Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
Psalm 34:11 begins a fatherly section of instruction. David has already called the saints to praise, trust, seek, taste, fear, and bless the LORD (vv.1-10). He has testified that he sought the LORD and was delivered from all his fears (v.4). He has declared that the angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear Him (v.7). He has promised that there is no want to them that fear Him (v.9). Now he turns as a teacher to others: “Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.”
“Come.” The word is an invitation and a summons. David calls hearers to draw near for instruction. Wisdom uses similar language: “Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding” (Proverbs 4:1). Godly teaching requires willing nearness. Men who remain far off in pride, distraction, or indifference do not learn well. The soul must come to the instruction, and the ear must be ready.
“Ye children.” David speaks with the affection and authority of a spiritual teacher, calling humble hearers to come near and learn. The context shows he is not limiting the address to his own household, for he has just said, “O fear the LORD, ye his saints” (v.9), and he immediately widens the appeal: “What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?” (v.12). He is therefore instructing all who would live in the fear of God. Peter confirms this wider use when he quotes the following verses and applies them to New Testament saints generally: “let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile” (1 Peter 3:10). Thus “children” describes teachable souls under godly instruction. Those who would learn the fear of the LORD must come as children: humble, attentive, submissive, and ready to obey.
This also shows the duty of one generation to teach another. David did not keep God’s deliverance and fear to himself. He called others to learn. Psalm 78 commands fathers to make known God’s praises, strength, and wonderful works to their children, that the generation to come might set their hope in God and not forget His works (Psalm 78:4-7). Moses commanded Israel to teach God’s words diligently unto their children (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). The fear of the LORD is not to be assumed; it must be taught.
“Hearken unto me.” Hearing is not enough. To hearken is to listen with attention, submission, and intent to obey. Many hear words outwardly while resisting them inwardly. James warned against being hearers only and not doers (James 1:22). David calls for more than sound entering the ear. He calls for obedient attention to instruction from God’s word.
This is especially necessary because the lesson concerns the fear of the LORD. Men do not naturally fear God aright. They fear men, loss, pain, shame, enemies, and circumstances, but not Jehovah as they should. Paul’s indictment of man includes this dreadful sentence: “There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Romans 3:18; Psalm 36:1). Therefore, the fear of the LORD must be taught, received, and practiced by grace.
“I will teach.” David assumes the responsibility of instruction. He had learned by experience, chastening, deliverance, and revelation. He now teaches others. This is a right use of the mouth. The same tongue that blesses the LORD at all times (v.1) now teaches the fear of the LORD. Praise and instruction belong together. A man who has tasted that the LORD is good should help others learn how to fear Him.
This teaching is not man’s opinion. David will immediately explain the fear of the LORD by practical commands: keep thy tongue from evil, thy lips from speaking guile, depart from evil, do good, seek peace, and pursue it (vv.13-14). He does not define the fear of God by imagination, excitement, or religious feeling, but by obedience. The fear of the LORD reaches the tongue, lips, feet, hands, conduct, and relationships.
“The fear of the LORD.” This is the heart of the verse. The fear of the LORD is reverent awe, submission, dread of displeasing Him, hatred of evil, and careful obedience before His face. It is not slavish terror, nor casual respect. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7). “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). Job gives the substance plainly: “the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding” (Job 28:28).
David’s next words prove this meaning. The fear of the LORD teaches a man to keep his tongue from evil and his lips from guile (v.13). This is a crucial cross-reference within the psalm itself. The man who fears God fears sinning with speech. He will not treat lying, slander, flattery, railing, bitterness, or deceit as small matters. The mouth is one of the first tests of the fear of God. Peter later quotes this very section and applies it to New Testament saints (1 Peter 3:10).
The fear of the LORD also teaches separation from evil and pursuit of good. David continues, “Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it” (v.14). This agrees with Proverbs: “By the fear of the LORD men depart from evil” (Proverbs 16:6). A man may claim to fear God, but if he makes peace with evil, his claim is false. The fear of God is not proved by words of profession, but by a life that turns from evil and follows righteousness.
The following verses show the breadth of the doctrine. Moses said God gathered Israel to hear His words, “that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children” (Deuteronomy 4:10). At the public reading of the law, the people were to hear and learn, fear the LORD, and observe all the words of His law (Deuteronomy 31:12-13). Solomon concluded the matter of life: “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). David stands in the same doctrine in Psalm 34:11.
The promise that follows gives great encouragement. “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry” (v.15). Those who learn the fear of the LORD and walk in practical righteousness are not unseen. God watches and hears. Peter quotes this also: “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers” (1 Peter 3:12). The fear of God brings the life into the place of God’s favourable attention.
