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Psalms 34:8 — Word Study

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WLCטַעֲמ֣וּ וּ֭רְאוּ כִּי־ ט֣וֹב יְהוָ֑ה אַֽשְׁרֵ֥י הַ֝גֶּ֗בֶר יֶחֱסֶה־ בּֽוֹ׃

BSAthe LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 34
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 8 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (bo) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 34:8quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalm invites us to personally experience the goodness of the LORD.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, addressing the faithful.
Where we areIn a section that encourages trust in God and highlights His goodness.
The hard wordטַעֲמ֣וּ
Take awayExperiencing the goodness of God brings blessing.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectיָרֵא verbחָנָה The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Psalms 34:8

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — The Assurance of God's Goodnessgenerated

7The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them.
8Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
9Fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing.
10Young lions go lacking and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

Psalm 34:8 invites readers to experience the goodness of the LORD. The psalm emphasizes the blessings that come from taking refuge in God, encouraging the faithful to trust in Him. This verse is part of a larger context that reassures believers of God's protection and care, as seen in the surrounding verses, particularly Psalm 34:7 and Psalm 34:9.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 63:5My soul is satisfied as with the richest of foods; with joyful lips my mouth will praise You.
2Psalm 119:103How sweet are Your words to my taste— sweeter than honey in my mouth!
3Song of Solomon 2:3
4Song of Solomon 5:1
5Hebrews 6:4–5It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,

The Key Word טַעֲמ֣וּ, ta.'a.Mugenerated

The verb טַעֲמ֣וּ (ta'am) is an imperative form, calling the audience to actively taste or perceive the goodness of the LORD. This word conveys both a physical and figurative sense of experiencing something deeply.

The call to 'taste' implies a personal encounter, inviting individuals to engage with God's goodness directly. This is not merely a suggestion to observe but to experience and understand the nature of God through personal interaction.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The verse consists of a series of imperatives and statements. The finite verbs טַעֲמ֣וּ and וּ֭רְאוּ command the audience to engage with God’s goodness, while the following clauses describe the nature of the LORD and the blessings of those who take refuge in Him.

The structure emphasizes action and response: first, the call to taste and see, followed by a declaration of God's goodness and the blessedness of those who trust in Him.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates טַעֲמ֣וּ as παρεμβαλεῖ, which suggests a more active engagement than simply tasting. This choice indicates an interpretation that emphasizes a deeper involvement with God's goodness.

The use of κυρίου for יְהוָ֑ה reflects the translators' intent to convey the divine authority and nature of God, reinforcing the idea of His goodness.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 34:8 invites us to taste and see that the LORD is good, emphasizing the blessings for those who take refuge in Him. This verse encourages personal experience of God's goodness, assuring us of His care and protection.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to 'taste' the LORD?

To 'taste' the LORD means to personally experience His goodness and grace, moving beyond mere observation to a deeper understanding through faith.

How can I take refuge in the LORD?

Taking refuge in the LORD involves trusting Him for protection and guidance, relying on His promises and presence in times of trouble.

What blessings are mentioned in this verse?

The verse states that the man who takes refuge in the LORD is blessed, indicating happiness and fulfillment that comes from trusting in God.

Why is it important to experience God's goodness?

Experiencing God's goodness strengthens our faith and deepens our relationship with Him, allowing us to recognize His work in our lives.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I personally experienced the goodness of the LORD in my life?
  2. How can I encourage others to taste and see that the LORD is good?
  3. What does it mean to take refuge in God, and how can I do that daily?
  4. How can I remind myself of God's goodness during difficult times?

The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it

Early church fathers referenced this verse to illustrate the experiential knowledge of God's goodness. Their quotations highlight the importance of personal faith and trust in God.

