Psalms 111:9 Meaning: What It Means That God's Name Is Holy and Awesome
He has sent redemption to his people. He has ordained his covenant forever. His name is holy and awesome!
He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
He hath sent redemption unto his people; He hath commanded his covenant for ever: Holy and reverend is his name.
Redemption He hath sent to His people, He hath appointed to the age His covenant, Holy and fearful is His name.
He sent deliverance unto his people; he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and terrible is his name.
Meaning in one sentence
Psalm 111:9 shows God sending redemption to His people and establishing His covenant forever. His name is holy and awesome, calling for reverent worship.
Context
Psalm 111 is a praise psalm, a song of thanks that begins and ends with "Hallelujah." The writer looks back at all God has done for Israel. He remembers the food given in the wilderness, the power shown in giving them the land, and the faithfulness that held everything together. By verse 9, the psalm reaches its high point. Here the poet names two great gifts: redemption and a covenant that lasts forever. And he names who God is in light of those gifts: holy and awesome. The whole psalm builds to this moment, showing that God's works and His character cannot be separated.
Key Words
Two Hebrew words carry the weight of this verse. The word for "redemption" is pe.dut, a ransom that sets someone free. It is the same kind of word used when God bought Israel out of Egypt, not with silver but with power. The word for "ordained" is tzi.vah, which means to command or establish with authority. This is not a casual arrangement. God speaks a covenant into being and it holds.
The last phrase names God as ka.Do.osh (holy) and no.Ra’ (awesome). No.Ra’ comes from a word that means to fear, but not the kind that makes you run away. It is the fear you feel when you stand at the edge of the ocean or look up at a mountain so high it takes your breath. It is reverence, wonder, the quiet awe of being near a God who is both loving and utterly set apart.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have seen this verse pointing to different layers of redemption. Many early Protestant commentators, like Matthew Henry and Adam Clarke, read it first as a reference to the exodus from Egypt, then as a foreshadowing of Christ’s deliverance from sin. The Cambridge Bible agrees, noting that the restoration from Babylon was a second great act of redemption that proved God’s covenant had not failed. John Gill, from a Baptist tradition, stresses that the covenant here is the covenant of grace, which stands forever because Christ secured it. Across these readings, the thread is the same: God sends help, He keeps His promise, and His name is worthy of awe.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers take the word “awesome” as if it means something merely impressive, like a good concert or a sunset. In fact, the Hebrew word no.Ra’ is stronger than that. It carries the sense of what is fearful and terrible in a holy way, the kind of presence that makes you fall silent. The King James Version translates it as “reverend,” but that word has shifted in English. The psalmist is not saying God is nice. He is saying God is set apart and overwhelming, and the right response is not casual praise but deep reverence.
Living This Out
This week, you can carry two things close. First, redemption is something God sends. You do not work it up or earn it. It comes to you. Second, God’s covenant is commanded, not negotiated. He spoke it and it stands. When you feel unsure about your standing with God, you can return to this: He sent redemption. He ordained the covenant. And His name is holy and awesome, which means He is worthy of your trust even when you do not understand your circumstances. Let that shape how you pray and how you rest.
Main takeaway: God’s redemption and covenant are secure because His name is holy and awesome, worthy of our trust and our quiet wonder.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God sent help to His people and made a promise that never ends. His name is holy and awesome, which means He is very special and we can trust Him.
For ages 9, 12
Psalm 111:9 tells us two big things about God. First, He sends redemption, which is His way of setting people free. Second, He made a covenant, a forever promise that will not break. That is why His name is holy and awesome. It means we can look at who He is and what He has done, and know He is completely trustworthy. This week, when you feel worried or unsure, remember that God’s promise stands, and you can talk to Him with respect and confidence.
Questions People Ask
What does 'redemption' mean in Psalm 111:9?
Redemption comes from the Hebrew word pe.dut, meaning a ransom or deliverance. In the psalm, it points first to God freeing Israel from slavery in Egypt. But many Christians also see it as a picture of the greater redemption through Christ, who sets people free from sin and death.
Which covenant is being referred to in this verse?
The covenant is the lasting agreement God made with His people, first with Abraham and then confirmed at Sinai. The psalm says God 'ordained' or 'commanded' it forever. Christian readers often see this as the covenant of grace, guaranteed by God's own authority and fulfilled in Christ.
Does 'holy and awesome' mean God is scary?
Not in the sense of being afraid that He will hurt you. The Hebrew word no.Ra’ means to be feared in the way you stand in awe of something far greater than yourself. It is the reverence you feel when you realize God is set apart, powerful, and worthy of deep respect.
Is the word 'reverend' in the KJV referring to clergy?
No. In the King James Version, 'reverend' translates the same Hebrew word, describing God as worthy of reverence. The word later became a title for ministers, but in the psalm it belongs only to God. The modern translations like the WEB use 'awesome' to capture that sense of holy wonder.
How does this verse point to Jesus?
Many Christian commentators see God sending redemption as a promise fulfilled in Jesus, who came to redeem His people. The covenant that God commanded forever is the new covenant sealed by Christ's blood. And Jesus Himself is described as holy and worthy of awe, reflecting the Father's name.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study