The Hebrew verb radaph means to pursue, chase, or persecute. It is used in over 140 passages for the physical pursuit of enemies in battle (Joshua 8:16), for the pursuit of justice and righteousness (Psalm 34:14), for God's goodness pursuing the believer (Psalm 23:6), and for the wicked's persecution of the righteous (Psalm 31:15). The word captures intensity — radaph is not a casual following but a determined, relentless chase.
The psalmists cry out against those who radaph them: My enemies pursue me all day long (Psalm 56:1–2). But in one of the most beautiful reversals in Scripture, David transforms radaph into a blessing: Surely goodness and love will pursue me all the days of my life (Psalm 23:6). The word translated 'follow' is radaph — relentless pursuit. The same intensity that enemies use against the righteous is the intensity with which God's love chases us. Paul, who once pursued and persecuted the church (Galatians 1:13), became its most zealous advocate after being overtaken by Christ on the Damascus road.