The LORD Is My Shepherd
Dominus regit me
Psalm 23 summary: what it means
Psalm 23 describes life with God through the picture of a shepherd and his sheep. The LORD leads, feeds, gives rest and restores, and the speaker says he will lack nothing. In verse 4 the path runs through the valley of the shadow of death. There the psalm changes voice. It stops speaking about God and starts speaking to him, saying you are with me.
The last two verses move from pasture to a table. God is now a host who prepares a meal in front of enemies, anoints the guest's head with oil and fills the cup until it runs over. The psalm ends with goodness and loving kindness following the speaker for life, and a home in the LORD's house forever.
Psalm 23: The LORD Is My Shepherd
World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-23
Psalm 23 commentary: explained verse by verse
The LORD is my shepherd;I shall lack nothing.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
The whole psalm grows out of this first line. Calling the LORD my shepherd makes the speaker one of the flock, cared for rather than self-sufficient. The second half draws the conclusion that with this shepherd he will lack nothing, or in the KJV, I shall not want.
Also read Ezekiel 34:11-12, Psalm 78:52, Jeremiah 31:10, Psalm 84:11
He makes me lie down in green pastures.He leads me beside still waters.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
The shepherd's care is shown in two scenes. Green pastures mean food and rest, and still waters mean drink without danger. The verse says he makes me lie down, so the rest is given rather than earned.
Also read Revelation 22:1, Job 34:29, Ezekiel 34:13-14, Revelation 7:17
He restores my soul.He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Restoring the soul moves the picture from the body to the inner life. The paths of righteousness are chosen by the guide, and the reason given is for his name's sake: the shepherd's own name is bound up with how he leads.
Also read Psalm 19:7, Psalm 34:3, Psalm 143:8-10, Revelation 3:19
Even 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.
Yea, 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.
The route goes through the valley of the shadow of death, not around it. The speaker does not deny the danger, but he will fear no evil, and the reason is presence: you are with me. The rod and staff, a shepherd's tools, are what bring comfort.
Also read Psalm 110:2, Psalm 118:6, Psalm 138:7, Zechariah 11:10
You prepare a table before mein the presence of my enemies.You anoint my head with oil.My cup runs over.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
The scene changes from field to table. Enemies are present and watching, yet the host prepares a meal, anoints the guest's head with oil and fills the cup until it runs over. The KJV reads thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Also read 1 John 2:27, Psalm 104:15, Psalm 78:19, Matthew 6:17
Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life,and I will dwell in the LORD’s house forever.
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.
In verse 5 enemies were present, but now goodness and loving kindness follow the speaker all the days of his life. The psalm ends with a destination rather than a journey: dwelling in the LORD's house forever. The KJV has goodness and mercy.
Also read 2 Corinthians 5:1, Psalm 103:17, Philippians 1:23, Psalm 73:24-26
A prayer from Psalm 23
LORD, you are my shepherd, and with you I shall lack nothing. Make me lie down in green pastures, and lead me beside still waters. Restore my soul. Guide me in the paths of righteousness for your name's sake. Even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, let me fear no evil, for you are with me. Let your rod and your staff comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, and my cup runs over. Let goodness and loving kindness follow me all the days of my life, and let me dwell in your house forever. Amen.
Psalm 23 Bible study questions
- In verses 1 to 3, what are the things the shepherd does for the speaker, and which words describe each one?
- In verse 4, what reason does the speaker give for fearing no evil in the valley of the shadow of death?
- In verse 5 the table is prepared in the presence of enemies; what do you make of the enemies still being there?
- The speaker talks about the shepherd in verses 1 to 3 and then speaks to him directly from verse 4; what might that change suggest to you?
- Psalm 100:3 calls God's people the sheep of his pasture; how does that verse sit beside the personal my shepherd of Psalm 23:1?
Questions about Psalm 23
What is the meaning of Psalm 23?
It describes God as a shepherd who provides, guides and protects, and as a host who welcomes the speaker to his table. It ends with the confidence of living in the LORD's house forever.
When did David write Psalm 23?
The heading attributes it to David but gives no occasion or date, and nothing in the six verses says when it was written.
What does Psalm 23:1 mean?
Calling the LORD my shepherd means relying on him for everything a sheep needs. The verse concludes I shall lack nothing, or in the KJV, I shall not want.
What does Psalm 23:4 mean?
It says that even in the valley of the shadow of death the speaker will fear no evil, because God is with him. The shepherd's rod and staff are named as the source of comfort.
What does Psalm 23:5 say in the KJV?
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
What does Psalm 23:6 mean?
It looks ahead to the rest of life: goodness and loving kindness will follow the speaker, and he will dwell in the LORD's house forever. The KJV words it goodness and mercy shall follow me.
