Great Are the Works of the Lord
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts gain rich understanding. His praise endures forever! Psalm 111:10 · Berean Standard Bible
Real wisdom starts with standing in awe of God—respecting Him deeply; and those who actually live by His instructions don't just follow rules, they gain profound insight into how life works.
The psalm concludes with this paradoxical truth: wisdom doesn't begin with human learning or cleverness, but with reverence for God. Those who follow His precepts find they understand life better—suffering, relationships, justice, meaning—all become clearer through this lens.
The psalmist delivers the final word, which is also wisdom instruction for everyone listening.
This verse echoes the book of Proverbs and connects to Jesus's teaching about becoming like children and humbling ourselves. It's a corrective to human pride: real understanding comes not from thinking you've figured it all out, but from standing in respectful awe before God's wisdom.
Reverence for God constitutes the foundation and beginning of genuine wisdom, and those who practice His commandments attain deep understanding with eternal consequences.
The phrase 'beginning of wisdom' (ראשית חכמה, reshit chokmah) does not mean wisdom's chronological starting point but rather its foundational principle—like the 'beginning' (ראשית, reshit) of Genesis 1 denoting the originating principle of creation. This thesis statement synthesizes the entire psalm and positions fear of God as the hermeneutical key to interpreting reality.
The wisdom teacher offering the culminating insight that integrates piety and intellectual understanding.
This echoes Proverbs 1:7 and 9:10, establishing fear of God as the prerequisite for all other knowledge. In Christian perspective, Paul reframes this in 1 Corinthians 1 and Colossians 2, arguing that Christ embodies the divine wisdom that transcends human categories and that genuine knowledge requires submission to His lordship rather than mere intellectual assent.
8They are upheld forever and ever, enacted in truth and uprightness.
9He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; holy and awesome is His name.
10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts gain rich understanding. His praise endures forever!
Read all of Psalm 111 — An acrostic of praise — each line beginning with the next Hebrew letter. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
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