Psalms 111:10 Meaning: The Fear of the Lord Begins Wisdom

The Hebrew word for fear here is yir’ah. It does not mean cowering terror. In the Old Testament, yir’ah describes reverence, awe, and a deep respect that reshapes how you live. It is the kind of fear that makes you pause when you realise who God is, holy, mighty, and good. That fear is not the opposite of love; it is the soil in which love grows.

The word for beginning (reshith) means more than a first step you leave behind. It carries the sense of first in rank, the chief part, the foundation. The fear of the Lord is not something you outgrow; it is the cornerstone everything else is built on. True wisdom, chokmah, practical skill in living well, starts right here.

And the word for understanding (sekhel) points to insight that produces good sense in daily choices. This is not abstract knowledge. It is the kind of understanding that shows up in how you treat people, how you handle money, how you respond when life is hard. And the verse says this understanding comes to those who do, who act on what they revere.

Christians across traditions have treasured this verse. Matthew Henry (Reformed/Presbyterian) calls the fear of the Lord the foundation of religion and the beginning of wisdom, leading to a good understanding. Adam Clarke (Methodist) notes that true wisdom begins with this fear, and that those who live by its dictates have sound discernment. Albert Barnes (Protestant) is careful to say this fear is not that of a slave; it springs from love, delivers from terror, and promotes calmness of mind. Gill (Baptist) describes it as a reverential affection and a fiducial fear of offending so good a God. While traditions may emphasize different aspects, some the awe, some the obedience, some the resulting peace, they all point to the same truth: the fear of the Lord is where wisdom begins.

A common misreading is that “fear of the Lord” means being terrified of a harsh God, as if we are to cower before Him. In fact, the Hebrew word yir’ah carries the sense of reverence and awe, not dread. It is the response of a heart that has glimpsed God’s holiness and goodness. This same verse proclaims that His praise endures forever, a truth that brings comfort, not fright.

This week, when you face a decision you are not sure about, try starting from a different place. Instead of laying out all the options and reasoning your way through, pause and let the fear of the Lord be your first step. Ask yourself: What would it look like to act with deep reverence for God right now? That single question can untangle confusion, quiet anxiety, and point you toward a choice that leads to understanding. The promise of this verse is that when you begin with awe, you do not end with ignorance. You gain insight, a good, solid understanding that holds up in the real world.