Psalm 34 14

Psalm 34:14 kjv

Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Psalm 34:14 nkjv

Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.

Psalm 34:14 niv

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Psalm 34:14 esv

Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Psalm 34:14 nlt

Turn away from evil and do good.
Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

Psalm 34 verses

Psalm 34 14 Meaning

Psalm 34:14 is an instruction from King David, guiding the seeker of life and good days (as mentioned in Ps 34:12) towards a path of righteous conduct. It calls for a decisive and active spiritual and moral transformation, demanding both the rejection of all that is wicked and the deliberate pursuit and practice of what is inherently good and conducive to harmony. It emphasizes proactive engagement in fostering well-being and reconciliation, rather than merely avoiding conflict.

Psalm 34 14 Context

Psalm 34 is an acrostic psalm attributed to David, a song of thanksgiving and wisdom instruction. It follows David's experience feigning madness before Abimelech (Achish) king of Gath, as recorded in 1 Samuel 21:10-15, when he sought refuge from Saul. Having been delivered by the Lord from a dangerous situation, David now proclaims the greatness of God and invites others, especially the young ("children" in verse 11), to fear the Lord and taste His goodness.

Verses 12-16 serve as an instructional core within the psalm, answering the rhetorical question of verse 12: "What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good?" Verse 13 specifically advises guarding the tongue from evil. Verse 14 builds upon this, expanding the counsel beyond words to a broader sphere of action and intention, laying out the practical steps one must take to experience the "good life" and "many days" that come from fearing the Lord. It forms part of the conditions for God's attentive ear and protecting presence mentioned in verses 15-16.

Historically and culturally, ancient Near Eastern societies, including Israel, highly valued wisdom literature and moral instruction. The psalm subtly contrasts the chaotic and deceptive ways of the world (like David's own feigned madness for survival) with the true path to a secure and good life found in walking according to God's precepts. It offers an ethical framework as fundamental to well-being.

Psalm 34 14 Word analysis

• Turn away (סוּר, sūr):

  • Meaning: To depart, remove, turn aside, go astray, reject, withdraw.
  • Significance: This is an active and decisive command, implying a deliberate change of direction, a breaking away from something previously engaged in. It is not merely a passive avoidance but an energetic distancing.
  • Biblical Usage: Used in scripture for turning from idols (1 Sam 7:3), sin (Ps 37:27), or the Law (Deut 9:16). It speaks to a conscious act of repentance.

• evil (רָע, ra):

  • Meaning: Bad, wicked, morally wrong, harmful, unpleasant, disastrous. It encompasses both moral wickedness and the harm it produces.
  • Significance: This word denotes not just actions but also intentions, thoughts, and attitudes that are contrary to God's character and will. It refers to anything that corrupts, injures, or is ethically reprehensible.
  • Biblical Usage: Often paired with "good" (tov) to define moral extremes (Isa 5:20). It signifies sin and its consequences (Gen 6:5).

• and do (וַעֲשֵׂה, wa-'ăśēh):

  • Meaning: And do, make, accomplish, perform, act, produce. The Hebrew conjunction "and" links the negative command (turning from evil) with the positive command (doing good).
  • Significance: This word calls for proactive and intentional effort. It's not enough to merely stop doing wrong; one must actively engage in righteousness.
  • Biblical Usage: Found frequently for human actions in fulfilling commands or bringing about outcomes (Gen 1:31 - God "made" man, Ps 37:3 - "do good").

• good (טוֹב, tov):

  • Meaning: Good, pleasant, righteous, right, proper, beneficial, wholesome, excellent. It refers to moral goodness, benefaction, and that which is pleasing to God.
  • Significance: It implies adherence to God's moral standards and actively seeking the welfare and flourishing of others, and bringing about positive outcomes.
  • Biblical Usage: Used to describe creation (Gen 1), God's character (Ps 100:5), and righteous deeds (Prov 3:27).

• seek (בַּקֵּשׁ, baqqēš):

  • Meaning: To seek, search for, ask for, require, demand, desire earnestly, investigate.
  • Significance: This indicates an intentional, deliberate, and often diligent effort to find or acquire something. It goes beyond a passive hope or wish. It suggests a journey or a pursuit of something valuable.
  • Biblical Usage: Used for seeking God (Deut 4:29), wisdom (Prov 2:4), or one's own desires (Prov 18:1).

