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Psalm 34

Psa. 34:1 KJV (With Strong’s)

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<<A Psalm of David
David (Hebrew #1732)
Daviyd {daw-veed'}; from the same as 1730; loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse
KJV usage: David.
Pronounce: daw-veed'
Origin: rarely (fully)
, when he changed
shanah (Hebrew #8138)
to fold, i.e. duplicate (literally or figuratively); by implication, to transmute (transitive or intransitive)
KJV usage: do (speak, strike) again, alter, double, (be given to) change, disguise, (be) diverse, pervert, prefer, repeat, return, do the second time.
Pronounce: shaw-naw'
Origin: a primitive root
his behavior
ta`am (Hebrew #2940)
properly, a taste, i.e. (figuratively) perception; by implication, intelligence; transitively, a mandate
KJV usage: advice, behaviour, decree, discretion, judgment, reason, taste, understanding.
Pronounce: tah'-am
Origin: from 2938
before
paniym (Hebrew #6440)
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)
KJV usage: + accept, a-(be- )fore(-time), against, anger, X as (long as), at, + battle, + because (of), + beseech, countenance, edge, + employ, endure, + enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, X him(-self), + honourable, + impudent, + in, it, look(-eth) (- s), X me, + meet, X more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), X on, open, + out of, over against, the partial, person, + please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, + regard, right forth, + serve, X shewbread, sight, state, straight, + street, X thee, X them(-selves), through (+ - out), till, time(-s) past, (un-)to(-ward), + upon, upside (+ down), with(- in, + -stand), X ye, X you.
Pronounce: paw-neem'
Origin: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun (paneh {paw-neh'}; from 6437)
βAbimelech
'Abiymelek (Hebrew #40)
father of (the) king; Abimelek, the name of two Philistine kings and of two Israelites
KJV usage: Abimelech.
Pronounce: ab-ee-mel'-ek
Origin: from 1 and 4428
; who drove him away
garash (Hebrew #1644)
to drive out from a possession; especially to expatriate or divorce
KJV usage: cast up (out), divorced (woman), drive away (forth, out), expel, X surely put away, trouble, thrust out.
Pronounce: gaw-rash'
Origin: a primitive root
, and he departed
yalak (Hebrew #3212)
to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses)
KJV usage: X again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, + follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, + pursue, cause to run, spread, take away ((-journey)), vanish, (cause to) walk(-ing), wax, X be weak.
Pronounce: yaw-lak'
Origin: a primitive root (compare 1980)
.>> I will bless
barak (Hebrew #1288)
to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (God or the king, as treason)
KJV usage: X abundantly, X altogether, X at all, blaspheme, bless, congratulate, curse, X greatly, X indeed, kneel (down), praise, salute, X still, thank.
Pronounce: baw-rak'
Origin: a primitive root
the Lord
Yhovah (Hebrew #3068)
(the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
KJV usage: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
Pronounce: yeh-ho-vaw'
Origin: from 1961
at allb times
`eth (Hebrew #6256)
time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc.
KJV usage: + after, (al-)ways, X certain, + continually, + evening, long, (due) season, so (long) as, (even-, evening-, noon-)tide, ((meal-)), what) time, when.
Pronounce: ayth
Origin: from 5703
: his praise
thillah (Hebrew #8416)
laudation; specifically (concretely) a hymn
KJV usage: praise.
Pronounce: teh-hil-law'
Origin: from 1984
shall continually
tamiyd (Hebrew #8548)
properly, continuance (as indefinite extension); but used only (attributively as adjective) constant (or adverbially, constantly); ellipt. the regular (daily) sacrifice
KJV usage: alway(-s), continual (employment, -ly), daily, ((n-))ever(-more), perpetual.
Pronounce: taw-meed'
Origin: from an unused root meaning to stretch
be in my mouth
peh (Hebrew #6310)
the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) according to
KJV usage: accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment, assent, collar, command(-ment), X eat, edge, end, entry, + file, hole, X in, mind, mouth, part, portion, X (should) say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, X spoken, talk, tenor, X to, + two-edged, wish, word.
Pronounce: peh
Origin: from 6284
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β
or, Achish,
1 Sam. 21:13• 13And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard. (1 Sam. 21:13)
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b
Eph. 5:20• 20giving thanks always for all things in [the] name of our Lord Jesus Christ to him that is God and Father, (Eph. 5:20)

More on:

