Psalms 34:14Depart from evil, and do good. seek peace, and pursue it.
The setting
Israel, ~1000 BC. David, fugitive king, writes from experience of choosing right over expedient in caves near En Gedi, Israel.
The emotion here: battle-weary but determined to choose right
The original word
radaph (רָדַף) — to chase, hunt down relentlessly like pursuing prey
Why it matters
David wrote this after sparing Saul's life twice when he could have killed his enemy
Read with care
What most readers miss in Psalms 34:14
This isn't passive advice — 'pursue' is a hunting term meaning chase peace aggressively
Common misconceptionPeople think this means be passive and avoid confrontation. David is saying be aggressive about peace — hunt it down like you'd hunt an enemy.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Psalms 34:14
Bible Genome reading
Psalms 34:14 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Psalms 34:14 comes from the book of Psalms, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to David. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 40% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include righteousness, peace, action, moral choice. Notable phrases: Depart from evil; do good; seek peace; pursue it. This verse contains a command.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same deciding
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7
“"You shall not murder.”
— Exodus 20:13
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:12
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
“But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"”
— Acts 3:6
Your reflection
What does Psalms 34:14 mean to you, today?
A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.
Speak your heart →Get 3 verses for "deciding"
Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.