The contrast is equally sharp. “The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth” (v.16). David is not teaching a soft religion where conduct does not matter. The fear of the LORD divides men. God’s eyes are upon the righteous, but His face is against evil doers. Peter keeps the same contrast in 1 Peter 3:12. Therefore, the fear of the LORD is not optional decoration for the life; it is the path of safety, prayer, and divine favour.
This verse rebukes self-taught religion. Many want to define Christianity by their own feelings, preferences, experiences, or traditions. David says, “I will teach you the fear of the LORD.” The fear of God must be learned from God’s word. A man who refuses instruction will not fear the LORD rightly. “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil” (Proverbs 3:7).
It also rebukes parents and teachers who neglect this duty. Children need more than manners, education, employment skills, entertainment, and earthly success. They need to be taught the fear of the LORD. Timothy knew the holy Scriptures from a child, which were able to make him wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:15). Fathers are commanded to bring children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). The fear of the LORD is the greatest lesson a child can learn.
There is also instruction for ministers. Preaching must teach men to fear God. It is not enough to inform minds, stir emotions, entertain hearers, or gather a crowd. Men must be taught to fear the LORD in daily conduct. They must learn how the fear of God governs the tongue, lips, habits, choices, peace, prayer, and departure from evil. Paul wrote, “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Corinthians 5:11). Faithful preaching includes persuasion unto the fear of God.
Jesus Christ is the perfect Teacher of the fear of the LORD. Isaiah prophesied that the Spirit of the LORD would rest upon Him, including “the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD,” and that He would be “of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD” (Isaiah 11:2-3). He taught men not to fear them which kill the body, but to fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28). He perfectly feared, obeyed, honoured, and pleased the Father in all things.
Psalm 34:11 therefore gives a holy call to instruction. Come. Take the place of children. Hearken. Be taught. Learn the fear of the LORD, not as a phrase for religion, but as the governing principle of life before God. Let it rule the tongue, restrain the lips, turn the feet from evil, pursue peace, strengthen prayer, and bring the soul under the watchful eyes and open ears of Jehovah. The man who learns this lesson has begun wisdom, and the teacher who teaches it does great good.
Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
Psalm 34:11 begins a fatherly section of instruction. David has already called the saints to praise, trust, seek, taste, fear, and bless the LORD (vv.1-10). He has testified that he sought the LORD and was delivered from all his fears (v.4). He has declared that the angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear Him (v.7). He has promised that there is no want to them that fear Him (v.9). Now he turns as a teacher to others: “Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.”
“Come.” The word is an invitation and a summons. David calls hearers to draw near for instruction. Wisdom uses similar language: “Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding” (Proverbs 4:1). Godly teaching requires willing nearness. Men who remain far off in pride, distraction, or indifference do not learn well. The soul must come to the instruction, and the ear must be ready.
“Ye children.” David speaks with the affection and authority of a spiritual teacher, calling humble hearers to come near and learn. The context shows he is not limiting the address to his own household, for he has just said, “O fear the LORD, ye his saints” (v.9), and he immediately widens the appeal: “What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?” (v.12). He is therefore instructing all who would live in the fear of God. Peter confirms this wider use when he quotes the following verses and applies them to New Testament saints generally: “let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile” (1 Peter 3:10). Thus “children” describes teachable souls under godly instruction. Those who would learn the fear of the LORD must come as children: humble, attentive, submissive, and ready to obey.
This also shows the duty of one generation to teach another. David did not keep God’s deliverance and fear to himself. He called others to learn. Psalm 78 commands fathers to make known God’s praises, strength, and wonderful works to their children, that the generation to come might set their hope in God and not forget His works (Psalm 78:4-7). Moses commanded Israel to teach God’s words diligently unto their children (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). The fear of the LORD is not to be assumed; it must be taught.
“Hearken unto me.” Hearing is not enough. To hearken is to listen with attention, submission, and intent to obey. Many hear words outwardly while resisting them inwardly. James warned against being hearers only and not doers (James 1:22). David calls for more than sound entering the ear. He calls for obedient attention to instruction from God’s word.
This is especially necessary because the lesson concerns the fear of the LORD. Men do not naturally fear God aright. They fear men, loss, pain, shame, enemies, and circumstances, but not Jehovah as they should. Paul’s indictment of man includes this dreadful sentence: “There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Romans 3:18; Psalm 36:1). Therefore, the fear of the LORD must be taught, received, and practiced by grace.
