Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
English Standard Version (ESV)
The invitation to "taste and see" isn't just about intellectual knowledge; it's a call to experimental faith. It implies that God's goodness isn't something you can fully grasp from a distance, but must be personally experienced through seeking Him, like tasting food to know its flavor. True blessedness, then, is found not just in belief, but in actively taking refuge in Him, allowing that lived experience to reveal His goodness.
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
English Standard Version (ESV)
David is speaking about God's deliverance, recounting how he found refuge in the Lord when he was in danger, and how God's angel protected him. He then urges others to personally experience and confirm God's goodness for themselves through trusting in Him, promising that those who do will lack nothing essential. This entire section is a celebration of God's faithfulness and a call to deep, experiential reliance on Him.
How do we really know God is good? It's not just about hearing it, but experiencing it firsthand. This verse invites us into that personal encounter.
The psalmist uses a powerful invitation: 'Taste and see.' This isn't a passive observation; it's an active, sensory engagement.
This is what's often called 'experimental religion' – a living, active knowledge of God that goes beyond mere intellectual assent. It's the deep-down conviction that God is good because you've experienced it yourself, not just because you've been told.
The verse doesn't just say God is good; it connects His goodness to a specific kind of person – one who takes refuge in Him. What does that mean for us?
The second part of the verse reveals a profound truth about blessing: 'Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!'
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Understand the original words
esher · Hebrew Noun/Interjection
A Hebrew term indicating a state of divine favor, happiness, or spiritual well-being resulting from being right with God and living under His covenant care.
chasah · Hebrew Verb
To find safety, shelter, or protection; the act of trusting in God’s character and promises as one’s primary source of security during times of trouble.
This passage directly echoes Psalm 34:8, urging believers to 'taste and see that the Lord is good,' highlighting the experiential knowledge of God's goodness through Christ.
Jeremiah 17:7This verse parallels the blessing found in trusting the Lord, stating, 'Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose hope is in the LORD,' reinforcing the core theme of reliance on God.
John 1:16The concept of receiving 'grace upon grace' from Christ's fullness connects to tasting God's goodness, suggesting that experiencing His generosity flows from His very nature, just as the Psalmist proclaims God's inherent goodness.
Hebrews 6:5This verse mentions believers experiencing God's goodness and power, which directly relates to the 'taste and see' invitation in Psalm 34:8, emphasizing the profound, active experience of God's presence.
clarkePsalms 34:8: "O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him."
O taste and see that the Lord is good - Apply to him by faith and prayer; plead his promises, he will fulfill 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 wh…
jfbPsalms 34:8: "O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him."
- taste and see—try and experience.
The invitation to "taste and see" isn't just about intellectual knowledge; it's a call to experimental faith. It implies that God's goodness isn't something you can fully grasp from a distance, but must be personally experienced through seeking Him, like tasting food to know its flavor. True blessedness, then, is found not just in belief, but in actively taking refuge in Him, allowing that lived experience to reveal His goodness.
David is speaking about God's deliverance, recounting how he found refuge in the Lord when he was in danger, and how God's angel protected him. He then urges others to personally experience and confirm God's goodness for themselves through trusting in Him, promising that those who do will lack nothing essential. This entire section is a celebration of God's faithfulness and a call to deep, experiential reliance on Him.
David is speaking about God's deliverance, recounting how he found refuge in the Lord when he was in danger, and how God's angel protected him. He then urges others to personally experience and confirm God's goodness for themselves through trusting in Him, promising that those who do will lack nothing essential. This entire section is a celebration of God's faithfulness and a call to deep, experiential reliance on Him.
"Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!" — The invitation to "taste and see" isn't just about intellectual knowledge; it's a call to experimental faith. It implies that God's goodness isn't something you can fully grasp from a distance, but…
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Last reviewed October 2026