Christianity

Psalms 34Taste and See

Summary

Psalm 34 is an acrostic of thanksgiving and instruction. Its heading links it to David pretending madness before Abimelech, apparently the Philistine king called Achish in 1 Samuel 21. The psalmist blesses God at all times, invites others to taste and see that the LORD is good, and teaches the fear of the LORD: keep the tongue from evil, seek peace and pursue it. God is near to the brokenhearted and keeps the bones of the righteous.

Key verse

“O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”

Psalms 34:8

Themes

Thanksgiving
Fear of the Lord
Seeking Peace
God Near the Brokenhearted

I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?

Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

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

The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.

Across traditions

Judaism
Tehillim 34 in the JPS 1917 Tanakh
Jews recite this psalm in the Sabbath morning service, and its lines about the man who desires life and seeking peace are widely quoted in teachings on ethical speech.
Christianity
1 Peter 3: Refrain His Tongue
1 Peter 3:10 to 12 quotes Psalm 34:12 to 16 as guidance for Christians suffering unjustly.
Buddhism
Dhammapada 221 to 234: Restraint of Speech
This chapter on anger urges guarding against misuse of speech and practicing good speech, close to Psalm 34:13, though it frames restraint as mental discipline rather than fear of the LORD.

Questions about Psalms 34

Why does Psalm 34 mention Abimelech instead of Achish?

1 Samuel 21 names the king of Gath as Achish. Many interpreters think Abimelech was a royal title for Philistine kings, as it may be in Genesis.

Is Psalm 34 quoted at the crucifixion?

John 19:36 says not a bone of Jesus was broken to fulfill scripture, which may refer to Psalm 34:20 as well as the Passover law in Exodus 12:46.