Psalm 23
STROPHE DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS
| NASB | NKJV | NRSV | TEV | NJB |
| The Lord, the Psalmist's Shepherd | The Lord the Shepherd of His People |
An Expression of confidence in God's Protection (A Song of Trust) |
The Lord Our Shepherd | The Good Shepherd |
|
MT Intro A Psalm of David. |
||||
| 23:1-3 | 23:1-3 | 23:1-3 | 23:1-4 | 23:1-2a |
| 23:2b-3 | ||||
| 23:4-6 | 23:4 | 23:4 | 23:4 | |
| 23:5-6 | 23:5-6 | 23:5-6 | 23:5 | |
| 23:6 |
READING CYCLE THREE (see "Guide to Good Bible Reading")
FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL
This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.
1. First paragraph
2. Second paragraph
3. Third paragraph
4. Etc.
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS
A. This is possibly the best known passage in the Bible by the general public; the other ones being John 3:16 or "the love chapter" in 1 Corinthians 13.
This is the biblical worldview of a faithful follower. The focus is on YHWH and His presence, care, and provision!
B. It uses three distinct cultural metaphors to describe the close personal aspect of biblical faith (i.e., "I," "me," "my").
1. God as Shepherd; His people as needy sheep, Ps. 23:1-2
2. God as Guide; His people as needy pilgrims, Ps. 23:3-4
3. God as Host; His people as welcomed guests, Ps. 23:5-6
C. This Psalm has ten imperfect (ongoing action) verbs. God is present every day, not just in crisis times. This is the OT counterpoint of Matt. 6:11.
1. I do not lack — BDB 341, KB 338, Qal negated imperfect, cf. Ps. 34:9,10
2. He makes me lie down — BDB 918, KB 1181, Hiphil imperfect
3. He leads me — BDB 624, KB 675, Piel imperfect
4. He restores my soul — BDB 996, KB 1427, Polel imperfect, cf. Ps. 19:7
5. He guides me — BDB 634, KB 685, Hiphil imperfect, cf. Ps. 5:8; 31:3
6. Even though I walk — BDB 229, KB 246, Qal imperfect
7. I fear no evil — BDB 431, KB 432, Qal imperfect, cf. Ps. 27:1
8. They (i.e., rod and staff) comfort me — BDB 636, KB 688, Piel imperfect
9. You prepare a table before me — BDB 789, KB 884, Qal imperfect
10. Goodness and lovingkindness will pursue me — BDB 922, KB 1191, Qal imperfect
11. I will dwell/turn — BDB 996, KB 1427, Qal perfect with waw, cf. Ps. 27:4-6
D. The UBS Handbook (p. 230) notes that this Psalm does not have synonymous parallelism. The poetic lines do not have symmetry (i.e., same length). It is a climactic progression in succinct wording. Its brevity accentuates its message and power!
WORD AND PHRASE STUDY
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 23:1-3
1The 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 His name's sake.
23:1 The opening line is literally "YHWH is the one shepherding me." The only verbal is the Qal active participle (BDB 944, KB 1258). The concept of YHWH as Shepherd was a royal title in the ANE (i.e., Hammurabi). In the OT it is used in the sense of
1. a description — Ps. 78:52; Ezek. 34:11-13
2. a covenant title — Ps. 80:1
3. a metaphor — Isa. 40:11; Jer. 31:10
4. the Messiah as Shepherd — John 10:11; 1 Peter 2:25
It is such powerful imagery because of
1. the close and constant presence of the shepherd with the sheep
2. the sheep's need of an ever-present caretaker and protector
▣ "I shall not want" This is a simple but comprehensive phrase. It cannot refer to every want or need. It denotes that which is necessary for sheep to be healthy. The worst thing God could do for most fallen humans is answer positively their selfish, worldly requests. The Shepherd of our souls will do and give that which is best for us!
23:2 This verse describes verse 1. The Shepherd knows that sheep need
1. rest
2. food
3. water
He provides these in ways that the sheep can accept (i.e., the right food, water they can drink from easily). We are not alone (cf. Psalm 139)! There is purpose in our lives, even in a fallen world. This is not meant to imply a pain-free, problem-free life experience. It does affirm that He is with us, and for us (cf. 1 Cor. 10:13).
