Psalms 23: What the Passage Says

The Chapter in a Sentence

This psalm describes the LORD as a shepherd who feeds, guides, and protects the one who follows him. The opening verses use the picture of a sheep led to grass, calm water, and right paths, and kept from fear even in a valley as dark as death. The last two verses shift to the picture of a host who sets out a meal in front of the speaker's enemies and pours oil on his head. It ends with the speaker saying that goodness and mercy will follow him all his life and that he will live in the house of the LORD forever.

Claim by Claim

1. 23:1
   • This psalm is attributed to David.
   • The LORD is the speaker's shepherd.
   • The speaker will lack nothing.
2. 23:2
   • He makes the speaker lie down in grassy pastures.
   • He leads the speaker beside waters of rest.
3. 23:3
   • He restores the speaker's soul.
   • He guides the speaker in paths of righteousness.
   • He does this for the sake of his own name.
4. 23:4
   • Even if the speaker walks through a valley of deepest darkness, the speaker will fear no evil.
   • The reason the speaker will not fear is that God is with him.
   • God's rod and God's staff comfort the speaker.
5. 23:5
   • God prepares a table before the speaker.
   • God does this in the presence of the speaker's enemies.
   • God anoints the speaker's head with oil.
   • The speaker's cup is overflowing.
6. 23:6
   • Goodness and covenant faithfulness will surely pursue the speaker.
   • They will do so all the days of the speaker's life.
   • The speaker will dwell in the house of the LORD for length of days.

Words Worth Explaining

Every language note in this chapter, gathered. These explain what a word meant, never what it means for the reader.

23:1

"LORD" in small capitals marks the personal name of God in Hebrew, written with four consonants (YHWH). Jewish tradition avoided pronouncing it aloud, and English translations follow that by substituting the title "the LORD." In the King James wording "I shall not want" means "I shall not lack"; "want" in 1611 meant to be short of something, not to desire it. Calling a ruler or a god the "shepherd" of his people was standard language across the ancient Near East for someone who fed, guided and defended those in his charge.

23:2

The Hebrew behind "still waters" is literally "waters of resting places", water a flock can settle beside and drink from safely, as opposed to a fast or dangerous stream.

23:3

The King James "soul" here translates Hebrew *nephesh*, which means a person's life, breath or whole self, not an immaterial part separable from the body; the verb can mean either "brings back" or "revives." A "name" in Hebrew usage stood for a person's reputation and character, so acting "for his name's sake" means acting in a way that upholds who he is known to be.

23:4

The Hebrew word rendered "shadow of death" (*tsalmaveth*) is disputed: it can be read as a compound meaning "death-shadow," or as a single word meaning "deep darkness." Both senses are old, and the phrase covers any place of overwhelming gloom or danger, not only dying. The rod and the staff are the two tools of a working shepherd: a short heavy club carried to beat off predators and thieves, and a long stick used to steer and steady the flock.

23:5

In this culture, seating someone at your table placed them under your protection as host; doing so in full view of their enemies displayed that protection publicly. Pouring perfumed olive oil over a guest's head was a normal mark of honor and welcome at a feast, the same act was also used to install kings and priests, and the word for it gives us "anoint."

23:6

"Mercy" here translates Hebrew *chesed*, the loyal, committed kindness owed within a binding relationship (closer to "steadfast loyalty" than to pity for the pitiable. The verb translated "follow" is a strong one, normally used of pursuing or chasing someone down. The "house of the LORD" is the sanctuary where God was worshiped) the tent, and later the temple in Jerusalem. The closing phrase is literally "for length of days," which can mean a whole lifetime or an unending one; the Hebrew leaves it open.