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Psalms 23

BSB·6 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1The LORDיְהוָ֥הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → is my shepherdרֹ֝עִ֗יrō·‘î — to shepherd; to tend, feed, or pasture a flockH7462 — Full Word Study →; I shall notלֹ֣אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → wantאֶחְסָֽר׃’eḥ·sār — to lack, be deficient, wantH2637 — Full Word Study →. 2He makes me lie downיַרְבִּיצֵ֑נִיyar·bî·ṣê·nî — to lie down, crouch, reclineH7257 — Full Word Study → in greenדֶּ֭שֶׁאde·še — grass, verdant vegetation, tender green growthH1877 — Full Word Study → pasturesבִּנְא֣וֹתbin·’ō·wṯ — Pleasant dwelling place, habitation, or pastureH4999 — Full Word Study →; He leads meיְנַהֲלֵֽנִי׃yə·na·hă·lê·nî — To lead, guide, or conduct with careH5095 — Full Word Study → besideעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → quietמְנֻח֣וֹתmə·nu·ḥō·wṯ — Rest, reposeH4496 — Full Word Study → watersמֵ֖יmê — Water; liquid; fluidsH4325 — Full Word Study →. 3He restoresיְשׁוֹבֵ֑בyə·šō·w·ḇêḇ — to turn back, return, restoreH7725 — Full Word Study → my soulנַפְשִׁ֥יnap̄·šî — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study →; He guides meיַֽנְחֵ֥נִיyan·ḥê·nî — To lead, guide, direct with authorityH5148 — Full Word Study → in the pathsבְמַעְגְּלֵי־ḇə·ma‘·gə·lê- — Track, path, or course of travelH4570 — Full Word Study → of righteousnessצֶ֝֗דֶקṣe·ḏeq — Righteousness, justice, right standingH6664 — Full Word Study → for the sakeלְמַ֣עַןlə·ma·‘an — because of, for the sake of, in order thatH4616 — Full Word Study → of His nameשְׁמֽוֹ׃šə·mōw — Name; reputation; renownH8034 — Full Word Study →. 4Evenגַּ֤םgam — also, even, moreover, both...andH1571 — Full Word Study → thoughכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → I walkאֵלֵ֨ךְ’ê·lêḵ — to go, walk, travel, proceedH1980 — Full Word Study → through the valleyבְּגֵ֪יאbə·ḡê — ValleyH1516 — Full Word Study → of the shadow of deathצַלְמָ֡וֶתṣal·mā·weṯ — Deep darkness; shadow of deathH6757 — Full Word Study →, I will fearאִ֘ירָ֤א’î·rā — to fear, revere, or be afraidH3372 — Full Word Study → noלֹא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → evilרָ֗עrā‘ — evil, bad, harm, disasterH7451 — Full Word Study →, forכִּי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → Youאַתָּ֥ה’at·tāh — You; second-person pronoun (singular or plural)H859 — Full Word Study → are with meעִמָּדִ֑י‘im·mā·ḏî — With, alongside, in the presence ofH5978 — Full Word Study →; Your rodשִׁבְטְךָ֥šiḇ·ṭə·ḵā — tribe; staff; scepter; rodH7626 — Full Word Study → and Your staffוּ֝מִשְׁעַנְתֶּ֗ךָū·miš·‘an·te·ḵā — Staff; support; sustenanceH4938 — Full Word Study →, theyהֵ֣מָּהhêm·māh — They, them (masculine plural pronoun)H1992 — Full Word Study → comfort meיְנַֽחֲמֻֽנִי׃yə·na·ḥă·mu·nî — to comfort, console, or show compassion; to repent or change one's mindH5162 — Full Word Study →. 5You prepareתַּעֲרֹ֬ךְta·‘ă·rōḵ — to arrange, set in order, prepareH6186 — Full Word Study → a tableשֻׁלְחָ֗ןšul·ḥān — table, especially for eating or displaying itemsH7979 — Full Word Study → before meלְפָנַ֨י׀lə·p̄ā·nay — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study → in the presence ofנֶ֥גֶדne·ḡeḏ — before, in front of, in the presence ofH5048 — Full Word Study → my enemiesצֹרְרָ֑יṣō·rə·rāy — to bind, squeeze, or oppress; to distress or afflictH6887 — Full Word Study →. You anointדִּשַּׁ֖נְתָּdiš·šan·tā — to make fat, prosper, or grow richH1878 — Full Word Study → my headרֹ֝אשִׁ֗יrō·šî — Head; chief; beginning; topH7218 — Full Word Study → with oilבַשֶּׁ֥מֶןḇaš·še·men — Oil; ointment; fat; luxuryH8081 — Full Word Study →; my cupכּוֹסִ֥יkō·w·sî — Cup; a drinking vessel; one's lot or destinyH3563 — Full Word Study → overflowsרְוָיָֽה׃rə·wā·yāh — Abundance, plenty, overflowH7310 — Full Word Study →. 6Surelyאַ֤ךְ׀’aḵ — Surely, certainly, only, neverthelessH389 — Full Word Study → goodnessט֤וֹבṭō·wḇ — good, beneficial, pleasing, wellH2896 — Full Word Study → and mercyוָחֶ֣סֶדwā·ḥe·seḏ — Covenant loyalty and steadfast kindnessH2617 — Full Word Study → will follow meיִ֭רְדְּפוּנִיyir·də·p̄ū·nî — to pursue, chase, or persecuteH7291 — Full Word Study → allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → the daysיְמֵ֣יyə·mê — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → of my lifeחַיָּ֑יḥay·yāy — alive, living, lifeH2416 — Full Word Study →, and I will dwellוְשַׁבְתִּ֥יwə·šaḇ·tî — to turn back, return, restoreH7725 — Full Word Study → in the houseבְּבֵית־bə·ḇêṯ- — A house; dwelling place; household; familyH1004 — Full Word Study → of the LORDיְ֝הוָ֗הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → foreverלְאֹ֣רֶךְlə·’ō·reḵ — Length, duration, or extensivenessH753 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — Psalms 23
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Psalm 23 is perhaps the most beloved and memorized passage in Scripture, and for good reason. Written by David, likely during his time as a shepherd and later as a hunted fugitive, this psalm presents the Lord Jesus Christ as our Good Shepherd and ourselves as His beloved sheep. The entire passage moves from the comfort of present provision (verses 1–5) to the assurance of eternal security (verse 6). Rather than a sentimental poem about nature, Psalm 23 is a profound declaration of God's faithful care over His people and an invitation to trust Him completely, whatever circumstances we face.

