Psalms 111:3 — Word Study
WLCהוֹד־ וְהָדָ֥ר פָּֽעֳל֑וֹ וְ֝צִדְקָת֗וֹ עֹמֶ֥דֶת לָעַֽד׃
BSASplendidhôwd [glorious, majestic, full of honor] and majestichâdâr [honor, glory, beauty] is His workpôʻal [deeds, actions, accomplishments] His righteousnesstsᵉdâqâh [justice, virtue, morality] enduresʻâmad [stands, remains, lasts] foreverʻad [for all eternity, perpetually, without end]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| הוֹד־ | [is] splendor | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| וְהָדָ֥ר | and majesty | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| פָּֽעֳל֑וֹ | work his | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| וְ֝צִדְקָת֗וֹ | and righteousness his | Conjunction, noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| עֹמֶ֥דֶת | [is] enduring | Verb, Qal, participle (active) feminine singular |
| לָעַֽד׃ | for ever | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Splendid and majestic is His work; His righteousness endures forever. |
| KJV | His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever. |
| ASV | His work is honor and majesty; And his righteousness endureth for ever. |
| YLT | Honourable and majestic is His work, And His righteousness is standing for ever. |
| WEB | His work is honor and majesty. His righteousness endures forever. |
| BBE | His work is full of honour and glory; and his righteousness is unchanging for ever. |
Where they part company is in the interpretation of the Hebrew terms, particularly הוֹד — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence consists of two main clauses that describe God's work and righteousness, highlighting their attributes.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbעָמַד
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 111:3
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Greatness of God's Worksgenerated
Psalms 111:3 highlights the splendor and majesty of God's work, affirming that His righteousness endures forever. This verse is part of a larger psalm that praises the Lord's mighty deeds and attributes, inviting all to reflect on His greatness. The surrounding verses emphasize the importance of recognizing and pondering the works of the Lord, as seen in verse 2, which states that His works are great and worthy of contemplation.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 19:1 | The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. |
| 2 | Psalm 145:4–5 | One generation will commend Your works to the next, and will proclaim Your mighty acts— |
| 3 | Exodus 15:6–7 | Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power; Your right hand, O LORD, has shattered the enemy. |
| 4 | Ephesians 1:6–8 | to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One. |
| 5 | Ephesians 3:10 | His purpose was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 10 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — הוֹד, hod-generated
The word הוֹד (*hod*) is a noun that conveys the idea of splendor, majesty, and glory. It describes something that is impressive, often in a poetic context. This term captures the grandeur of God's presence and actions, as seen in other passages like Psalm 138:5.
The parsing indicates that it is a masculine singular noun, which emphasizes the singularity and uniqueness of God's splendor. The lexicons highlight its use in poetic literature, reinforcing its connection to beauty and magnificence.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses splendid and majestic to describe God's work, aligning with the KJV and ASV.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb עֹמֶ֥דֶת, is enduring, governs the sentence, with two noun phrases preceding it: הוֹד־ and וְהָדָ֥ר, which together describe the subject of the sentence. The structure highlights the attributes of God's work and righteousness, emphasizing their significance.
The noun phrases are constructed in a way that emphasizes God's splendor and majesty as the subject of the sentence, leading to the assertion of His enduring righteousness.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew הוֹד is rendered as ἐχομολόγησις, which suggests a focus on the acknowledgment of God's glory rather than a direct translation of splendor. This choice indicates a broader interpretation of God's majestic nature.
The term for וְהָדָ֥ר is translated as μεγαλοπρέπεια, which captures the essence of grandeur and beauty, aligning with the Hebrew meaning while also suggesting a sense of magnificence.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalms 111:3 speaks of the splendor and majesty of God's work, declaring that His righteousness lasts forever. This verse is part of a psalm that praises the Lord's deeds and invites reflection on His greatness.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that God's actions are not only impressive but also reflect His glory and honor, showcasing His divine nature.
God's righteousness is unchanging and eternal, serving as a standard for justice and moral conduct that lasts beyond time.
