Psalms 23:4-6

Listen to Psalms 23:4-6
4 Even though I 1walk through the valley of 2the shadow of death, [a] I will 3fear no evil, for 4you are with me; your 5rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You 6prepare a table before me in 7the presence of my enemies; you 8anoint my head with oil; my 9cup overflows.
6 Surely[b] goodness and mercy[c] shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall 10dwell[d] in the house of the Lord 11forever. [e]

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Psalms 23:4-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 23

\\<>\\. Thus psalm was written by David, either when he was in distressed circumstances, being persecuted by Saul, and was in the forest of Hareth, 1Sa 22:5; as some think {r}; wherefore he comforts himself with the Lord's being his shepherd, so that he should not want; nor would he fear, was he in worse circumstances than he at present was; or rather, when he was settled upon the throne of Israel, and in the most prosperous and flourishing state of his reign, as the latter part of the psalm shows; he speaks not in his own person only, but in the name of all believers; for Christ, who is the shepherd spoken of, is a common shepherd to all the saints, who are all the sheep of his pasture, as well as David; and the prophet here makes use of similes very familiar with him; he having been a shepherd himself, and knew what it was to do all the parts of that office, which are herein expressed; and very pertinently does this psalm follow the former; for as there Christ is prophesied of as laying down his life for the sheep, as the good shepherd does; and of his being brought again from the dead, as the great shepherd of the sheep, as Christ has been; so here of his performing his office as such, in all its parts, to the great comfort, refreshment, and safety of his people. {r} Jarchi & Kimchi.

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Cross References 11

  • 1. 23:4 Ps. 138:7
  • 2. 23:4 See Job 3:5
  • 3. 23:4 Ps. 3:6; 27:1, 3; 118:6
  • 4. 23:4 Ex. 3:12; Isa. 43:2
  • 5. 23:4 Mic. 7:14
  • 6. 23:5 Ps. 78:19; [Prov. 9:2; John 6:51]; See 2 Sam. 17:27-29
  • 7. 23:5 [Ps. 31:19]
  • 8. 23:5 Ps. 45:7; 133:2; Luke 7:46; [Ps. 92:10]
  • 9. 23:5 Ps. 16:5
  • 10. 23:6 Ps. 27:4
  • 11. 23:6 Ps. 21:4

Footnotes 5

  • [a] 23:4 Or 'the valley of deep darkness'
  • [b] 23:6 Or 'Only'
  • [c] 23:6 Or 'steadfast love'
  • [d] 23:6 Or 'shall return to dwell'
  • [e] 23:6 Hebrew 'for length of days'
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025