• peace (שָׁלוֹם, šālôm):

  • Meaning: Completeness, wholeness, welfare, health, prosperity, tranquility, security, friendship, reconciliation, absence of conflict, general well-being.
  • Significance: Shalom is a profound biblical concept far exceeding mere absence of hostility. It denotes holistic flourishing—spiritual, physical, mental, social harmony with God, oneself, others, and creation. It encompasses justice and righteousness.
  • Biblical Usage: A common greeting (Gen 29:6), used to describe the state of paradise (Isa 11:6-9), God's covenant with His people (Num 25:12).

• and pursue it (וְרָדְפֵהוּ, wə-rāḏfēhū):

  • Meaning: And chase it, follow it, pursue it vigorously, run after it, prosecute (as a legal case), eagerly strive for it. The suffix "it" refers back to "peace."
  • Significance: This adds an intensified layer of effort to "seek." It implies persistence, perseverance, and a determined effort to overtake or achieve the goal, even in the face of obstacles. It's an active, ongoing chase.
  • Biblical Usage: Used for chasing enemies (Deut 23:5), diligently following commands (Ps 119:1), or pursuing righteousness (Prov 15:9).

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Turn away from evil and do good": This phrase embodies the essence of repentance and true piety. It’s a twofold command, necessitating both negation (abandoning sin) and affirmation (actively performing righteous deeds). This holistic approach reflects the call to a complete ethical transformation that encompasses both avoiding wrong and engaging in right, a cornerstone of biblical ethics. This polarity (negative and positive command) is vital for spiritual maturity.
  • "Seek peace and pursue it": This instruction moves beyond personal conduct to active engagement with the community and the world. "Seek" suggests a deliberate intention and diligent inquiry into what makes for wholeness and harmony. "Pursue" intensifies this, indicating a tenacious, ongoing effort to establish and maintain peace, overcoming difficulties and striving for its attainment. This is not passive; it is an active ministry of reconciliation and creating well-being, acknowledging that peace may not come easily but requires diligent effort. This extends from personal tranquility to relational reconciliation and societal justice.

Psalm 34 14 Bonus section

The active pursuit of peace ("seek and pursue") highlighted in this verse is foundational to a robust Christian witness. It extends the concept of personal holiness to social responsibility, demonstrating that faith is not just about avoiding sin, but actively participating in the restoration and flourishing of God's creation and its inhabitants. The intensity of "pursue" suggests that the shalom envisioned is often elusive in a fallen world and requires determined, consistent effort and spiritual energy. This command for peace is especially relevant in contexts of strife and division, urging believers to be agents of reconciliation, modeling Christ's ultimate act of peacemaking through the cross (Col 1:20). The fulfillment of this verse is thus intertwined with the New Testament's teaching on reconciliation and discipleship.

Psalm 34 14 Commentary

Psalm 34:14 offers a quintessential biblical mandate for ethical living, presenting it as the path to a flourishing life and prolonged enjoyment of God's blessings. It outlines a two-pronged approach: disengaging from moral wickedness and proactively embracing righteousness and holistic well-being.

The command to "turn away from evil" implies a conscious, decisive break with sin, moving beyond mere avoidance to an actual abhorrence and departure from all that is displeasing to God. This demands introspection and a re-evaluation of one's actions and intentions. This departure is not an end in itself; it must be immediately followed by the injunction to "do good." This underscores that righteousness is not merely abstention but active beneficence and living in accordance with God's character. True obedience involves positive action and contributing constructively.

The call to "seek peace and pursue it" expands the sphere of righteousness from individual conduct to relational dynamics. "Peace" (shalom) in this context means more than just an absence of conflict; it signifies a comprehensive state of well-being, harmony, reconciliation, and flourishing at all levels – within oneself, with others, and ultimately with God. The active verbs "seek" and "pursue" emphasize diligence, tenacity, and ongoing effort. Peace is not something that passively occurs; it is something one must earnestly search for, foster, and aggressively work towards, even when it requires sacrifice or patience. This includes working for justice, showing mercy, and building healthy relationships. Together, these commands form a practical theology of life for those who truly desire to walk with God and enjoy His goodness, rooted in both personal purity and proactive, reconciling engagement with the world.

• Short examples for practical usage:
  • When faced with an opportunity to gossip about someone ("turn away from evil"), instead speak words of affirmation or choose silence ("do good").
  • In a strained relationship, rather than dwelling on grievances, initiate a conversation to understand, apologize, or forgive ("seek peace and pursue it").
  • Seeing injustice, don't merely avoid participation; actively work to bring about a just resolution ("seek peace and pursue it" and "do good").