Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that true blessing comes not just from fearing God, but from greatly delighting in His commandments. This isn't about reluctant obedience out of dread, but a profound joy and eagerness to follow God’s ways, suggesting a deep inner alignment with His will.
Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm is a direct expansion of the concluding thought of the previous one, which declared that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Psalm 112 begins by describing the character of this wise, fear-filled person – someone who not only fears God but truly delights in following His commands. The subsequent verses will unfold the blessedness and security that flow from such a life, contrasting it with the fate of the wicked.
The very first word of this Psalm is an exclamation! Before it even gets to who is blessed, it calls for praise. Why start here?
This Psalm is a continuation of the thought from the end of Psalm 111, which declared that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Psalm 112 picks up that thread and expands on the results of that wisdom. It starts with a call to praise the LORD – not just for His general goodness, but specifically for the existence of people who live lives of godliness. It's like saying, 'Isn't God amazing that He creates people who actually fear Him and delight in His ways? Let's celebrate that!' This framing tells us that true blessedness isn't a private, isolated experience; it's something that brings glory to God and inspires others to praise Him too.
We often think of 'fear' and 'delight' as opposites. But here, they're described as going hand-in-hand. How does that work?
The 'fear of the LORD' mentioned here isn't about cowering in terror. It's a deep reverence, a profound respect for God's holiness and His authority over all things. It’s understanding who He is and rightly valuing Him above all else. But this fear isn't meant to paralyze us; it's meant to lead us to the second part of the description: delighting greatly in His commandments. True reverence for God naturally blossoms into a joyful obedience. It means finding genuine pleasure in following His ways, not because we have to, but because we want to. This isn't a grudging, forced compliance; it's an eager embrace of His Word, seeing its beauty and goodness.
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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.
zera' · Hebrew Noun
Descendants or children; often used in the Bible to signify the legacy and future generations of a person.
yashar · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Those who are morally upright, straight, and honest; they walk in accordance with God's law and maintain integrity in their conduct.
This passage echoes the blessedness described in Psalms 112:1, highlighting those who delight in God's law and meditate on it day and night, contrasting them with the wicked.
Proverbs 3:13-18It emphasizes the immense value and rewards found in wisdom, which is rooted in fearing the LORD and delighting in His commandments, promising a life of security and prosperity.
John 14:15Jesus connects love for Him with obedience to His commands, reflecting the heart's delight in God's will that is central to the 'fear of the LORD' in Psalms 112:1.
Romans 7:22Paul speaks of delighting in God's law according to the inner self, illustrating the deep, internal joy and commitment to God's commands that characterizes the blessed man described in Psalms 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 true blessing comes not just from fearing God, but from greatly delighting in His commandments. This isn't about reluctant obedience out of dread, but a profound joy and eagerness to follow God’s ways, suggesting a deep inner alignment with His will.
This psalm is a direct expansion of the concluding thought of the previous one, which declared that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Psalm 112 begins by describing the character of this wise, fear-filled person – someone who not only fears God but truly delights in following His commands. The subsequent verses will unfold the blessedness and security that flow from such a life, contrasting it with the fate of the wicked.
This psalm is a direct expansion of the concluding thought of the previous one, which declared that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Psalm 112 begins by describing the character of this wise, fear-filled person – someone who not only fears God but truly delights in following His commands. The subsequent verses will unfold the blessedness and security that flow from such a life, contrasting it with the fate of the wicked.
"Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed." — The verse highlights that true blessing comes not just from fearing God, but from greatly delighting in His commandments. This isn't about reluctant obedience out of dread, but a profound joy and…
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Last reviewed October 2026