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Abimelech,
David,
Psalms

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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1-7:  David praises God, and exhorts others thereto by his experience.
8-10:  They are blessed that trust in God.
11-14:  He exhorts to the fear of God.
15-22:  The privileges of the righteous.
A.M. 2942.
B.C. 1062.
(Title.)
Abimelech.
or, Achish.This is the second of the alphabetical Psalms (the first being Ps 25:); each verse beginning consecutively with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
The verse, however, which begins with [\^w\^, vâv,] {wav,} and which should come in between the fifth and sixth, is totally wanting; but as the 22nd, which now begins with [\^p\^, pê,] {pay, podeh,} "redeemeth," is entirely out of the series, it is not improbable that it was originally written {oophodeh,} "and redeemeth" and occupied that situation, in which connection it reads admirably.
Gen. 20:2• 2{i}And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister. And Abimelech the king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.{/i} (Gen. 20:2)
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Gen. 26:1• 1And there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine which was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines to Gerar. (Gen. 26:1)
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1 Sam. 21:13‑15• 13And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.
 14Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me?
 15Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house? (1 Sam. 21:13‑15)
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Prov. 29:25• 25{i}The fear of man bringeth a snare;{HR}But whoso putteth his confidence in Jehovah is protected.{/i} (Prov. 29:25)
See on Ps.
Psa. 71:8,14‑15• 8My mouth shall be filled [with] thy praise,{HR}Thine honour, all the day.
 14And as for me, continually will I hope{HR}And will praise thee more and more.
 15My mouth shall declare thy righteousness,{HR}All the day thy salvation;{HR}For I know not its numbers. (Psa. 71:8,14‑15)
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Psa. 145:1‑2• 1Praise: of David.{HR}I will exalt thee my God the king,{HR}And I will bless thy name for ever and ever.
 2(In) every day will I bless thee,{HR}And will praise thy name for ever and ever. (Psa. 145:1‑2)
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Isa. 24:15‑16• 15Wherefore glorify ye Jehovah in the east, the name of Jehovah the God of Israel in the isles of the west.
 16From the end [wing] of the earth have we heard songs, Glory to the righteous! (Isa. 24:15‑16)
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Acts 5:41• 41They therefore went their way from [the] presence of the council rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to be dishonoured for the Name. (Acts 5:41)
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Acts 16:25• 25But about midnight, Paul and Silas in praying were singing praises to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; (Acts 16:25)
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Eph. 5:20• 20giving thanks always for all things in [the] name of our Lord Jesus Christ to him that is God and Father, (Eph. 5:20)
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Col. 3:17• 17And everything, whatever ye do in word or in work, [do] all in [the] name of [the] Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father by him. (Col. 3:17)
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1 Thess. 5:18• 18in everything give thanks, for this [is] God's will in Christ Jesus toward you. (1 Thess. 5:18)
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2 Thess. 1:3• 3We are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, even as it is meet, because your faith increaseth exceedingly, and the love of each of you all toward one another aboundeth; (2 Thess. 1:3)
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2 Thess. 2:13• 13But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved of [the] Lord, that God chose you from [the] beginning unto salvation in sanctification of [the] Spirit and belief of [the] truth; (2 Thess. 2:13)
• Book 1, Series 5. The millennium. (““The Placement of the Psalms in Prophecy”” by B. Anstey)
• The point of the psalm is, “at all times.” It is easy to praise the Lord when He makes all flow softly for us. Yet the Lord is not as much praised really for what He is. In the midst of trouble the soul is seen humble and subdued in spirit. He has sought the Lord, and he found Him a ready friend. This made the Lord intimate and precious to him. (“Practical Reflections on the Psalms: Psalms 33-36” by J.N. Darby)
• The praise of this psalm flows from a saint whose will has been broken. (“Psalm 34” by H. Smith)
• The first three verses give the theme of the psalm. (“Psalm 34” by H. Smith)
• This praise at all times is the distinguishing thought in the psalm. It is easy to praise the Lord when circumstances are favorable, when there are no fears to assail and no clouds in the sky; when there are no troubles to crush nor dangers to confront. To bless the Lord “at all times”―in dark days or fair―is an experience that can only be known by the saint with a broken and a humble heart (vs. 18). It is this the psalm so touchingly unfolds. (“Psalm 34” by H. Smith)
• The remnant of Israel call on all the earth to unite with them, that together they might magnify the Lord and exalt His name (vs. 1-3). (“Book 1.” by B. Anstey)

J. N. Darby Translation

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aA Psalm of David; when he changed his behaviour before Abimelechb, who drove him away, and he departed. I will bless Jehovah at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

JND Translation Notes

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a
An acrostic Psalm, arranged as Ps. 25.
b
Meaning, "Father-king"; most probably the title of the Philistine kings.

W. Kelly Translation

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Ofa David, when he changeth his judgmentb before Abimelech; and he driveth him away, and he departeth.{HR}I will bless Jehovah at all times:{HR}His praise [shall be] continually in my mouth.

WK Translation Notes

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a
This Psalm is the second alphabetical composition yet more regular than Ps.25, where the title is not forming part of the series.
b
That is, feigning madness.