“I will teach.” David assumes the responsibility of instruction. He had learned by experience, chastening, deliverance, and revelation. He now teaches others. This is a right use of the mouth. The same tongue that blesses the LORD at all times (v.1) now teaches the fear of the LORD. Praise and instruction belong together. A man who has tasted that the LORD is good should help others learn how to fear Him.
This teaching is not man’s opinion. David will immediately explain the fear of the LORD by practical commands: keep thy tongue from evil, thy lips from speaking guile, depart from evil, do good, seek peace, and pursue it (vv.13-14). He does not define the fear of God by imagination, excitement, or religious feeling, but by obedience. The fear of the LORD reaches the tongue, lips, feet, hands, conduct, and relationships.
“The fear of the LORD.” This is the heart of the verse. The fear of the LORD is reverent awe, submission, dread of displeasing Him, hatred of evil, and careful obedience before His face. It is not slavish terror, nor casual respect. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7). “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). Job gives the substance plainly: “the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding” (Job 28:28).
David’s next words prove this meaning. The fear of the LORD teaches a man to keep his tongue from evil and his lips from guile (v.13). This is a crucial cross-reference within the psalm itself. The man who fears God fears sinning with speech. He will not treat lying, slander, flattery, railing, bitterness, or deceit as small matters. The mouth is one of the first tests of the fear of God. Peter later quotes this very section and applies it to New Testament saints (1 Peter 3:10).
The fear of the LORD also teaches separation from evil and pursuit of good. David continues, “Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it” (v.14). This agrees with Proverbs: “By the fear of the LORD men depart from evil” (Proverbs 16:6). A man may claim to fear God, but if he makes peace with evil, his claim is false. The fear of God is not proved by words of profession, but by a life that turns from evil and follows righteousness.
The following verses show the breadth of the doctrine. Moses said God gathered Israel to hear His words, “that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children” (Deuteronomy 4:10). At the public reading of the law, the people were to hear and learn, fear the LORD, and observe all the words of His law (Deuteronomy 31:12-13). Solomon concluded the matter of life: “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). David stands in the same doctrine in Psalm 34:11.
The promise that follows gives great encouragement. “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry” (v.15). Those who learn the fear of the LORD and walk in practical righteousness are not unseen. God watches and hears. Peter quotes this also: “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers” (1 Peter 3:12). The fear of God brings the life into the place of God’s favourable attention.
The contrast is equally sharp. “The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth” (v.16). David is not teaching a soft religion where conduct does not matter. The fear of the LORD divides men. God’s eyes are upon the righteous, but His face is against evil doers. Peter keeps the same contrast in 1 Peter 3:12. Therefore, the fear of the LORD is not optional decoration for the life; it is the path of safety, prayer, and divine favour.
This verse rebukes self-taught religion. Many want to define Christianity by their own feelings, preferences, experiences, or traditions. David says, “I will teach you the fear of the LORD.” The fear of God must be learned from God’s word. A man who refuses instruction will not fear the LORD rightly. “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil” (Proverbs 3:7).
It also rebukes parents and teachers who neglect this duty. Children need more than manners, education, employment skills, entertainment, and earthly success. They need to be taught the fear of the LORD. Timothy knew the holy Scriptures from a child, which were able to make him wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:15). Fathers are commanded to bring children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). The fear of the LORD is the greatest lesson a child can learn.
There is also instruction for ministers. Preaching must teach men to fear God. It is not enough to inform minds, stir emotions, entertain hearers, or gather a crowd. Men must be taught to fear the LORD in daily conduct. They must learn how the fear of God governs the tongue, lips, habits, choices, peace, prayer, and departure from evil. Paul wrote, “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Corinthians 5:11). Faithful preaching includes persuasion unto the fear of God.
Jesus Christ is the perfect Teacher of the fear of the LORD. Isaiah prophesied that the Spirit of the LORD would rest upon Him, including “the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD,” and that He would be “of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD” (Isaiah 11:2-3). He taught men not to fear them which kill the body, but to fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28). He perfectly feared, obeyed, honoured, and pleased the Father in all things.
Psalm 34:11 therefore gives a holy call to instruction. Come. Take the place of children. Hearken. Be taught. Learn the fear of the LORD, not as a phrase for religion, but as the governing principle of life before God. Let it rule the tongue, restrain the lips, turn the feet from evil, pursue peace, strengthen prayer, and bring the soul under the watchful eyes and open ears of Jehovah. The man who learns this lesson has begun wisdom, and the teacher who teaches it does great good.