23:3 "He restores my soul" This verse addresses and acknowledges the fallen human condition (cf. Isa. 53:6). We need "restoring." This verb (BDB 996, KB 1427) is the very verb used of "repentance," see Special Topic at Ps. 7:12. This same verb is used in Ps. 23:6 of returning to the tabernacle/temple for lifelong fellowship. Faithful followers, motivated by God's Spirit, must turn from self and sin, and to God. Biblical salvation is
1. a reversal of the fall
2. restored intimacy with God
3. turning from known sin and forgiveness for unknown sin (cf. Ps. 19:12-14)
4. purposeful turning to God (i.e., in fellowship, obedience, and worship, cf. Ps. 23:3b)
The Hebrew term "soul" is nephesh (BDB 659, KB 711, see note at Ps. 3:2) and can refer to
1. human beings — Gen. 2:7
2. animals — Gen. 1:24; 2:19
NASB, NKJV"in the paths of righteousness"
NRSV, TEV,
JPSOA, REB"in right paths"
NJB"in paths of saving justice"
In context this refers to the safe paths that lead to food and water. The word "right" or "righteousness" (BDB 841, see Special Topic at Ps. 1:5) basically has an ethical, moral aspect and surely it is implied here (cf. Eph. 1:4; 2:10). To know God is to live in obedience to His revealed will. This implication is reenforced by the last phrase of Ps. 23:3, "for His Name's sake" (see Special Topic at Ps. 5:11-12). He "leads" so we may "live" for Him. We as faithful followers reveal Him! He saves us to save others. We are saved to serve!
For the phrase "for His name's sake," see Ps. 25:11; 31:3; 79:9; 106:8; 109:21; 143:11. We live to reveal His character and purposes. Often Israel did not (cf. Jer. 14:21; Ezek. 20:9,14,22; 36:22-38).
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 23:4-6
4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I 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 have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
6Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
23:4
NASB, NKJV"the valley of the shadow of death"
NRSV"the darkest valley"
TEV"the deepest darkness"
NJB"a ravine as dark as death"
LXX"death's shadow"
JPSOA, REB"a valley of deepest darkness"
This is a construct of "valley" (BDB 161) and "darkness," "deep shadow" (BDB 853). Many scholars think צלמות comes from צל and מות.
1. shadow, gloom, darkness — BDB 853, KB 1024
2. death, dying — BDB 560, KB 563
It is used eighteen times in the OT (ten in Job) for
1. death — Job 10:21,22; 38:17; Ps. 107:10,14
2. distress — Job 16:16; 24:17; Ps. 44:20
3. often in context with contrast to light — Job 3:5; 12:22; 24:17; 28:3; 34:22; Jer. 13:16; Amos 5:8
It is used figuratively of the fearful, distressing, and fatal experiences of fallen humanity in this fallen world. Life is fearful but God is with us (cf. Ps. 23:4b,c; Deut. 31:6,8; Matt. 28:20; 2 Cor. 4:9; Heb. 13:5).
▣ "fear. . .comfort" What a contrast! Faithful ones face trials with confidence because God is with them (i.e., symbolized with the Shepherd's rod and staff, His instruments of care and protection).
Problems will come! We never face them alone! Never! He will never forsake us or leave us (cf. Deut. 31:6; Jos. 1:5; Heb. 13:5).
23:5 Not only is God with us and for us, He will vindicate us in the very presence of those who would harm us. The culturally expected hospitality is used to demonstrate the extravagant abundance of God's love.
1. table prepared
2. anointed head
3. overflowing love
▣ "overflows" This is a rare word (BDB 924, "saturated") found only here in the OT. Psalm 66:12 has "place of abundance" (slightly different spelling). The LXX translates it as "Your cup cheers me like the best wine" or "Your cup was supremely intoxicating," which obviously takes the idea from "saturated" as "intoxicated."
23:6 "goodness" The verb (BDB 373), adjective (BDB 373 II), and noun (BDB 375III) all denote that which is "good," "pleasing," "beneficial." They are used extensively in Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes. This is what God wanted to do for His covenant people (i.e., Deut. 30:9,15).
NASB"lovingkindness"
NKJV, NRSV"mercy"
TEV"love"
NJB"faithful love"
JPSOA"steadfast love"
REB"love unfailing"
This is the special covenant noun hesed (BDB 338), which denoted YHWH's faithful, undeserved covenant loyalty (see Special Topic at Ps. 5:7). The covenant loyalty is all the more striking in light of Israel's disobedience (cf. Neh. 9:6-38).
NASB, NKJV,
NRSV, REB"follow"
TEV"will be with me"
NJB, LXX,
JPSOA"pursue"
This verb (BDB 922, KB 1191, Qal imperfect) has a more aggressive sense than "follow." It denoted active pursuit. Just think, God's covenant love chased the Israelites. It is a
1. military word
2. hunting word
3. judicial word
Stop! Turn around! Look who is pursuing you, yes you!
▣ The last line in this OT context does not denote eternal life (other texts do, cf. Rev. 21:3-7; 22:1-5) but a life of covenant goodness (cf. Deut. 30:3,15,19). This was to be lived out in daily life and regular tabernacle/temple worship.
The verb (BDB 996, KB 1427, Qal perfect with waw) can denote
1. to sit down with (ancients)
2. to return (Hebrew)
▣ "forever" See Special Topic at Psalm 9:5.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.
1. How is YHWH like a shepherd?
2. How do the verbs of verses 1-3 apply to the daily life of faithful followers?
3. Define "the valley of the shadow of death."
4. Does this Psalm foreshadow an afterlife?
5. Why is the Psalm so meaningful to believers of all ages?
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