Psalms — Chapter 23

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1A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.

3He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name.

4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

6Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

1Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside still waters.

3He restoreth my soul: He guideth me in the paths of righteousness for his name`s sake.

4Yea, thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou hast anointed my head with oil; My cup runneth over.

6Surely goodness and lovingkindness shall follow me all the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the house of Jehovah for ever. Psalm 24 A Psalm of David.

1A psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

2He takes me to lush pastures, he leads me to refreshing water.

3He restores my strength. He leads me down the right paths for the sake of his reputation.

4Even when I must walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff reassure me.

5You prepare a feast before me in plain sight of my enemies. You refresh my head with oil; my cup is completely full.

6Surely your goodness and faithfulness will pursue me all my days, and I will live in the Lord’s house for the rest of my life.

1Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing.

2He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

3He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over.

6Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in Yahweh’s house forever.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Commentary
Videos
Articles
Reflection

Summary

A psalm of trust, among the most beloved in Scripture — David pictures the LORD as a shepherd who provides everything he needs (v. 1), leads him to rest and refreshment (vv. 2-3), and stays present even through danger and the darkest valley (v. 4). The psalm closes with God as a gracious host who prepares a table and anoints David's head even in the presence of enemies (v. 5), with goodness and mercy following him for the rest of his life and beyond (v. 6).

Authorship & Background

Author: Multiple authors — primarily David (73 psalms attributed), plus Asaph (12), Sons of Korah (11), Solomon (2), Moses (1), Heman (1), Ethan (1), and anonymous. The Psalter was compiled over approximately 1000 years and served as Israel's hymnal and prayer book. The book is divided into five 'books' (1-41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106, 107-150), paralleling the five books of Moses.
Classification: Trust/Confidence Psalm
Attributed Author: David — "A Psalm of David"
Key Themes: God as Shepherd, complete provision, rest and restoration, fearlessness in danger, abundance in God's presence, lifelong goodness and mercy, eternal dwelling with God
Historical Context: The most beloved psalm in Scripture. David writes from personal experience as a shepherd — he knows what a good shepherd does because he was one (1 Sam 16:11; 17:34-36). The psalm forms a trilogy with Psalms 22-24: Psalm 22 is the Good Shepherd giving His life (John 10:11), Psalm 23 is the Great Shepherd caring for His sheep (Heb 13:20), and Psalm 24 is the Chief Shepherd returning in glory (1 Pet 5:4). The psalm uses two metaphors: God as Shepherd (vv.1-4) and God as Host (vv.5-6). Note the pronoun shift: vv.1-3 speak about God ("He"), vv.4-6 speak to God ("Thou/You") — intimacy deepens in the valley.
The LORD Is My Shepherd (vv.1-3): The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. Shepherd was a royal title across the ancient Near East, so the opening claim is political as well as pastoral. What follows is a working description of good husbandry rather than a sentiment: he maketh me to lie down in green pastures, he leadeth me beside the still waters. Sheep will not drink from moving water and will not lie down while anxious, so both details are statements about the competence of the shepherd. And the last clause names the motive, he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
The Valley of the Shadow of Death (v.4): Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. The grammar changes here and it is the hinge of the psalm: the first three verses speak of God in the third person, and from this verse on it is thou. The shift to direct address happens in the valley rather than in the pasture. And the equipment named is the shepherd's two tools, thy rod and thy staff, one for driving off predators and one for guiding.
Thou Preparest a Table (v.5): Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. The imagery changes from pasture to hospitality and the enemies are not removed, only outlasted: the meal happens in front of them. Then two marks of a host's honour, thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over, and the overflowing cup is the psalter's picture of provision beyond requirement.
I Will Dwell in the House of the LORD (v.6): Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. The verb is stronger than follow suggests; it is the word used of pursuit, so the two qualities are described as chasing him rather than trailing behind. And the last clause moves from tent to house, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever, which ends a psalm about travelling with an address.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Verse-by-verse commentary on this chapter, written for the everyday reader and freely available online.
  • Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
  • Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.

Videos

What are the rod and staff in Psalm 23? | GotQuestions.org
Got Questions Ministries

Psalm 23 | The Lord is My Shepherd | Bible Study
Spoken Gospel

Psalm 23 - The LORD Is My Shepherd and My Host
David Guzik

Articles

  • BibleProject: bibleproject.com The best known psalm read as a whole rather than a line at a time, including the valley and the table.
  • GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org What a shepherd's rod and staff were actually for, and why they are described as a comfort.
  • GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of Psalms -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.

Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.

Reflection

  • A Personal, Possessive Shepherd (v.1) — David does not call God simply a shepherd but MY shepherd, claiming a personal relationship. Do you relate to God as your own shepherd, specifically and personally, not just in general terms?
  • Rest That Is Provided, Not Achieved (v.2) — The shepherd makes David lie down in green pastures rather than David finding rest on his own. If you struggle to rest, what conditions might God want to change so you can?
  • Walking Through the Valley, Not Living There (v.4) — David passes through the valley of the shadow of death rather than staying in it forever. When you are in a dark season, do you remember that it has an end?
  • A Feast in the Presence of Enemies (v.5) — God prepares a table for David even while his enemies watch, providing visibly rather than waiting until the conflict ends. Do you trust God to provide for you even in the middle of ongoing difficulty?
  • Goodness and Mercy in Pursuit (v.6) — David describes goodness and mercy actively following him all his days, rather than him chasing after blessing. Do you see God's grace as something pursuing you, even when you feel like you are falling behind?