Psalm 23:1–6

Context

The superscription reads "A Psalm of David." That David tended sheep in his youth (1 Samuel 16:11; 17:34–35) is often cited as background for reading this psalm. The psalm consists of two main images. Verses 1–4 depict a shepherd who leads his sheep to green pastures and beside still waters and who protects them with his rod and staff even in the dark valley. Verses 5–6 depict a host who prepares a table in the presence of enemies, anoints the head with oil, and makes the cup overflow. Another notable feature is the shift in verse 4 in how God is addressed, from the third person ("he") to the second person ("thou").

Interpretation

• God as Shepherd: In the ancient Near East, the shepherd was a common metaphor for the king. The theme of God as the true shepherd of His people continues in Ezekiel 34, and Jesus called Himself "the good shepherd" (John 10:11). The church also reads this psalm as a song of Christ's care.
• "The valley of the shadow of death": The Hebrew tsalmavet can be rendered either "shadow of death" or "deep darkness." The former sense points to a situation in which one faces death; the latter refers to every dark season of life. Both understandings are widely held.
• "Shall follow" and "for ever": The verb "follow" in verse 6 carries the strong Hebrew sense of "pursue," and so it is interpreted as a picture of goodness and mercy persistently pursuing the believer. "For ever" renders a Hebrew expression meaning "for length of days"; some take it to refer to one's lifetime on earth, while others hold that it also encompasses the hope of eternal life.
• Reading it as a psalm of the worshiping community: Some interpreters read "the house of the LORD" and the table of verse 5 in terms of temple worship and the meal of the thanksgiving offering, viewing the psalm as a song of trust sung in the temple.

Questions Concerning Application

Some ask whether "I shall not want" can be read as a promise that one will never experience material lack. Many interpreters point out that it is a confession of trust that one's needs are supplied under the shepherd's care, not a promise that one will never pass through the dark valley.

In the Korean Church

It is the most frequently memorized psalm and the text most often read at funeral services, pastoral visits to the sick, and deathbed services. Many hymns and gospel songs are also based on this psalm.

Related Passages

• John 10:11–15
• Ezekiel 34:11–16
• Isaiah 40:11
• 1 Peter 2:25
• Revelation 7:17