Basil of CaesareaHOMILIES ON THE Psalms 16:6 (Psalms 34) c. 330–379
As the nature of honey can be described to the inexperienced not so much by speech as by the perception of it through taste, so the goodness of the heavenly Word cannot be clearly taught by doctrines, unless,
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 34 →
Ambrose of MilanConcerning Virginity 16:99 c. 339–397
In Christ we possess everything. Let every soul approach him, whether it is sick with the sins of the flesh, infixed by the nails of worldly desires, admittedly still imperfect,
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 34 →
Evagrius PonticusNOTES ON THE Psalms 33[34].9 345–399
If we taste the Lord, we taste through faith. If he is good, it is through the knowledge of his goodness that we taste.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 34 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 34:8 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

O taste, and see that the Lord [is] good,.... He is essentially, infinitely, perfectly, immutably, and solely good in himself; and he is communicatively and diffusively good to others: he is the

Read John Gill on Psalms 34 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. O taste ... The sumptuous feast is ready, will you not taste it for yourselves? (Isaiah 55:1; Luke 14:16-17).

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 34 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Taste, i.e. consider it seriously, and thoroughly, and affectionately; make trial of it by your own and others’ experiences. This is opposed to those slight and vanishing thoughts which men have of it. Good, i.e. merciful and gracious, to wit, to all his people.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 34 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD [is] good: blessed [is] the man [that] trusteth in him.Ver. 8. O taste and see, &c.] viz. With the mouth of your mind, and with the eyes of your faith perceive, and experiment the goodness of God in choosing and using such instruments as the angels, and otherwise, in the manifold expressions of his love to us; wherein if we take not comfort the fault is merely in ourselves; we being like him who hath pleasant and nourishing meat, but will not make use of it. The saints taste how good the Lord is, and thence long after him. Optima demonstratio est a sensibus. As he that feels fire hot, or as he that tasteth honey sweet, ye need not use arguments to…

Read John Trapp on Psalms 34 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(8) Taste.—Comp. Hebrews 6:4 ; 1 Peter 2:3.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 34 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 8. O taste and see that the Lord is good] Apply to him by faith and prayer; plead his promises, he will fulfil them; and you shall know in consequence, that the Lord is good. God has put it in the power of every man to know whether the religion of the Bible be true or false. The promises relative to enjoyments in this life are the grand tests of Divine revelation. These must be fulfilled to all them who with deep repentance and true faith turn unto the Lord, if the revelation which contains them be of God. Let any man in this spirit approach his Maker, and plead the promises that are suited to his case, and he will soon know whether the doctrine be of God. He shall taste, and then…

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 34 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

8. O taste &c.] Make but trial, and you will perceive what His goodness is toward them who fear Him. Cp. Psalms 27:13. The adaptation of the words in 1 Peter 2:3 follows the rendering of the LXX, ὅτιχρηστὸςὁΚύριος. It is significant that the words are there applied to Christ. See Bp. Westcott’s Hebrews, pp. 89ff. blessed &c.] Or, happy is the man that taketh refuge in him. Cp. Psalms 2:12; and Psalms 1:1; Psalms 32:2; but the word for man here is a different one. It means properly a strong man, and suggests the thought that be he never so strong in himself, man’s only true happiness is in dependence on Jehovah.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 34 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

O taste and see - This is an address to others, founded on the experience of the psalmist.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 34 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Oh taste and see that Yahweh is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

NETBNew English Translation2006

Taste and see that the Lord is good! How blessed is the one who takes shelter in him!

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

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

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Oh taste and see that Jehovah is good: Blessed is the man that taketh refuge in him.

RVARevised Version, American1894

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

NWBWebster's Bible1833

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

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Taste ye and see, howe gratious the Lord is: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Taste and see that Jehovah is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him!

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Taste ye and see that Jehovah [is] good, O the happiness of the man who trusteth in Him.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Taste and see that YHWH [is] good, || O the blessedness of the man who trusts in Him.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

(34:9) Experience and see that the Lord is good: happy is the man that trusteth in him.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Taste and see that Yahweh is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Let the snare which he knoweth not come upon him: and let the net which he hath hidden catch him: and let the net which he hath hidden catch him: and into that very snare let them fall.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Taste, and you will see that the Lord is good! How happy are those who trust in his protection!

BBEBible in Basic English1949

By experience you will see that the Lord is good; happy is the man who has faith in him.

