Psalm 23:1-3

The LORD, the Psalmist's Shepherd.

A Psalm of David.

1 The LORD is my ¹shepherd, I shall ²not want.

2 He makes me lie down in ³green pastures; He ⁴leads me beside ⁵quiet waters.

3 He ⁶restores my soul; He ⁷guides me in the ⁸paths of righteousness For His name's sake.

Psalm 23:1-3 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.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 78:52; Psalms 80:1; Isaiah 40:11; Jeremiah 31:10; Ezekiel 34:11-13; John 10:11; 1 Peter 2:25
• 2. Psalms 34:9, 10; Philippians 4:19
• 3. Psalms 65:11-13; Ezekiel 34:14
• 4. Revelation 7:17
• 5. Psalms 36:8; Psalms 46:4
• 6. Psalms 19:7
• 7. Psalms 5:8; Psalms 31:3
• 8. Psalms 85:13; Proverbs 4:11; Proverbs 8:20

Footnotes

• [a] Or "do"
• [b] Lit "waters of rest"
• [c] Lit "tracks"