Recognizing God's works helps us understand His character and encourages us to trust in His enduring righteousness.
We learn to appreciate the greatness of God and to reflect on how His actions impact our lives and the world around us.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I seen God's splendor in my life?
- How can I better recognize and reflect on the works of the Lord?
- What does it mean for me to live in light of God's enduring righteousness?
- How can I share the greatness of God's deeds with others?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The verse has been referenced by early church fathers. Augustine of Hippo comments on the nature of God's glorious deeds, emphasizing the significance of His work.
"Confession and glorious deeds are His work" [Psalms 111:3]. What is a more glorious deed than to justify the ungodly? But perhaps the work of man prevents that glorious work of…Early Church Fathers on Psalms 111 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 111:3 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHis 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
Read John Gill on Psalms 111 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHis work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever. His work is honourable and glorious - literally, 'is honour and majesty,' as in Psalms 104:1.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 111 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleHis work; either all his works, of which See Poole ""; or that eminent branch of those works, his providence towards his people, as it is expressed afterwards Honourable and glorious; becoming the Divine Majesty, and bringing glory to him from all that observe and consider it. His righteousness; his justice or faithfulness in performing his word. Endureth for ever; hath always been, and will still be, evident to his people in all generations, and in all conditions, even when he afflicts them, and seems to deal most severely, and to break his promise with them.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 111 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 111:3 His work [is] honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.Ver. 3. His work is honourable] Heb. honour and glory, they all come tipped and gilt, with a glory upon them, a centro ad coelum. This the brutish man knoweth not, Psalms 92:6. His righteousness endureth for ever] His judgments are sometimes secret, but always just.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 111 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 3. His work is honourable, c.] He has done nothing in nature or grace that does not redound to his own honour and glory and because all is done in righteousness, it endureth for ever.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 111 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges3. His work is majesty and splendour, And his righteousness standeth fast for ever. All His works are a revelation of those attributes of royal dignity with which He clothes Himself (Psalms 104:1), and at the same time they are the outcome of His eternal righteousness. With Him there is no divorce between might and right. Similarly “His counsel standeth fast for ever” (Psalms 33:11).
Read Cambridge on Psalms 111 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleHis 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.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 111 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible3. Honourable and glorious—Two words of nearly the same import, often occurring together and applied to God and to kings, as Psalms 21:5; Psalms 45:3; Psalms 96:6; Psalms 104:1, where they express
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 111 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Splendid and majestic is His work; His righteousness endures forever.
His work is honor and majesty. His righteousness endures forever.
Splendid and majestic is His work; His righteousness endures forever.
His work is majestic and glorious, and his faithfulness endures forever.
Tyndale line
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 honour and majesty: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
His work is honorable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
His worke is beautifull and glorious, and his righteousnesse endureth for euer.
Strictly literal
His work is majesty and splendour, and his righteousness abideth for ever.
Honourable and majestic is His work, And His righteousness is standing for ever.
Splendid and majestic is His work, || And His righteousness is standing forever.
Glorious and majestic is his doing, and his righteousness endureth for ever.
His work is majestic and glorious, and his righteousness endures forever.
From the Latin
Glory and wealth shall be in his house: and his justice remaineth for ever and ever.
Simplified
His majesty and honor are revealed by what he does; his goodness lasts forever.
His work is full of honour and glory; and his righteousness is unchanging for ever.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely in their wording for הוֹד־ וְהָדָ֥ר פָּֽעֳל֑וֹ וְ֝צִדְקָת֗וֹ עֹמֶ֥דֶת לָעַֽד׃. The Septuagint matches all six words, indicating a strong consistency between these ancient texts.
הוֹד־ וְהָדָ֥ר פָּֽעֳל֑וֹ וְ֝צִדְקָת֗וֹ עֹמֶ֥דֶת לָעַֽד׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 111:3
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word הוֹד (*hod*) encompasses meanings related to splendour, majesty, and vigour, primarily in a poetic context. It is derived from an unused root and conveys concepts of grandeur and beauty, as noted in various lexicons.