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

clauseverbטַעֲמ֣וּtasteוּ֭andclauseverbרְאוּseeclause · objectכִּי(dm).thatclausepredicateט֣וֹב[is].goodsubjectיְהוָ֑הYahwehclausepredicateאַֽשְׁרֵ֥יhow.blessed!noun phrase · subjectהַ֝[is].thenoun phraseגֶּ֗בֶרmanclauseverbיֶחֱסֶה[who].he.takes.refugeprepositional phrase · prepositionalבּֽinוֹhim

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text reads: טַעֲמ֣וּ וּ֭רְאוּ כִּי־ ט֣וֹב יְהוָ֑ה אַֽשְׁרֵ֥י הַ֝גֶּ֗בֶר יֶחֱסֶה־ בּֽוֹ׃. The Septuagint corresponds closely, with 8 of the 9 words matching, indicating a strong agreement between these ancient texts.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

טַעֲמ֣וּ וּ֭רְאוּ כִּי־ ט֣וֹב יְהוָ֑ה אַֽשְׁרֵ֥י הַ֝גֶּ֗בֶר יֶחֱסֶה־ בּֽוֹ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
טַעֲמ֣וּπαρεμβαλεῖוּ֭רְאוּκυρίουכִּי־κύκλῳט֣וֹבτῶνיְהוָ֑הφοβουμένωνאַֽשְׁרֵ֥יαὐτὸνהַ֝גֶּ֗בֶרῥύσεταιיֶחֱסֶה־αὐτούς

8 of the 9 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Psalms 34:8טָעַםtastetasteטָעַםרָאָהand seeand seeרָאָהכִּיthatthatכִּיטוֹב[is] good[is] goodטוֹביהוהYahwehYahwehיהוהאֶ֫שֶׁרhow blessedhow blessed!אֶ֫שֶׁרגֶּ֫בֶר[is] the ma[is] the manגֶּ֫בֶרחָסָה[who] he ta[who] he takes חָסָהוֹin himin himוֹהָיָהto beto beהָיָהאָשַׁרto blessto blessאָשַׁרגָּבַרto prevailto prevailגָּבַרבָּטַחto trustto trustבָּטַחבָּחַןto testto testבָּחַןעֳנִיafflictionafflictionעֳנִינָבַטto lookto lookנָבַטיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעיָדָהto give thto give thanksיָדָהעַ֫יִןeyeeyeעַ֫יִןנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָאגֶּ֫בֶרgreat mangreat manגֶּ֫בֶרחָלָץloinloinחָלָץסָכַןbe usefulbe usefulסָכַןצֵלshadowshadowצֵלמָגֵןshieldshieldמָגֵן
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Psalms 34:8

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

taste and see that [is] good Yahweh how blessed! [is] the man [who] he takes refuge in him
טַעֲמ֣וּta.'a.Mu taste H2938 Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine plural
11× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to taste or perceive something, and is often used figuratively. In the Old Testament, it describes experiencing or understanding something. The KJV translates it as 'taste' or 'perceive'.
Tyndale gloss
to perceive
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

טָעַם (ta`am) is a primitive root meaning to taste or perceive. The entries indicate that it can refer to the physical act of tasting as well as the figurative sense of perception. It is associated with the Aramaic equivalent טְעֵם (H2939), meaning 'to feed.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

טָעַם vb. taste, perceive

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2938 טָעַם

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2938 ta`am taw-am'

a primitive root; to taste; figuratively, to perceive:--X

but, perceive, taste.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

טָעַם (ta.am) — to perceive.

1) to taste, perceive, eat

1a) (Qal) to taste

Aramaic equivalent: te.am (טְעֵם "to feed" H2939)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqv2mp — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine plural
HVqv2mp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

tast (Hebrew Ta`am, "the sense of taste," "perception," from Ta`am, "to taste," "to perceive"; Aramaic Te`em, "flavor," "taste" (of a thing); Hebrew chekh, "palate," "roof of the mouth" = "taste"; geuomai; noun geusis; in 2 Macc 7:1 the verb is ephaptomai):

(1) Literal:

