Psalms 23:5-6

5 You 1prepare a table before me in 2the presence of my enemies; you 3anoint my head with oil; my 4cup overflows.
6 Surely[a] goodness and mercy[b] shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall 5dwell[c] in the house of the LORD 6forever.[d]

Images for Psalms 23:5-6

Psalms 23:5-6 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 6

  • 1. Psalms 78:19; [Proverbs 9:2; John 6:51]; See 2 Samuel 17:27-29
  • 2. [Psalms 31:19]
  • 3. Psalms 45:7; Psalms 133:2; Luke 7:46; [Psalms 92:10]
  • 4. Psalms 16:5
  • 5. Psalms 27:4
  • 6. Psalms 21:4

Footnotes 4

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.