הוֹד n.m. splendour, majesty, vigour (chiefly poet.)
base
H1935 הוֹד splendour, majesty, vigour (chiefly poet.)
1935 howd hode
from an unused root; grandeur (i.e. an imposing form and
appearance):--beauty, comeliness, excellency, glorious, glory,
goodly, honour, majesty.
הוֹד (hod) — splendor.
splendour, majesty, vigour
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
הָדָר (hadar) refers to concepts of ornament, splendour, and honour, primarily in a poetic context. It is derived from a root meaning magnificence and encompasses beauty, glory, and majesty. The term captures a range of meanings related to excellence and goodliness.
הָדָר n.m. ornament, splendour, honour (chiefly poet.)
base
H1926 הָדָר ornament, splendour, honour (chiefly poet.)
1926 hadar haw-dawr'
from 1921; magnificence, i.e. ornament or splendor:--beauty,
comeliness, excellency, glorious, glory, goodly, honour,
majesty.
see HEBREW for 01921
הָדָר (ha.dar) — glory.
1) ornament, splendour, honour
1a) ornament
1b) splendour, majesty
1c) honour, glory
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absoluteHC/Ncmsa
→ Name of God Heb 1:3; 8:1
→ See GOD
פֹּ֫עַל (po'al) refers to an act or work, encompassing meanings like deed, thing done, and wages of work. It is noted as poetic and late in usage. The word is built from the root associated with action, and it can also imply acquisition, particularly of treasures.
פֹּ֫עַל 37 n.m. doing, deed, work (poet. and late)
deed, thing done
work, thing made
wages of work
acquisition of treasures
base
H6467 פֹּ֫עַל doing, deed, work (poet. and late)
6467 po`al po'-al
from 6466; an act or work (concretely):--act, deed, do,
getting, maker, work.
see HEBREW for 06466
פֹּ֫עַל (po.al) — work.
1) work, deed, doing
1a) deed, thing done
1b) work, thing made
1c) wages of work
1d) acquisition (of treasure)
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3ms
צְדָקָה (tsdaqah) means 'righteousness' and encompasses various aspects such as justice, truthfulness, and ethical rightness. It can refer to God's attribute of sovereignty, righteousness in governance, and even justification or salvation. The term also implies righteous acts and has an Aramaic equivalent, צִדְקָה (tsid.qah).
צְדָקָה 157 n.f. righteousness
righteousness, in government
God's attribute as sovereign
righteousness, in a case or cause
righteousness = truthfulness
righteousness, as ethically right
righteousness as vindicated, justification, salvation, etc.
pl. righteous acts
base
H6666 צְדָקָה righteousness . righteousness, in government
. God's attribute as sovereign
. righteousness, in a case or cause
. righteousness = truthfulness
. righteousness, as ethically right
. righteousness as vindicated, justification, salvation, etc.
. pl. righteous acts
6666 tsdaqah tsed-aw-kaw'
from 6663; rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude),
objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively
(prosperity):--justice, moderately, right(-eous)
(act, -ly, -ness).
see HEBREW for 06663
צְדָקָה (tse.da.qah) — righteousness.
1) justice, righteousness
1a) righteousness (in government)
1a1) of judge, ruler, king
1a2) of law
1a3) of Davidic king Messiah
1b) righteousness (of God's attribute)
1c) righteousness (in a case or cause)
1d) righteousness, truthfulness
1e) righteousness (as ethically right)
1f) righteousness (as vindicated), justification, salvation
1f1) of God
1f2) prosperity (of people)
1g) righteous acts
Aramaic equivalent: tsid.qah (צִדְקָה "righteousness" H6665)
Conj | N-fs | Suff — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHC/Ncfsc/Sp3ms
The Hebrew word עָמַד (amad) means to stand and encompasses a variety of related actions such as remaining, enduring, and taking a stand. It can refer to both literal and figurative stances, including presenting oneself or being appointed. The word appears in various contexts, including standing still, ceasing movement, and even serving. There are different forms of the verb, such as Qal, Hiphil, and Hophal, each with specific nuances.
