Psalm 34:8 invites us to taste and see God and discover His goodness in our lives. However, what does Psalm 34:8 really mean? In this commentary, let us discover how God demonstrates His love to us and how we should actively experience it!
A brief historical background of Psalm 34
Psalm 34 is known to have been written by King David when he pretended to be a madman before Abimelech to escape danger. This incident is found in 1 Samuel 21:10-15. Why did the editor think there was a connection between Psalm 34 and the David story? Most likely, it’s because the psalm talks a lot about how God saves people, even when they’re in serious danger from their enemies.
Psalm 34 is considered to be like Psalm 25 in the sense that both use an alphabetic acrostic where each line starts with a different letter of the alphabet. The main theme of Psalm thrives in both instruction and thanksgiving.
What does Psalm 34:8 message say?
Psalm 34:8 reads in different translations:
- Psalm 34:8 KJV: O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth 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 The Message: Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see – how good God is. Blessed are you who run to 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 NKJV: Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
- Psalm 34:8 The Good News Translation: Find out for yourself how good the Lord is. Happy are those who find safety with him.
- Psalm 34:8 The Complete Jewish Bible: Taste, and see that ADONAI is good. How blessed are those who take refuge in him!
- Psalm 34:8 The Bible in Basic English: By experience you will see that the Lord is good; happy is the man who has faith in him.
- Psalm 34:8 Lexham English Bible: Taste and see that Yahweh [is] good; blessed [is] the man [who] takes refuge in him.
- Psalm 34:8 Revised Standard Version: O taste and see that the LORD is good! Happy is the man who takes refuge in him!
The different translations are straightforward and agree on the main idea of Psalm 34:8 which refers to experiencing God’s goodness.
How to understand Psalm 34:8 infographics
For you to quickly get an understanding of what Psalm 34:8 meaning is, here’s a detailed and comprehensive infographic:
What does it mean to taste the LORD in Psalm 34:8?
Psalm 34:8 tells us, “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” The first verb in this verse is the word taste. In Hebrew, this word is Ta`am, which means to taste, perceive, or eat.
In our modern language, it seems weird for us to taste or eat God. However, that’s not what Psalm 34:8 means. It’s not a literal eating, but rather, the word taste carries the idea of experiencing God in such a way that it brings joy, pleasure, and pleasantness to the senses.
Tasting is one of our human senses. It allows us to perceive and understand the things around us. In the same manner, King David is inviting us to taste God. It’s like you want to taste the flavor of food and you want to know how it tastes, whether it is nice to the palate or not. In the same way, we also want to taste God, meaning to perceive and understand Him, which would definitely lead us to the conclusion that God is good!
To taste is to perceive
Notice in Proverbs 31:18:
She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
The word “perceives” here uses the same Hebrew word, which is Ta`am. Therefore, this word can also be translated as perceive.
Throughout the Bible, we see this idea being carried out. We read in Psalms 119:103:
How sweet are Your words to my taste,
Sweeter than honey to my mouth!
In this verse, we can see that the word of God brings sweetness to our taste. Not only that, but read Hebrews 6:4-5:
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come.
This once again reinforces the idea of tasting the good word of God. Also in 1 Peter 2:3:
3 If indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
Tasting God also leads us to confirm that He is gracious and not just good.
As we can see here, tasting God means to perceive Him as gracious, good, and righteous. The whole experience of tasting God is pleasurable and brings joy into our lives. Because of God’s goodness, we can all rejoice because He is for us and He has nothing but good things for us.
In summary, the phrase “tasting God” is a metaphorical expression to describe the experience and encounter of the presence, goodness, or blessings of God in a deeply personal and profound way. It can represent a sense of intimacy with Yahweh, where one feels spiritually nourished or fulfilled by connecting with God’s love, grace, or wisdom.
What does it mean to see the LORD in Psalm 34:8?
The Hebrew word for “see” in Psalm 34:8 is râ’âh. It means “to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider” (Brown-Driver-Briggs). This tells us that Psalm 34:8 invites us not just to taste God, but also to use our sense of sight to really confirm that God is good.
Seeing God literally
Seeing God doesn’t mean to literally see God in His glorious appearance because seeing God could actually kill you. We read:
But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.”
Exodus 33:20
Moses, Gideon, Manoah, and a lot of people in the Bible knew this. We also read:
18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
John 1:18
Seeing God is to have a personal encounter
So, Psalm 34:8 is actually telling us to see God in a way that we experience and perceive His goodness, love, and faithfulness through personal encounters, prayer, worship, and a life lived in accordance with His teachings. It’s about recognizing and appreciating God’s presence and blessings in our lives, acknowledging His goodness, and finding comfort and satisfaction in Him.
A lot of people say, “To see is to believe.” However, it takes faith to truly see God. We read in 2 Corinthians 5:7:
7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
This tells us that even though our situations seem hopeless, that nothing is working, we can always look up and use our eyes of faith to know that God is always with us.
Having a pure heart to see God
Moreover, if we really want to see God, we must be pure in heart. We read:
Blessed are the pure in heart,
Matthew 5:8
For they shall see God.
This verse speaks to the importance of inner purity or sincerity of heart. To be “pure in heart” means to have a genuine, undivided devotion to God, free from deceit, hypocrisy, or impure motives. Those who strive to develop a pure heart would eventually see God — another way of saying that they would already be spirit eternal beings in the Kingdom.
Yes, no one can see God but when we are turned into immortal beings, we can finally see Him even in all His glory.
What does it mean for the LORD is good in Psalm 34:8?
Now, we come to another portion of Psalm 34:8. It says that we should taste and see God and by doing so, we will find out that He is good. What does that mean?