(a) Gustation, to try by the tongue: "The taste (ta`am) of it manna was like wafers made with honey" (Ex 16:31); "Doth not the ear try words, even as the palate (chekh) tasteth (Ta`am) its food?" (Job 12:11); "Belshazzar, while he tasted (literally, "at the taste of," Te`em) the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, might drink therefrom" (

taste and see that [is] good Yahweh how blessed! [is] the man [who] he takes refuge in him
וּ֭רְאוּU.re.'u and see H7200 Conjunction · verb qal imperative second person masculine plural
1,300× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for provider means to see or look after, and is used to describe God's care for his people. It appears in various forms throughout the Bible, including in Genesis and other books.
Tyndale gloss
Provider
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָאָה (ra'ah) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to see' and encompasses a wide range of visual and perceptual actions, including looking, observing, and causing others to see. It can refer to both literal sight and figurative understanding, with various grammatical forms indicating different nuances, such as appearing or being visible. The entries indicate a rich semantic field without significant disagreement among lexicographers.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָאָה 1315 vb. see

Qal 1141

see, subj.

see, c. acc. rei

see, sq. acc. cl. or phr. of closer design

see, so as to learn to know

abs. see, have (power of) vision

see = perceive

look at, see, by direct volition

of mental observation

c. ב, lit., look into, hence look at with interest

see, c. acc. rei

Niph.

appear

be seen

be visible

Pu. appar. his bones are not detected

Hithp. recipr. look at each other

Hiph.

cause one to see something, shew

cause to experience something

cause to look intently at, to behold

Hoph.

be caused to see, be shewn

be exhibited to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7200a רָאָה see .. . see, subj.

. see, c. acc. rei

. see, sq. acc. + cl. or phr. of closer design

. see, so as to learn to know

. abs. see, have (power of) vision

. see = perceive

. look at, see, by direct volition

. of mental observation

. . c. ב, lit., look into, hence look at with interest

. see, c. acc. rei

. . appear

. be seen

. be visible

. appar. his bones are not detected

. recipr. look at each other

. . . cause one to see something, shew

. cause to experience something

. cause to look intently at, to behold

. . be caused to see, be shewn

. be exhibited to

H7200b רְאוּת look

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7200 ra'ah raw-aw'

a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in

numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive,

intransitive and causative):--advise self, appear, approve,

behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have

experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X joyfully, lo, look

(on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up,

upon), mark, meet, X be near, perceive, present, provide,

regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one

another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-)spy, stare, X

surely, X think, view, visions.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: see.

: see/show

1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to see

1a2) to see, perceive

1a3) to see, have vision

1a4) to look at, see, regard, look after, see after, learn about, observe, watch, look upon, look out, find out

1a5) to see, observe, consider, look at, give attention to, discern, distinguish

1a6) to look at, gaze at

1a7) to provide, choose

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to appear, present oneself

1b2) to be seen

1b3) to be visible

1c) (Pual) to be seen

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to see, show

1d2) to cause to look intently at, behold, cause to gaze at

1e) (Hophal)

1e1) to be caused to see, be shown

1e2) to be exhibited to

1f) (Hithpael) to look at each other, face

רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: examine.

: examine/consider

1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to see

1a2) to see, perceive

1a3) to see, have vision

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/Vqv2mp — Conjunction · verb qal imperative second person masculine plural
HC/Vqv2mp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

se: In addition to the ordinary sense of perceiving by the eye, we have

(1) chazah, "to see" (in vision): "Words of Amos .... which he saw concerning Israel" (Am 1:1). The revelation was made to his inward eye. "The word of Yahweh .... which he (Micah) saw concerning Samaria" (Mic 1:1), describing what he saw in prophetic vision (compare Hab 1:1); see REVELATION, III, 4;

(2) horao, "to take heed": "See thou say nothing" (Mr 1:44);

(3) eidon, "to know," "to note with the mind": "Jesus saw that he answered discreetly" (Mr 12:34);

taste and see that [is] good Yahweh how blessed! [is] the man [who] he takes refuge in him
כִּי־ki- that H3588 Particle
4,483× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Tyndale gloss
for
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי conj. that, for, when

that

Of time, when, of the past

elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

Because, since

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that

. . Of time, when, of the past

. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

. Because, since

H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3588 kiy kee

a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional

prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent

or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative

conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by

other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,

where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,

even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +

nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,

therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,

whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּי (ki) — for.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if