עָמַד 620 take one's stand, stand
Qal 435
take one's stand, and (esp. pt.) stand, be in a standing attitude
stand forth
take a stand against, in opposition to
present oneself before
attend upon, be(come) servant of
stand afar
stand (silent)
stand (appealingly)
stand, subj. רֶגֶל
stand, of water
stand still, stop, cease moving
= be inactive
= be attentive
stop, cease doing a thing
tarry, delay
remain
continue, abide
endure
be steadfast
persist
make a stand, hold one's ground
stand upright
arise, appear, come on the scene
stand forth, appear = come into being
rise up as foe
rare usages
Hiph.
83station, set
cause to stand firm
cause to stand up, set up, erect
present one before king
appoint
other meanings
Hoph. be presented
base
H5975 עָמַד take one's stand, stand .. . take one's stand, and (esp. pt.) stand, be in a standing attitude
. stand forth
. take a stand against, in opposition to
. present oneself before
. attend upon, be(come) servant of
. stand afar
. stand (silent)
. stand (appealingly)
. stand, subj. רֶגֶל
. stand, of water
. . stand still, stop, cease moving
. = be inactive
. = be attentive
. stop, cease doing a thing
. . tarry, delay
. remain
. continue, abide
. endure
. be steadfast
. persist
. make a stand, hold one's ground
. stand upright
. . arise, appear, come on the scene
. stand forth, appear = come into being
. rise up as foe
. rare usages
. . station, set
. cause to stand firm
. cause to stand up, set up, erect
. present one before king
. appoint
. other meanings
. be presented
5975 `amad aw-mad'
a primitive root; to stand, in various relations (literal and
figurative, intransitive and transitive):--abide (behind),
appoint, arise, cease, confirm, continue, dwell, be employed,
endure, establish, leave, make, ordain, be (over), place, (be)
present (self), raise up, remain, repair, + serve, set (forth,
over, -tle, up), (make to, make to be at a, with-)stand (by,
fast, firm, still, up), (be at a) stay (up), tarry.
עָמַד (a.mad) — to stand: stand.
: stand/stop/establish
1) to stand, remain, endure, take one's stand
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to stand, take one's stand, be in a standing attitude, stand forth, take a stand, present oneself, attend upon, be or become servant of
1a2) to stand still, stop (moving or doing), cease
1a3) to tarry, delay, remain, continue, abide, endure, persist, be steadfast
1a4) to make a stand, hold one's ground
1a5) to stand upright, remain standing, stand up, rise, be erect, be upright
1a6) to arise, appear, come on the scene, stand forth, appear, rise up or against
1a7) to stand with, take one's stand, be appointed, grow flat, grow insipid
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to station, set
1b2) to cause to stand firm, maintain
1b3) to cause to stand up, cause to set up, erect
1b4) to present (one) before (king)
1b5) to appoint, ordain, establish
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) feminine singularHVqrfsa
עַד, transliterated as ad, refers to the concept of perpetuity, encompassing both past and future time. It signifies a duration that can imply eternity or continuous existence. The term is associated with ancient mountains in the context of the past and is used to denote the idea of forever in relation to the future, particularly in reference to God's existence.
עַד and וָעֶ֑ד (so alw.) n.m. perpetuity (= advancing time)
of past time: ancient mountains
of future time, לָעַד for ever
base
H5703 עַד, וָעֶ֑ד perpetuity . of past time: ancient mountains
. of future time, לָעַד for ever
5703 `ad ad
from 5710; properly, a (peremptory) terminus, i.e. (by
implication) duration, in the sense of advance or perpetuity
(substantially as a noun, either with or without a
preposition):--eternity, ever(- lasting, -more), old,
perpetually, + world without end.
see HEBREW for 05710
עַד (ad) — perpetuity.
1) perpetuity, for ever, continuing future
1a) ancient (of past time)
1b) for ever (of future time)
1b1) of continuous existence
1c) for ever (of God's existence)
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa