Psalm 23

Psalm 23, Biblical poem in the book of Psalms in the Hebrew Bible that expresses trust and confidence in God and his care. The first portion of Psalm 23 describes God as a shepherd who protects, tenderly cares for, and leads his people, even in the darkest of times. The latter section compares God to a generous host, who similarly protects his guests, providing safety and abundance. Psalm 23 holds a significant place in both Jewish and Christian traditions. Given its themes of comfort, it is often read or performed at funerals and memorials and has been set to music and referenced in many hymns.

Psalm 23 is numbered Psalm 22 in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate because of differences in how the psalms are divided and numbered. Most modern English translations follow the Hebrew numbering and identify it as Psalm 23.

Text

The Psalms are sacred songs, or sacred poems, originally written in Hebrew and likely meant to be sung. Psalm 23 is traditionally attributed to King David, who had been a shepherd in his youth. However, some scholars have noted that the author, speaker, historical circumstances, and date of composition are difficult to determine since the psalm lacks references to any historical events in ancient Israel. In the New Revised Standard Version, the psalm reads:

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¹ The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
² He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;
³ he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
⁵ You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
my whole life long.

Meaning and interpretation

In the first four verses, the speaker casts God in the role of a shepherd. The image emphasizes provision, guidance, protection, and trust: The shepherd leads the speaker to pasture and water, guides him along safe paths, and remains with him even in the “darkest valley.” (Other translations render “darkest valley” differently; the King James Version famously gives the phrase as “the valley of the shadow of death.”) The shepherd’s rod and staff, tools used in tending and protecting sheep, reinforce the sense of security. Similar images of God as a shepherd occur elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible (for example, in Genesis 48:15 and Numbers 27:17), while the Gospel According to John quotes Jesus as describing himself as “the good shepherd” (John 10:11–18).

In verse 5 the central metaphor changes from shepherd to host. God prepares a table for the speaker despite the presence of his enemies, anoints his head with oil, and fills his cup to overflowing. Together the images suggest safety, hospitality, and abundance. The final verse extends this confidence into the future: The speaker expects to be accompanied by God’s “goodness and mercy” throughout his life and to remain in “the house of the Lord.”