises. In what areas of your life do you need to trust His covenant faithfulness? How might remembering His past faithfulness strengthen your present faith?

Did You Know

• The acrostic pattern of Psalm 111 is so precise that each half-line (not just each line) begins with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet, displaying remarkable literary craftsmanship.
• The word “works” appears six times in this short psalm, more than in any other psalm of similar length, emphasizing the focus on God’s concrete actions in history.
• The phrase “fear of the LORD” appears exactly in the middle of the Bible, and this psalm’s treatment of it connects beginning wisdom (Proverbs 1:7) with its culmination.
• Ancient Jewish tradition paired this psalm with the Exodus narrative, reciting it particularly during the Passover celebration, seeing in it echoes of God’s redemptive work in Egypt.
• The term for “food” in verse 5 (teref) is unusual, normally referring to prey torn by predators, perhaps suggesting God’s provision even through unlikely means.
• The psalm shares vocabulary with the creation narrative in Genesis 1, suggesting it was composed to link God’s ongoing works with His original creative activity.
• The structure of ten verses was seen by ancient interpreters as parallel to the Ten Commandments, with each verse corresponding to one of the commandments in sequence.
• Early Christian commentators noted that this is one of only four psalms beginning with “Hallelujah” that also end with the fear of the LORD, seeing in this a pattern of praise leading to wisdom.
• The psalm contains exactly 22 lines, matching the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet, creating a sense of completeness in its praise.
• The word “covenant” appears in the exact center of the psalm, highlighting the centrality of God’s covenant relationship with His people.