Psalm 34:8 kjv
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
Psalm 34:8 nkjv
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Psalm 34:8 niv
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
Psalm 34:8 esv
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Psalm 34:8 nlt
Taste and see that the LORD is good.
Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
Psalm 34 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 8:3 | ...that He might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. | Experiential dependence on God |
| 1 Sam 21:10-15 | So David arose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath... And he feigned madness in their hands... | Historical context of Ps 34 |
| Ps 2:12 | ...Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him. | Blessedness of trusting God |
| Ps 5:11 | But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them ever sing for joy... | God as refuge and source of joy |
| Ps 16:1 | Preserve me, O God, for in You I take refuge. | Personal appeal for refuge |
| Ps 31:19 | Oh, how abundant is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You... | God's great, stored-up goodness |
| Ps 36:7 | How precious is Your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. | God's love as ultimate shelter |
| Ps 40:4 | Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud... | Blessedness of full trust in God |
| Ps 57:1 | Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, for in You my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. | Seeking refuge in deep distress |
| Ps 62:8 | Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. | Universal call to trust God |
| Ps 84:12 | O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in You! | Ultimate blessedness in God |
| Ps 91:2 | I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." | God as personal fortress and trust |
| Ps 100:5 | For the LORD is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations. | Declaration of God's enduring goodness |
| Ps 118:8-9 | It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. | Superiority of trust in God |
| Isa 25:4 | For You have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat... | God as a stronghold and shelter |
| Isa 26:3-4 | You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever... | Peace and trust in the Lord |
| Jer 17:7-8 | Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water... | Blessedness yielding stability |
| Lam 3:25 | The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. | God's goodness to those who seek |
| Nah 1:7 | The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him. | God's goodness and refuge in trouble |
| Mk 10:18 | Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone." | God as the ultimate source of goodness |
| Heb 6:4-5 | For it is impossible... who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come... | Experiencing God's spiritual gifts |
| 1 Pet 2:3 | if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. | New Testament echo of Ps 34:8 |
Psalm 34 verses
Psalm 34 8 Meaning
The verse issues a profound invitation and declaration. It urges all individuals to personally experience and perceive the benevolent character of the Lord through direct interaction and trust. It then proclaims the divine favor and profound happiness that belongs to those who, especially amidst challenges, choose to seek protection, confidence, and ultimate reliance in God. It bridges an active call to personal encounter with a promised state of blessing for faithful dependence.
Psalm 34 8 Context
Psalm 34 is uniquely introduced by a superscription attributing it to David following his desperate act of feigning madness before Achish, the Philistine king of Gath (referred to as Abimelech in the superscription), as narrated in 1 Samuel 21. David was fleeing from King Saul, fearing for his life. In this moment of intense fear and humility, he cried out to God and miraculously escaped. The entire psalm serves as David’s powerful testimony of divine deliverance and a heartfelt call for others to join him in praising God for His faithfulness and care. Verse 8 functions as a central invitation within this testimony, transforming David's personal experience of salvation into a universal truth. It urges anyone hearing his story to also personally encounter God's benevolence and find their ultimate safety and blessing in Him, despite any terrifying circumstances.
Psalm 34 8 Word analysis
- Oh, taste (טַעֲמוּ - Ta'amu): An emphatic imperative verb, commanding direct participation. Derived from the Hebrew root טָעַם (ta'am), it signifies not just literal tasting but also discerning, perceiving, and having an intimate, firsthand experience. It urges active, sensory engagement beyond intellectual knowledge, much like truly knowing a food's flavor by eating it.
- and see (וּרְאוּ - u'r'u): Also an imperative, closely paired with "taste." From the root רָאָה (ra'ah), meaning to see, perceive, understand, or personally witness. The combination of "taste and see" is an idiomatic expression in Hebrew for thorough, experiential, and demonstrable knowledge, appealing to multiple senses to highlight a profound and undeniable personal realization.
- that the Lord (יְהוָה - YHWH): Refers to the sacred, covenantal personal name of God (the Tetragrammaton). It emphasizes God's self-existent, faithful, and redemptive nature as He reveals Himself to His people. This specific name points to His reliable character and His exclusive claim as the only true God, who consistently fulfills His promises.
- is good (טוֹב - tov): An adjective describing an intrinsic attribute of YHWH. טוֹב (tov) denotes comprehensive goodness, benevolence, pleasantness, inherent righteousness, and generosity. It describes God's perfect moral character, His disposition towards humanity, and the beneficial quality of all His actions.
- Blessed (אַשְׁרֵי - ashrei): A beatitude, signifying deep happiness, profound favor, spiritual well-being, or fortune. It indicates a state of contentment and divine approval enjoyed by those who meet a particular spiritual condition. It is a declaration of ultimate flourishing that flows from a right relationship with God.
- is the man (הַגֶּבֶר - haggever): Lit. "the strong man," but broadly encompassing any individual. While "gever" sometimes implies strength, here it generalizes the invitation to all humanity, emphasizing that this divine favor is accessible to any person who acts according to the verse's instruction, regardless of their inherent strength or weakness.
- who takes refuge (יֶחֱסֶה - yekhese): From the verb חָסָה (chasah), meaning to seek shelter, find protection, trust in, or confidently rely upon. It conjures the image of a vulnerable individual fleeing danger and seeking security in an ultimate, dependable sanctuary. It signifies an act of profound dependence and a complete surrender to God's protective care, forsaking self-reliance.
- in Him: Refers back to YHWH, reinforcing that He is the sole, ultimate, and unwavering source of true safety, refuge, goodness, and the accompanying blessedness. The blessing is entirely contingent upon placing one's complete trust and dependence solely in God.
Psalm 34 8 Bonus section
- The use of "taste and see" represents an epistemological shift from purely cognitive knowledge about God to an empirical, relational knowledge of God. It encourages an active spiritual pursuit rather than passive belief.
- This verse embodies the core Old Testament concept of YHWH's loyal love and goodness being available to all who humbly seek Him, foreshadowing themes of accessible grace in the New Testament.
- The structure of Psalm 34 (David's deliverance, then his invitation to others, followed by promises for the righteous and warnings for the wicked) establishes this verse as a welcoming threshold to spiritual truth and practical instruction for a blessed life.
- The Hebrew word for "good" (tov) has broad semantic range, implying that the Lord is not only morally righteous but also delightful, beneficial, and intrinsically pleasant in all aspects of His being and action.
Psalm 34 8 Commentary
Psalm 34:8 stands as a profound call to encounter God. David, having personally experienced the Lord’s goodness in deliverance, issues a dual-sensory invitation: "Taste and see." This isn't merely a suggestion for intellectual agreement but an imperative to engage with God intimately and experientially. Just as the truth of a food's flavor is known only by tasting, the Lord’s fundamental "goodness"—His inherent benevolence, moral perfection, and gracious provision—can only be truly understood and affirmed through direct personal encounter and trust. The verse then declares a state of deep favor and happiness ("Blessed is the man") that flows to anyone who consciously "takes refuge in Him." To take refuge in the Lord means abandoning self-reliance, turning to God as one's absolute shield and ultimate safe harbor in every storm. This posture of dependent trust leads to a profound inner security and spiritual prosperity that surpasses any worldly comfort or protection. The verse beautifully intertwines personal experience, God's nature, and the transformative blessing of trust.