1f) but rather, but

1g) except that

1h) only, nevertheless

1i) surely

1j) that is

1k) but if

1l) for though

1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

1b) even though

כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTc — Particle
HTc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
taste and see that [is] good Yahweh how blessed! [is] the man [who] he takes refuge in him
ט֣וֹבTov [is] good H2895 Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
45× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means to be good or pleasing, often used to describe God's actions or human behavior. It appears in Genesis 1, where God sees that creation is good, and in Psalm 100, where the psalmist says that God is good and his love endures forever.
Tyndale gloss
be pleasing
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word טוֹב (tov) is a primitive root meaning to be good or pleasing in various senses, including being delightful, joyful, and beneficial. It covers a range of meanings from personal well-being to moral actions, as seen in its uses in the Old Testament. The entries consistently emphasize its positive connotations without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

טוֹב vb. pleasing, good

Qal

be pleasant, delightful

be glad, joyful

of rank, position, claim: art thou really better than Balak?

be well with, good for

be pleasing

Hiph. do well, act right

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2895 טוֹב pleasing, good .. be pleasant, delightful

. be glad, joyful

. of rank, position, claim: art thou really better than Balak?

. be well with, good for

. be pleasing

. do well, act right

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2895 towb tobe

a primitive root, to be (transitively, do or make) good (or

well) in the widest sense:--be (do) better, cheer, be (do,

seem) good, (make) goodly, X please, (be, do, go, play) well.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

טוֹב (tov) — be pleasing.

1) to be good, be pleasing, be joyful, be beneficial, be pleasant, be favourable, be happy, be right

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be pleasant, be delightful

1a2) to be glad, be joyful

1a3) to be better

1a4) to be well with, be good for

1a5) to be pleasing

1b) (Hiphil) to do well, do good, act right, act rightly

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqp3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVqp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

good (Tobh, Tubh, yaTabh; agathos, agathon, kalos, kalon): In English "good" is used in various senses, most of which are represented in the Bible.

(1) In the Old Testament the commonest word is Tobh, occurring very frequently and translated in a great variety of ways. Of the different shades of meaning, which frequently run into each other, the following may be distinguished:

(a) Possessing desirable qualities, beneficial, agreeable, e.g. "good for food" (Ge 2:9); "We will do thee good" (Nu 10:29); Who will show us any good?" (Ps 4:6); "good tidings of good" (Isa 52:7).

taste and see that [is] good Yahweh how blessed! [is] the man [who] he takes refuge in him
יְהוָ֑הYah.weh Yahweh H3068 Noun proper
6,528× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
Yehovah, The covenant Name of God
Tyndale gloss
The Lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)

יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb

יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D

the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy

יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'

from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish

national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.

see HEBREW for 01961

see HEBREW for 03050

see HEBREW for 03069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.

Jehovah = "the existing One"

1) the proper name of the one true God

1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.

Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.

Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
taste and see that [is] good Yahweh how blessed! [is] the man [who] he takes refuge in him
אַֽשְׁרֵ֥י'ash.Rei how blessed! H835 Noun common · masculine plural construct
45× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means happiness or blessedness, often used to express how happy someone is. It appears in the Bible as an interjection, similar to 'how happy!' In the KJV, it is translated as 'blessed' or 'happy'.
Tyndale gloss
blessed
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֶ֫שֶׁר (esher) refers to happiness or blessedness, often used as an interjection to express joy. It is derived from a related root and appears primarily in a masculine plural form. The entries consistently highlight its meaning related to happiness and blessing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[אֶ֫שֶׁר, or אָשָׁר] n.[m.] happiness, blessedness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H835 [אֶ֫שֶׁר, or אָשָׁר] happiness, blessedness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

835 'esher eh'-sher

from 833; happiness; only in masculine plural construction as

interjection, how happy!:--blessed, happy.

see HEBREW for 0833

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶ֫שֶׁר (e.sher) — blessed.

1) happiness, blessedness

1a) often used as interjection

1b) blessed are

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmpc — Noun common · masculine plural construct
HNcmpc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

bles'-ed (barukh): Where God is referred to, this word has the sense of "praise," as in 1Sa 25:32, "Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel." But where man is in mind it is used in the sense of "happy" or "favored," and most frequently so in the Psalms and the Gospels, as for example, "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked" (Ps 1:1); "Blessed art thou among women" (Lu 1:42); "Blessed are the poor in spirit" (Mt 5:3).