Verses 1–3: The Shepherd's Provision and Guidance

Verse 1 opens with the foundational claim: The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. David does not say the Lord is "a" shepherd, but "my" shepherd—a personal, intimate relationship. The shepherd metaphor runs throughout Scripture (Psalm 80:1; John 10:11), and it speaks to divine care, protection, and provision. When we acknowledge God as our shepherd, we acknowledge His authority over us and His responsibility for us. To "not want" means to lack nothing necessary for life and godliness; it speaks to sufficiency and contentment.

Verses 2–3 describe how the Shepherd cares for His flock. He "maketh me to lie down in green pastures"—a picture of rest and abundance. He "leadeth me beside the still waters"—not rushing waters that frighten, but calm, refreshing provision. The Shepherd does not drive His sheep harshly; He leads them gently. In verse 3, we see that He "restoreth my soul," using the Hebrew concept of nephesh (life-breath, inner being). He does this by leading us "in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake"—not primarily for our comfort, but for God's glory and the vindication of His character.

Application: Do we truly rest in God's provision, or do we anxiously strive? Like sheep, we are often foolish and prone to wander. The invitation here is to trust the Shepherd enough to lie down, to stop our frantic efforts, and to follow where He leads.

Verses 4–5: Comfort in Crisis and Celebration

Verse 4 takes a dramatic turn: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. This is not a valley we avoid—we walk through it. Grief, loss, persecution, and mortality are real. Yet the psalmist declares fearlessness, not because danger is absent, but because the Shepherd is present. His "rod and staff"—instruments of protection and guidance—comfort the believer. The rod defends against predators; the staff guides and corrects.

Verse 5 shifts to celebration and vindication. "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies"—a picture of bold, fearless feasting while adversaries watch. The anointing with oil speaks to honor and joy (Psalm 92:10). The overflowing cup represents abundance that exceeds all need. This is not escape from enemies, but triumph in their presence.

Application: Suffering will come; enemies may surround us. But our confidence rests not in circumstances but in the Shepherd's presence and ultimate vindication of His people.

Verse 6: Eternal Assurance

The psalm concludes with eternal perspective: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever." The shepherd's care is not temporary. Goodness and mercy pursue us (the word "follow" is active and relentless) throughout our earthly days, and beyond this life awaits eternal dwelling in God's presence—the ultimate fulfillment of the shepherd-sheep relationship.

Application for Today

Christ taught that He is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11) who lays down His life for the sheep. When we belong to Jesus, we inherit every promise of Psalm 23. In anxiety, remember His provision. In confusion, trust His guidance. In darkness, cling to His presence. In opposition, feast boldly on His abundance. Our Shepherd will never abandon His flock, and eternity with Him awaits all who follow.

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