King James Version
Psalms 111
10 verses with commentary
Great Are the Works of the Lord
Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation. Praise ye: Heb. Hallelujah
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KJV Study Commentary
This verse opens with the emphatic call 'Praise ye the LORD' (Hallelujah), establishing the psalm's theme. The psalmist then makes a personal declaration: 'I will praise the LORD with my whole heart.' The phrase 'with my whole heart' (Hebrew 'be-khol-levav') signifies complete, undivided devotion - not partial or half-hearted worship. This internal disposition ('heart') manifests externally ('I wi...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(1) **Praise ye the Lord.**—This short doxology does not strictly form part of the psalm. The alphabetical arrangement begins with “I will praise,” &c
**Assembly.**—See Note on Psalm 25:14.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**17. thy hand ... upon--**that is, strengthen (Ezr 7:6; 8:22).
**man of ... hand--**may allude to Benjamin (Ge 35:18). The terms in the latter clause correspond with those of Psa 80:15, from "and the branch," &c., literally, and confirm the exposition given above.
The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
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KJV Study Commentary
This verse explains what motivates praise: 'The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.' 'Great' (Hebrew 'gadol') means not merely large but significant, magnificent, and worthy of attention. 'Works' encompasses God's creative acts, historical interventions, providential care, and redemptive deeds. The phrase 'sought out' (Hebrew 'darash') implies diligent s...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(2) **Sought out**—*i.e., *they are the object of meditation and enquiry. (See Note, Psalm 105:4.) The psalmist was no doubt thinking of historical proofs of Jehovah’s goodness to the chosen race, but his words are capable of a wide range. The best illustration of them may be found in the writings in which Mr. Ruskin warns this generation against the danger of insensibility to natural beauty.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
18. We need quickening grace (Psa 71:20; 119:25) to persevere in Thy right worship (Ge 4:26; Ro 10:11).
His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
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KJV Study Commentary
<em>Hod v'hadar po'alo, v'tzidkato omedet la'ad</em> (Honor and majesty are His work, and His righteousness endures forever). <em>Hod</em> (honor/splendor) and <em>hadar</em> (majesty/glory) describe God's works' magnificent character. <em>Po'al</em> (work/deed). <em>Tzedakah</em> (righteousness/justice) characterizes God's activity. <em>Amad</em> (stand/endure); <em>la'ad</em> (forever/perpetuall...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
19. (Compare Psa 80:3, "O God"; Psa 80:7, "O God of hosts").
He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered</strong> (זֵכֶר עָשָׂה לְנִפְלְאֹתָיו)—<em>Zeker</em> (memorial, remembrance) suggests God intentionally designed His mighty acts to be unforgettable. The verb <em>asah</em> (to make/do) emphasizes divine agency—God actively ensures His <em>niflaot</em> (wonders, marvels) remain in covenant memory through festivals, testimony, and Scripture...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(4) **He hath** **made . . .**—Literally, *He hath made a memorial for His wonderful works, *as in Joshua 4:7, &c.
He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant. meat: Heb. prey
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KJV Study Commentary
<em>Teref natan lirei'av, yizkor le'olam berito</em> (Food He has given to those who fear Him, He remembers His covenant forever). <em>Tereph</em> (food/prey) indicates provision. <em>Natan</em> (give); <em>yare</em> (fear) means reverential awe. <em>Zakar</em> (remember); <em>berith</em> (covenant). God provides for those who fear Him and never forgets covenant obligations. This echoes manna in w...
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(5) **He hath given.**—Better, *He gave.*
**Meat.**—The word often means “prey,” from its being torn as by a wild beast, but it is used in Proverbs 31:15, Malachi 3:10, in the simple sense of* food. *(Comp. also the verb, Proverbs 30:8.) There need not therefore be any allusion to the spoils taken in the Canaanitish wars, though the next verse makes this exceedingly probable. (See Sir G. Grove’s r...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
PSALM 81 Psa 81:1-16. Gittith--(See on Psa 8:1, title). A festal Psalm, probably for the passover (compare Mt 26:30), in which, after an exhortation to praise God, He is introduced, reminding Israel of their obligations, chiding their neglect, and depicting the happy results of obedience.
**1. our strength--**(Psa 38:7).
He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.
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KJV Study Commentary
<em>Koach ma'asav higgid le'amo</em> (The power of His works He has declared to His people). <em>Koach</em> (power/strength) indicates mighty acts. <em>Nagad</em> (declare/tell/make known) means revelation, announcement. <em>Latet lahem nachalat goyim</em> (to give them the inheritance of nations). <em>Nachalah</em> (inheritance); <em>goyim</em> (nations). God demonstrated His power to Israel by g...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
2. unites the most joyful kinds of music, vocal and instrumental.
The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.
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KJV Study Commentary
<em>Ma'asei yadav emet u'mishpat</em> (The works of His hands are truth and justice). <em>Yad</em> (hand) indicates direct action. <em>Emet</em> (truth/faithfulness/reliability); <em>mishpat</em> (justice/judgment). Everything God does reflects perfect truth and justice. <em>Ne'emanim kol pikkudav</em> (faithful/reliable are all His precepts). <em>Aman</em> (be faithful/trustworthy); <em>pikkud</e...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**3. the new moon--**or the month.
**the time appointed--**(Compare Pr 7:20).
They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness. stand: Heb. are established
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>They stand fast for ever and ever</strong> (סְמוּכִים לָעַד לְעוֹלָם)—<em>Semukbim</em> (firmly established, supported) describes God's precepts as unshakeable and permanent. <em>La'ad le'olam</em> (forever and ever) uses synonymous Hebrew terms for eternity, emphasizing absolute perpetuity. This echoes Psalm 119's meditation on Torah's eternal nature and Jesus's declaration that Scripture...
Read full commentary →He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
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KJV Study Commentary
This verse celebrates God's redemptive intervention: 'He sent redemption unto his people.' 'Redemption' (Hebrew 'pedut') means deliverance, often through payment of a price or rescue from bondage. The verb 'sent' indicates God's initiative - salvation comes from Him to us, not our effort to reach Him. 'Unto his people' emphasizes covenant relationship - God redeems those who are His through covena...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**5. a testimony--**The feasts, especially the passover, attested God's relation to His people.
**Joseph--**for Israel (Psa 80:1).
**went out through--**or, "over," that is, Israel in the exodus.
**I heard--**change of person. The writer speaks for the nation.
**language--**literally, "lip" (Psa 14:1). An aggravation or element of their distress that their oppressors were foreigners (De 28...
Read full commentary →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. a good: or, good success his commandments: Heb. them
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KJV Study Commentary
This verse presents the foundational principle for all wisdom: 'The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.' 'Fear' (Hebrew 'yirah') encompasses reverence, awe, worship, and recognition of God's authority. It's not servile terror but proper respect for God's character. 'Beginning' (reshit) can mean first in time, importance, or both - the fear of the LORD is both the starting point and the fo...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(10) **A good understanding . . .**—Better, *a good estimation have all they that do them. *The parallelism here, as the context of Proverbs 3:4, decides for this rendering against that of the margin, “a good success.” Not only is piety the beginning of wisdom, but righteousness wins good esteem. For by *his praise *we must certainly understand the praise of the good man.
Ellicott's Commentary for...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
6. God's language alludes to the burdensome slavery of the Israelites.