See BEATITUDES.

taste and see that [is] good Yahweh how blessed! [is] the man [who] he takes refuge in him
הַ֝גֶּ֗בֶרha.Ge.ver [is] the man H1397 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
65× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for a great man or warrior, emphasizing strength or ability to fight, used to describe a person of valor. It is translated as 'man' or 'mighty' in the KJV. In the Bible, it appears in various contexts, including descriptions of strong leaders.
Tyndale gloss
great man
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גֶּ֫בֶר (geber) refers to a man, particularly one who is strong or valiant, often distinguished from women and children. The term is used primarily in poetic contexts and emphasizes the qualities of strength and warrior-like attributes. It is derived from a root meaning to be strong, and lexicons highlight its use in describing a mighty or capable individual.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גֶּ֫בֶר 66 n.m. man;—man as strong, disting. fr. women, children, and non-combatants whom he is to defend, chiefly poetic

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1397 גֶּ֫בֶר man;—man as strong, disting. fr. women, children, and non-combatants whom he is to defend, chiefly poetic

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1397 geber gheh'-ber

from 1396; properly, a valiant man or warrior; generally, a

person simply:--every one, man, X mighty.

see HEBREW for 01396

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גָּבֶר (ga.ver) — great man.

man, strong man, warrior (emphasising strength or ability to fight)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTd/Ncmsa — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

See ANTHROPOLOGY.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Man

(1.) Heb. ‘Adam, used as the proper name of the first man. The name is derived from a word meaning “to be red,” and thus the first man was called Adam because he was formed from the red earth. It is also the generic name of the human race (Gen. 1:26, 27; 5:2; 8:21; Deut. 8:3). Its equivalents are the Latin homo and the Greek anthropos (Matt. 5:13, 16). It denotes also man in opposition to woman (Gen. 3:12; Matt. 19:10).

(2.) Heb. ‘ish, like the Latin vir and Greek aner, denotes properly a man in opposition to a woman (1 Sam. 17:33;

→ CREATED Ge 1:26,27; 2:7; 5:1,2; De 4:32; Job 4:17; 10:2,3,8,9; 31:15; 33:4; 35:10; Ps 8:5; 100:3; 119:73; 138:8; 139:14; Ec 7:29; Isa 17:7; 42:5; 43:7; 45:12; 64:8; Jer 27:5; Zec 12:1; Mal 2:10; Mr 10:6; Heb 2:7

See CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, below

taste and see that [is] good Yahweh how blessed! [is] the man [who] he takes refuge in him
יֶחֱסֶה־ye.che.seh- [who] he takes refuge H2620 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
37× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To seek refuge means to flee to a safe place for protection, and it can also mean to trust in God. In the Bible, it appears in Psalms and Proverbs, where people put their hope in God. This concept is important in the Old Testament.
Tyndale gloss
to seek refuge
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָסָה (chacah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to seek refuge or flee for protection, often used in a figurative sense to express trust or hope in God. It is primarily found in poetic contexts, emphasizing the act of confiding in divine protection.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָסָה vb. (mostly poet. and fig.) seek refuge

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2620 חָסָה (mostly poet. and fig.) seek refuge

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2620 chacah khaw-saw'

a primitive root; to flee for protection (compare 982);

figuratively, to confide in:--have hope, make refuge, (put)

trust.

see HEBREW for 0982

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָסָה (cha.sah) — to seek refuge.

1) (Qal) to seek refuge, flee for protection

1a) to put trust in (God), confide or hope in (God) (fig.)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqi3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ref'-uj: A place of resort and safety. The principal words in the Old Testament are machceh (Ps 14:6; 46:1; 62:7,8; Isa 4:6, etc.), and manoc (2Sa 22:3; Ps 59:16, etc.), both applied chiefly to God as a "refuge" for His people. For the King James Version "refuge" in De 33:27, the Revised Version (British and American) has "dwelling-place," and in Ps 9:9, "high tower." Conversely, the Revised Version (British and American) has "refuge" for the King James Version "shelter" in Ps 61:3, and "hope" in

taste and see that [is] good Yahweh how blessed! [is] the man [who] he takes refuge in him
בּֽוֹ׃bo in him H9033 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

וֹ (o) — him.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp3ms
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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