The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easy to miss is that this isn't just about reverence, but about action. The verse connects "wisdom" directly to "doing His commandments," meaning true understanding flows not just from awe, but from actively living out what you know to be right. It suggests that obedience isn't a consequence of wisdom, but its very pathway.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalm has been detailing God's wonderful works, from creation and providence to his faithfulness to his covenant. Now, the psalmist sums up the proper response to such greatness, asserting that true wisdom doesn't start with cleverness or worldly knowledge, but with a deep, reverent awe of God that leads to obedience to His commands. This awe and obedience, in turn, are the source of lasting praise for God and a good understanding for the faithful.
We often think of wisdom as something we gain from books, experience, or sharp thinking. But this ancient verse points to a different starting point.
The verse states, 'The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.' This isn't about being terrified of God like a slave fears a cruel master. Instead, it's a deep reverence, a holy awe that recognizes God's absolute power, holiness, and authority.
What 'Fear of the LORD' Means:
This awe isn't the end of wisdom, but its essential foundation. Without it, our understanding is incomplete and potentially misguided.
Wisdom isn't just about knowing things; it's about living them. Discover how obedience unlocks a deeper understanding.
The verse continues, 'all those who practice it have a good understanding.' The 'it' here refers back to the 'fear of the LORD' and, more specifically, to living out that reverence through obedience.
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The Link Between Obedience and Understanding:
This isn't about earning God's favor through works, but about how obedience is the natural outflow and confirmation of genuine wisdom.
The psalm concludes with a powerful statement about God's enduring praise. What does this mean for us today?
The final phrase, 'His praise endures forever!', brings a glorious perspective to the verse. It’s not just a nice ending; it’s the ultimate aim and affirmation of true wisdom.
The Eternal Nature of God's Praise:
This eternal praise is the grand echo of a life lived in reverence and obedience, pointing to the One who is worthy of all honor, now and forever.
Understand the original words
yir'ah · Hebrew Noun
A profound, reverential trust and worshipful obedience toward God. It is the foundational recognition of God’s sovereignty and the beginning point of true spiritual knowledge.
chokmah · Hebrew Noun
The ability to perceive, discern, and apply truth according to God's standard. It is practical, lived-out knowledge that leads to righteous behavior.
This passage directly echoes Psalm 111:10, stating, 'The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.' It reinforces the idea that true wisdom starts with reverence for God.
Job 28:28This verse presents a similar thought, though from a different perspective: 'And he said to man, “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.”' It highlights that turning from evil, a direct result of fearing God, is essential for understanding.
Romans 1:20This New Testament passage speaks to the unseen qualities of God being understood through creation, but it also implies that a rejection of this truth leads to a foolishness and a darkened understanding, showing the inverse of what Psalm 111:10 affirms.
Deuteronomy 4:6This verse connects obedience to God's commands with wisdom and understanding in the eyes of other nations. It shows that living according to God's ways, rooted in reverence for Him, results in a practical, observable wisdom.
wesleyPsalms 111:10: "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."
111:10 The fear - True religion. Beginning - Is the only foundation of, and introduction to, true wisdom.
poolePsalms 111:10: "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."
The fear of the Lord; piety or true religion, which consists in the fear or worship and service of God. Is the beginning of wisdom; is the only foundation of and introduction to all true wisdom. Or, is the chief part of wisdom ; those things which are most excellent in their kinds being off said to be first , to wit; in dignity, as Numbers…
What's easy to miss is that this isn't just about reverence, but about action. The verse connects "wisdom" directly to "doing His commandments," meaning true understanding flows not just from awe, but from actively living out what you know to be right. It suggests that obedience isn't a consequence of wisdom, but its very pathway.
The psalm has been detailing God's wonderful works, from creation and providence to his faithfulness to his covenant. Now, the psalmist sums up the proper response to such greatness, asserting that true wisdom doesn't start with cleverness or worldly knowledge, but with a deep, reverent awe of God that leads to obedience to His commands. This awe and obedience, in turn, are the source of lasting praise for God and a good understanding for the faithful.
The psalm has been detailing God's wonderful works, from creation and providence to his faithfulness to his covenant. Now, the psalmist sums up the proper response to such greatness, asserting that true wisdom doesn't start with cleverness or worldly knowledge, but with a deep, reverent awe of God that leads to obedience to His commands. This awe and obedience, in turn, are the source of lasting praise for God and a good understanding for the faithful.
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!" — What's easy to miss is that this isn't just about reverence, but about action. The verse connects "wisdom" directly to "doing His commandments," meaning true understanding flows not just from awe,…
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Last reviewed October 2026