Psalm 23 KJV: the King James Version
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.1
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.2
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.3
Yea, 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.4
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.5
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.6
Psalm 23 in Hebrew
The Hebrew text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible, which counts a psalm's heading as verse 1, so they can run one ahead of English Bibles.
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1 מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִ֑ד יְהוָ֥ה רֹ֝עִ֗י לֹ֣א אֶחְסָֽר׃
2 בִּנְא֣וֹת דֶּ֭שֶׁא יַרְבִּיצֵ֑נִי עַל־מֵ֖י מְנֻח֣וֹת יְנַהֲלֵֽנִי׃
3 נַפְשִׁ֥י יְשׁוֹבֵ֑ב יַֽנְחֵ֥נִי בְמַעְגְּלֵי־צֶ֝֗דֶק לְמַ֣עַן שְׁמֽוֹ׃
4 גַּ֤ם כִּֽי־אֵלֵ֨ךְ בְּגֵ֪יא צַלְמָ֡וֶת לֹא־אִ֘ירָ֤א רָ֗ע כִּי־אַתָּ֥ה עִמָּדִ֑י שִׁבְטְךָ֥ וּ֝מִשְׁעַנְתֶּ֗ךָ הֵ֣מָּה יְנַֽחֲמֻֽנִי׃
5 תַּעֲרֹ֬ךְ לְפָנַ֨י ׀ שֻׁלְחָ֗ן נֶ֥גֶד צֹרְרָ֑י דִּשַּׁ֖נְתָּ בַשֶּׁ֥מֶן רֹ֝אשִׁ֗י כּוֹסִ֥י רְוָיָֽה׃
6 אַ֤ךְ ׀ ט֤וֹב וָחֶ֣סֶד יִ֭רְדְּפוּנִי כָּל־יְמֵ֣י חַיָּ֑י וְשַׁבְתִּ֥י בְּבֵית־יְ֝הוָ֗ה לְאֹ֣רֶךְ יָמִֽים׃
Psalm 23 in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible
The Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain. It follows the Greek and Latin numbering, so this psalm is Psalm 22 there.
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1 A psalm for David. The Lord ruleth me: and I shall want nothing.
2 He hath set me in a place of pasture. He hath brought me up, on the water of refreshment:
3 He hath converted my soul. He hath led me on the paths of justice, for his own name’s sake.
4 For though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they have comforted me.
5 Thou hast prepared a table before me against them that afflict me. Thou hast anointed my head with oil; and my chalice which inebriateth me, how goodly is it!
6 And thy mercy will follow me all the days of my life. And that I may dwell in the house of the Lord unto length of days.
Psalm 23 in Latin
The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 22.
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1 Psalmus David. Dominus regit me, et nihil mihi deerit:
2 in loco pascuæ, ibi me collocavit. Super aquam refectionis educavit me;
3 animam meam convertit. Deduxit me super semitas justitiæ propter nomen suum.
4 Nam etsi ambulavero in medio umbræ mortis, non timebo mala, quoniam tu mecum es. Virga tua, et baculus tuus, ipsa me consolata sunt.
5 Parasti in conspectu meo mensam adversus eos qui tribulant me; impinguasti in oleo caput meum: et calix meus inebrians, quam præclarus est !
6 Et misericordia tua subsequetur me omnibus diebus vitæ meæ; et ut inhabitem in domo Domini in longitudinem dierum.
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Psalm 23 at a glance
| Verses | 6 |
| Heading in the text | A Psalm by David. |
| Attributed to | The heading attributes it to David. It gives no occasion or date. |
| Type | Trust |
| Number in Greek and Latin Bibles | Psalm 22 |
| Latin first line | Dominus regit me |
Read Psalm 23 when you are facing
comfortfeardeath of a loved oneguidance
Psalm 23 in other translations
This page prints the World English Bible and the King James Version because both are public domain. The NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT and NASB are under copyright, so they cannot be printed in full here. You can read Psalm 23 in those translations at Bible Gateway.
Where Psalm 23 belongs
Psalms of DavidBook 1 of the Psalms
How this page was made
The psalm text comes from public domain translations and is not edited. The summary, the verse notes and the answers are written for this page from the text of the psalm itself. Where a claim goes beyond the text, it is sourced below.
Sources
- Text: World English Bible and King James Version, both public domain, from ebible.org source
- Latin title: Psalm 23 is Psalm 22 in the Latin Vulgate numbering, where it opens Dominus regit me source
- Hebrew text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Douay-Rheims: Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Latin text: Clementine Vulgate, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Numbering: Greek and Latin psalm numbering, Wikipedia, Psalms source