Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments!
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that truly fearing God isn't just about avoiding punishment, but about finding immense joy and pleasure in God's very commands. This delight in obedience is what sets the blessed man apart, showing that his reverence is not out of obligation but from a heart that truly loves God's ways.
Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments!
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm begins by directly following up on the previous one, which concluded by stating that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Here, the psalmist immediately expands on that idea, declaring that the person who truly fears God, finding delight in His commands, is truly blessed. This verse sets the stage for the rest of Psalm 112, which will describe the character and fortunes of such a righteous individual, contrasting them with the wicked.
What does it truly mean to be 'blessed'? This psalm connects our deepest happiness not to luck, but to our relationship with God.
More Than Just Good Luck
The word 'Blessed' here isn't about a fleeting good mood or random good fortune. It points to a deep, abiding well-being that comes from aligning our lives with God's. This isn't about achieving blessedness through perfect actions, but about receiving it through a transformed heart.
It's about who God is: The psalm starts with an invitation to 'Praise the LORD!' This isn't just a suggestion; it's the foundational response to who God is – worthy of all praise. Our blessedness flows from recognizing His sovereignty, His goodness, and His faithfulness.
It's about a response: The 'man who fears the LORD' is blessed. This 'fear' isn't terror, but a profound reverence and awe. It's an understanding of God's holiness and our dependence on Him. This reverence naturally leads to delighting in His commands.
We often think of 'fear' and 'delight' as opposites. But in God's economy, they're intimately connected – the very heart of a life lived for Him.
Reverence That Sparks Joy
The psalm beautifully links two powerful attitudes: 'fearing the LORD' and 'delighting greatly in his commandments.' They aren't contradictory but complementary.
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The Nature of God's Fear: This isn't a cowering, slave-like dread. It's a deep, reverent awe that recognizes God's absolute holiness and power. It’s understanding that He is God, and we are not. This fear naturally leads us to want to stay close to Him and avoid anything that would displease Him.
The Joy of His Commands: When we truly grasp who God is through this reverent fear, His commands stop feeling like burdens. Instead, they become expressions of His good will towards us. We begin to 'delight' in them because they lead us toward what is best, reflecting His own righteous nature. It’s a willing, joyful obedience that flows from an inner transformation, not just outward compliance.
Understand the original words
halelu-yah · Hebrew Interjection
A Hebrew exclamation of joy and adoration directed toward God, signifying an imperative for God's people to acknowledge His greatness and character.
ashrei · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
A state of deep happiness or spiritual well-being resulting from God’s favor; it implies a divinely bestowed condition of being fortunate and favored.
yare' · Hebrew Verb
A reverent, awe-filled submission to God that recognizes His holiness, power, and authority; it is the beginning of wisdom and the basis for holy living.
chaphets · Hebrew Verb
A profound sense of joy or pleasure taken in something, specifically here in the revelation of God's will and moral standards.
mitsvah · Hebrew Noun
Divine instructions, laws, or ordinances given by God to govern the life, conduct, and worship of His people.
This verse emphasizes that those who fear the Lord find security and a refuge in Him, directly echoing the blessedness described in Psalms 112:1.
Psalm 1:1-2This passage parallels the 'blessed man' of Psalms 112:1 by describing his delight in God's law, showing that true joy comes from obedience.
Isaiah 56:6-7This prophecy expands on the idea of 'fearing the LORD' by including Gentiles who embrace His commands, highlighting the inclusive nature of God's blessing on those who obey Him.
John 14:15Jesus directly links love for Him with obedience to His commands, illustrating the 'delighting greatly' aspect of Psalms 112:1 as a genuine expression of devotion.
Psalm 111:10This verse, which immediately precedes Psalm 112, serves as a foundation by stating that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, setting up the description of the blessed man in 112:1.
pulpitPsalms 112:1: "Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments."
Verse 1. - Praise ye the Lord. Again a "heading," or "introduction" (see the comment on Psalm 111:1). Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord. Connect this with Psalm 111:10. The closing thought of Psalm 111. is taken up and expanded in Psalm 112. That delighteth greatly in his commandments (comp. Psalm 1:2; Psalm 119:16, 17, 24, 70, 77, etc.). "True obedience can only com…
poolePsalms 112:1: "Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments."
THE ARGUMENT This Psalm containeth a description of a good man’s gracious disposition and carriage; as also of his blessed condition, even in this life as well as in the next. The blessedness of them that fear the Lord in this life, and in that to come, Psalm 112:1-9 ; for which the wicked envy them, and are grieved, Psalm 112:10 . The fear of God, as it is man’s only wisdo…
The verse highlights that truly fearing God isn't just about avoiding punishment, but about finding immense joy and pleasure in God's very commands. This delight in obedience is what sets the blessed man apart, showing that his reverence is not out of obligation but from a heart that truly loves God's ways.
This psalm begins by directly following up on the previous one, which concluded by stating that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Here, the psalmist immediately expands on that idea, declaring that the person who truly fears God, finding delight in His commands, is truly blessed. This verse sets the stage for the rest of Psalm 112, which will describe the character and fortunes of such a righteous individual, contrasting them with the wicked.
This psalm begins by directly following up on the previous one, which concluded by stating that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Here, the psalmist immediately expands on that idea, declaring that the person who truly fears God, finding delight in His commands, is truly blessed. This verse sets the stage for the rest of Psalm 112, which will describe the character and fortunes of such a righteous individual, contrasting them with the wicked.
"Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments!" — The verse highlights that truly fearing God isn't just about avoiding punishment, but about finding immense joy and pleasure in God's very commands. This delight in obedience is what sets the blessed…
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Last reviewed October 2026