Psalm - 111:3



3 His work is honor and majesty. His righteousness endures forever.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Psalm 111:3.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
His work is honor and majesty; And his righteousness endureth for ever.
His work is praise and magnificence: and his justice continueth for ever and ever.
His work is majesty and splendour, and his righteousness abideth for ever.
His work is honour and majesty: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
His work is honorable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
Honourable and majestic is His work, And His righteousness is standing for ever.
His work is honorable and glorious: and his righteousness endures for ever.
His work is full of honour and glory; and his righteousness is unchanging for ever.
His work is glory and majesty; And His righteousness endureth for ever.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

His work is beautiful Others render it splendor. The meaning of the clause is this, That every act of God is replete with glorious majesty. In the following part of the verse he specifies more clearly in what this beauty and magnificence consist, by stating that the justice of God is everywhere conspicuous. It is not the design of God to furnish us with such a display of his power and sovereignty in his works, as might only fill our minds with terror, but he also gives us a display of his justice in a manner so inviting as to captivate our hearts. This commendation of the works and ways of God is introduced in opposition to the clamor and calumny of the ungodly, by which they impiously endeavor, to the utmost extent of their power, to disfigure and deface the glory of the works of God. In the next verse, he more especially extols the wonderful works in which God has principally set forth his power. To cause his marvellous works to be remembered, is equivalent to the doing of works worthy of being remembered, or the renown of which shall continue for ever. [1] And having above called upon us to contemplate his justice, now, in like manner, and almost in like terms, he celebrates the grace and mercy of God, principally in relation to his works, because that justice which he displays in the preservation and protection of his people, issues from the source of his unmerited favor which he bears towards them.

Footnotes

1 - "zkr sh. He hath made a memorial for himself in his wonderful works. zkr, the same as zkrvn in Numbers 17:5. So the LXX., in Exodus 17:14, render zkr by onoma, name; accordingly, zkr sh may signify, He hath made himself a name; i.e., His wonderful works will exist as memorials of his name." -- Phillips.

His work is honorable and glorious - literally, "Honour and glory is his work;" that is, All that he does is honorable and glorious. The language would cover all that God does in the works of creation, providence, and redemption. There is honor - there is majesty - in "everything" that he does.
And his righteousness endureth for ever - That is, It will be found in all the investigations of his works, that he is unchangeably righteous or just. All that he has done, or that he now does, goes to demonstrate this. There are doings of people - even of good people - which will not bear investigation; but there are no such acts of God. There are things that people do which excite admiration only when there is no investigation in regard to them; but the works of God are admired the more, the more they are studied. There are things which appear beautiful, or appear sweet only when they are not shaken; a collection of perfumes will give out sweets the more it is stirred.

His work is honorable, etc. - He has done nothing in nature or grace that does not redound to his own honor and glory; and because all is done in righteousness, it endureth for ever.

His work is honourable and glorious,.... Or "honour and glory" (g) itself; there is nothing mean and trifling done by him; nothing unworthy of him in nature, providence, and grace; every work of his serves to display his glory, and set off the greatness of his majesty; the heavens and the earth are full of his glory; and he does all things well and wisely in the government of the world; and whatever he does in a way of grace is for the glory of it, and tends to make his people honourable and glorious, as well as manifests his own glory, and makes for the honour of his own name.
And his righteousness endureth for ever; his justice and holiness, which appear in all his ways and works; for there is no unrighteousness in anything done by him, just and true are all his ways; there is a constant tenor of righteousness in them all; his faithfulness in fulfilling every word of promise, in making his words good by his works, is to be seen in all generations; and true evangelical righteousness, the righteousness of Christ, which is so considerable a branch of the work of redemption and salvation, is an everlasting one; it can never be abolished, it will answer for the saints in a time to come.
(g) "gloria et decor", Pagninus, Montanus, Gejerus, Michaelis; "gloria et splendor", Musculus; "majestas et magnificentia", Piscator.

honourable and glorious--literally, "honor and majesty," which illustrate His glorious perfections.
righteousness-- (Psalm 7:17; Psalm 31:1), which He has made memorable by wonders of love and mercy, in supplying the wants of His people according to covenant engagements.

Work - Either all his works, or that eminent branch of those works, his providence towards his people. Righteousness - His justice or faithfulness in performing his word.

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