Psalm 23

Psalm 23 belongs to Book One (Psalms 1–41) of the book of Psalms. The psalm immediately preceding it, Psalm 22, is a lament that cries out in anguish as though forsaken and then ends in praise. Psalm 23 follows it as a quiet song of trust.

Structure

• Verses 1–3 The LORD is likened to a shepherd. Just as a shepherd makes his sheep lie down in green pastures and leads them beside still waters, the LORD restores the soul and leads the psalmist in the paths of righteousness.
• Verse 4 The psalmist declares that he will fear no evil even though he walks through the valley of the shadow of death. Here the language shifts from "he" to "thou," so that the psalmist now addresses God directly. The LORD's rod and staff are said to bring comfort.
• Verses 5–6 The LORD is now portrayed as a host who gives a banquet. He prepares a table in the presence of enemies and anoints the head with oil, and the cup runs over. The psalm closes with the confession that goodness and mercy will follow the psalmist all the days of his life and that he will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Key Verses

• Psalm 23:1 "The LORD is my shepherd" — the image that opens the entire psalm.
• Psalm 23:4 "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death" — the most widely quoted verse, cited as a confession that God is present even in suffering.
• Psalm 23:6 "I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever" — trust culminates in the hope of a life lived with God.

People and Places

• David: named in the superscription, "A Psalm of David."
• The LORD: portrayed as shepherd and as host of the banquet.
• The house of the LORD: the place where God dwells. Some take it to mean the sanctuary or temple; others understand it as referring to the state of being in God's presence.

Points for Reflection

• Tradition holds that David composed this psalm, though some scholars regard the superscription as a later addition. Many interpretations connect the psalm with David's background as a shepherd, but the text does not indicate when it was written.
• The expression rendered "the valley of the shadow of death" in verse 4 can also be translated "deep darkness" or "the shadow of death," so its wording varies somewhat among translations.
• In verse 6, the word rendered "mercy" translates hesed, which denotes steadfast love grounded in the covenant.
• In the Old Testament, Ezekiel 34:11–16 and Isaiah 40:11 portray God as a shepherd. In the New Testament, the chief example is John 10:11–15, where Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd; 1 Peter 2:25 and Revelation 7:9–17 carry the same imagery forward. For this reason, Christian tradition often reads the shepherd of this psalm in connection with Christ.

In the Korean Church

Psalm 23 is among the psalms most frequently memorized by church members and is often used as a memory passage in Sunday school. Because of its message of comfort and hope, it is commonly read at funeral services, memorial services, and during pastoral visits. Verses 1 and 4 are also widely used in worship songs based on this psalm.