Throughout the Scripture, we can read how good God is. Here are some Bible verses that make this claim:
13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
Psalms 27:13
That I would see the goodness of the LORD
In the land of the living.
7 The LORD is good,
Nahum 1:7
A stronghold in the day of trouble;
And He knows those who trust in Him.
When they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying:
“For He is good,
2 Chronicles 5:13
For His mercy endures forever,”
But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the good LORD provide atonement for everyone.
2 Chronicles 30:18
8 Good and upright is the LORD;
Psalms 25:8
Therefore He teaches sinners in the way.
5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,
Psalms 86:5
And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.
5 For the LORD is good;
Psalms 100:5
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
1 Praise the LORD!
Psalms 106:1
Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
68 You are good, and do good;
Psalms 119:68
Teach me Your statutes.
3 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;
Psalms 135:3
Sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant.
There are more verses but you get the point. God is truly good and it is an innate and natural part of His character. Because He is good, He deserves our praise.
God’s character is good
Because God is good, His character includes moral excellence, kindness, mercy, benevolence, and compassion. Everything that God does is in accordance with His goodness. This means that He has nothing for us but goodness. His plans for us are for our good. His desire is for us to thrive and flourish in His love, grace, and mercy.
Because God is good, we are not consumed and destroyed. It is through His goodness that we are given the chance to repent. We read:
4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
Romans 2:4
God’s goodness and trustworthy
What’s more, when we say God is good, it means that He is trustworthy. We can have the confidence and trust that He will do whatever is good for us even in times of trials in our lives.
God as the Source of goodness
Since God is good, He is our ultimate Source of blessings and even the goodness that we experience. We read:
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
James 1:17
Simply put, every good thing that exists comes ultimately from God’s nature.
What does blessed is the man who trusts in Him mean in Psalm 34:8?
Psalm 34:8 ends with the statement, “Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” Once we have tasted and seen God and have confirmed that He is truly good, those who trust in Him can fully trust in Him.
Notice, the mere act of trusting God brings blessings in our lives. You see, human beings can put their trust in other things or people. They may trust their riches, their government, their career, their status in life, or even their own selves. Yet, all those things will ultimately fail.
Do you know who does not fail? It is God! He is the supreme Ruler of this vast universe. He has the power over all things. He knows the past, present, and future. He created all things. If there’s one being that you should trust, it should be God!
Why do blessings come when we trust God?
Do you know why it is a great blessing to trust God? Because you are trusting the surest and most trustworthy Being in the entire universe. Because we trust in God, we can have the peace of mind that this world could never give. We can stop worrying and being anxious because we surrender our concerns and burdens to Him. That’s why, we can truly be blessed by simply trusting God!
Trusting God guides us
Aside from that, we receive guidance and wisdom from God when we trust in Him. He gives us clarity and direction in our decision making. What’s more, trusting in God gives us inner strength and resilience during difficult times. You and I can have our faith sustained through challenges by trusting God.
Trusting God to provide
Because we trust in God, we also rely on His provision and sustenance. You and I can testify to experiencing God’s provision in various ways such as meeting our material needs and even providing unexpected blessings.
Trusting God leads to growth
All these could lead to our spiritual growth and maturity. Through trust, we can deepen our relationship with our Heavenly Father, which can lead to beautiful blessings such as increased faith, joy, and a sense of fulfillment.
Can you now see how trusting God can bring a lot of blessings in life? I haven’t covered everything, but you can already see the blessedness of trusting in Him.
How to pray Psalm 34:8
Most psalms are actually prayers written as poems or songs. Thus, if you’re planning to pray Psalm 34:8, then you can definitely do so! Here is a simple guide for you to pray Psalm 34:8:
Prepare your heart
Start by finding a quiet place where there’s no distractions and where you can fully focus on God. take a few moments to quiet your mind and center your thoughts on God.
Reflect on the verse
From there, you can then meditate on Psalm 34:8. Understand each word, phrase, and statement. Consider what it personally means to you. You can also read through this blog again for a better understanding of what Psalm 34:8 means.
Express gratitude
Thank God for His invitation to experience His goodness in your life. Thank Him for his steadfast and unfailing faithfulness. Acknowledge the countless blessings in your life and the various ways you are truly blessed because of His goodness.
Seek God’s presence
Ask God to strengthen your faith in Him by experiencing His presence. Express your desire to establish a deeper relationship with Him. Ask that He will reveal more of His goodness to Him so you can be more grateful and faithful.
Ask for help
Trusting and staying faithful are not always that easy especially when things are getting tough and your plans aren’t working. Ask for God’s guidance and wisdom so you can see things through God’s perspective. Ask Him to increase your faith and confidence in Him.
Remember that prayer is between you and God. Let His Holy Spirit direct you. So, feel free to go where His Spirit takes you. Allow the words of Psalm 34:8 to guide your prayer, as you seek to taste and experience the goodness of the Lord in your life.
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Apply the powerful lessons from Psalm 34:8
There you have it, our deep analysis and commentary of Psalm 34:8. From understanding what it means to taste and see God to knowing what it means to trust in Him, we have covered a lot of new learnings today.
With that, I hope that you now have a deeper understanding of what Psalm 34:8 truly means. If you have questions or you have something to add in our discussion, please feel free to leave a comment below. I would like to hear from you!
About the Author
Joshua Infantado is the founder of the Becoming Christians website and the Becoming Christians Academy, an online course. Since 2013, he has been writing Christian articles, and he launched his own YouTube channel. Joshua is deeply passionate about sharing the Word of God and supporting people in their Christian journey.
